Museum Advocacy Days

History of Museum Advocacy Days

Museum Advocacy Day informs the public about the policies that impact the funding and functionality of America’s museums. The aim is to inform and arm the supporters with necessary facts and figures about the benefits, shortfalls, and learnings of different ways that a museum sustains itself. Through this observation and awareness campaign, people have the opportunity to join in the pressure campaign against curtailed funding of American museums.

Museums are inextricably linked to America’s identity, history, and economy — yet so many workers find it hard to pay their bills and ensure the continuation of museums. Through Museum Advocacy Day, we can change that. Throughout the two-day observation, museum representatives from across the country connect and share their stories of struggles regarding lack of job security and benefits in this career.

Museum funds are allocated as per the size, visitor statistics, hours of operation, funding sources, and the subject of the museum. The two days also highlight the recommendations being made to support the distribution of the budget as per the size, location, and discipline of museums across the country.

Museum Advocacy Day is affiliated with the Association of Science and Technology Centers and the American Alliance of Museums, the oldest and best-known museum advocacy non-profit group in the country. The observation is an educational experience for museum supporters and workers across the country. By learning about the facts and making their case against curtailed funding of museums, they place themselves in better positions for negotiation and action.

Museum Advocacy Days timeline

1677

The World’s First Public Museum

English officer Elias Ashmole discovers the first-ever museum at the University of Oxford.

1300s — 1600s

A New Perspective

A renewed interest in art and architecture drives banking families and wealthy merchants to collect art as status symbols.

1906

A Collective Advocacy

Museum workers and enthusiasts assemble to form the first-ever advocacy group for museums called the American Alliance of Museums.

2009

The Observation is Established

More than 300 museum professionals from across the country gather for the first-ever Museum Advocacy Day.

Museum Advocacy Days FAQs

When is Museum Advocacy Days?

In 2027, Museum Advocacy Days takes place Monday, February 22 through Tuesday, February 23, continuing its mission to secure crucial funding and legislative support for museums across the U.S.

How many museums are there in the U.S.?

With roughly 35,000 museums operating nationwide, these cultural hubs contribute significantly to education, tourism, and community engagement, serving diverse audiences from coast to coast.

What is the economic impact of U.S. museums?

Beyond their cultural value, museums generate substantial economic activity, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs and injecting billions into local economies through tourism and related spending each year.

What is the American Alliance of Museums (AAM)?

As the voice of the museum field, the AAM works to strengthen the profession by promoting best practices, fostering collaboration, and ensuring that museums continue to receive the support they need to thrive.

How to Observe Museum Advocacy Days

Write a letter to your elected officials

Museums serve the people and are meant for public consumption. We underestimate the impact that a museum can have on growing kids and people of all ages. As one of the greatest gifts that one generation passes to the next, we must be vocal about museums and advocate for their preservation.

Share the agenda

Call your local representatives and speak about the urgency that museums are dealing with. Speak about the importance of museums in your community and come up with ways in which you can bring a positive change to the museums in your community.

Explore the museums around you

There’s nothing like getting your tourist cap on and taking a stroll in your local museums with a fresh pair of eyes and an open mind. There’s so much to explore, there’s a story in every nook. It’s never too late to learn new things about the city you call home.

5 Excellent Tips To Make The Most Out Of Your Museum Experience

Book tickets online

Avoid the hassle of extra-long ticket lines with a pre-booked ticket.

Set your phone on vibration

Leave the world outside and try to be present during museum visits or tours.

Seek a guide

Get the best details and juiciest information from an expert.

Be alert

Read the descriptions, ask questions, and have a childlike curiosity for all artifacts.

Buy merchandise

Support the museum with a purchase or two from the gift shop.

Why Museum Advocacy Days is Important

Museums are an essential part of a civil society

Museums preserve matters of cultural, religious, and historical value. They are a symbol of generational connection and are an important educational experience that every person must have in their lives. Museum Advocacy Day fights to secure protection and funding to continue its operations.

Museums need federal funding

There’s been a persistent threat by Congress and special lobbying groups to either limit or eliminate federal support for museums. Legislators operating in a vacuum will never be able to fully grasp the urgency and the importance of museums — not unless we raise our collective voice. The annual event draws the attention of the community and makes the case for improved funding for museums.

Museums serve the public

Museums protect historical art and artifacts from falling into the hands of capitalists and private interest groups. Meanwhile, we must have access to our collective heritage! For museums to stay open and available to everyone at minimal costs, they must continue to receive public funding.

Museum Advocacy Days dates

Year	Date	Day
2026	February 23–24	Monday–Tuesday
2027	February 22–23	Monday–Tuesday
2028	February 28–29	Monday–Tuesday
2029	February 26–27	Monday–Tuesday
2030	February 25–26	Monday–Tuesday