Advocacy
Advocacy starts with building relationships with your community members and communicating the value of your museum. Advocacy occurs on several levels and you can advocate by participating in group meetings with local and state officials and formal statewide advocacy events and call to actions.
Museums Connect
In 2022, WaMA received funding for the Museums Connect Initiative, a three-year project in support of museums across Washington State.
- Year one (2022/2023) – identified and connected with all heritage, art, and science organizations.
- There are over 500 museums operating in Washington State!
- Year two (2024) – partner with the Washington State Historical Society to complete a sector-wide Needs Survey & Heritage Census to fully understand organizational needs in the heritage community.
- Year three (2025) – based on data from the Needs Survey & Heritage Census, we are connecting resources to these sector-wide needs.
The 2024 Needs Survey & Heritage Census can be found here.
Heritage Caucus
The Heritage Caucus is held on Wednesdays from 7am-8am during the legislative session. It is a forum where legislators, state agencies, nonprofit organizations, and members of the public meet virtually. It serves as a forum for sharing ideas, considering policy impacts, and exploring projects surrounding arts, heritage, and science activities in Washington State. The Heritage Caucus is co-chaired by Senator Judy Warnick and Representative Steve Tharinger.
Each Heritage Caucus features two presentations from the field, scheduled in advance. The Washington State Historical Society (WSHS) coordinates the presentations and agendas. If you want to be added to the Heritage Caucus email list to receive the agendas and Zoom links, please email here.
The Caucus is co-staffed by ArtsWA and WSHS. ArtsWA publishes the Heritage Caucus Bill report, which can be found on its website each Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. during the legislative session. The report summarizes current legislation that is of interest to the Caucus and may impact the field.
Bill Reports
Check out the latest bills we’re tracking in Washington State’s Legislature. This bill report is generated each week of the legislative session for the Heritage Caucus. Learn more about the Heritage Caucus here and how you can get involved.
These are things your legislators are discussing that matter to our members and partners, things that will affect the ability of museums, cultural centers, galleries, and the museum services industry in our collaborative quest to best serve the public in caretaking Washington State’s cultural legacy.
Please let us know if there’s a bill or issue you’d like us to put on our radar! Email [email protected] or post it on our Facebook page.
Advocacy Resources
Here are some resources to find your Legislative District Representatives, articles on advocacy, and advocacy resources from the American Alliance of Museums
- Find your Legislative District Representatives and Congressional Legislators here: app.leg.wa.gov
- AAM Advocacy Website: www.aam-us.org
- Impact Statement & Educational Impact Statement: www.aam-us.org
- Economic Impact Statement with AAM’s Template: www.aam-us.org
- AAM’s 2022 Museum Facts: At a Glace www.aam-us.org
- Sign up for AAM’s Advocacy Alerts here: www.aam-us.org
- Advocacy Amplified: How Nonprofits Can Garner State Legislative Support for Their Causes by David Patt, Blue Avocado, July 17, 2023 blueavocado.org