Museums Alaska 2014 conference presentation

1. Advocacy and
Your Institution
Heather Beggs
Jane Lindsey
Michele Miller
Patricia Relay

2. Session Overview
 Introductions
Why Advocate?
 Advocacy or Lobbying?
 Local Advocacy
 Statewide Advocacy
 National Advocacy
 Fly-In 2014: HB 333 and Beyond
 Q&A

3. Why Advocate?
• Convince decision
making
• Build credibility, access
& influence
• Educate on issues &
bring expertise
Types of Advocates
• Citizen Advocates
• Organizational
Advocacy
• Paid Advocate
More information:
http://www.aam-us.org/resources/publications/museum-magazine/
archive/advocate-for-my-museum

4. Advocacy or
Lobbying?
Advocacy
Advocacy occurs when you make
the case for museums & cultural
centers broadly
Lobbying
Lobbying is one form of advocacy
and usually involves an attempt to
influence legislation
More information:
Alliance for Justice www.afj.org
What do you think?
Yes you can! No you can’t
• Make candidates aware of your
agenda?
• Donate personal funds?
• Work on behalf of a ballot measure
example: to set aside 1% of a sales
tax for cultural organizations?
• Spend a substantial amount of time
or money on a ballot measure?
• Tell people who to vote for?
• Ask candidates to fill out a
questionnaire about issues?
• Use office computers, supplies,
telephones, email, fax, or other
resources for partisan political
activity?

5. Local Advocacy
Jane Lindsey, Director
Juneau City Museum
Juneau

6. Do local government
officials know what your
institution is doing?
• Are they informed?
• Are they active?
• Do they participate?
• Do they know what
your institutional
goals are?
Are you and your
institution an active part
of your community?

9. Statewide Advocacy
Michele Miller
Development Director
Pratt Museum, Homer

10. Statewide Advocacy
 Assemble thoughtful project packet
 Start locally with city council/assembly and mayor
 Work during the interim with state delegation and regional borough
 Work during the interim to educate the governor’s office
 CAPSIS system application must be submitted for each project before
the legislature
 Lobbyist: pros and cons for hiring

11. Personal visits to legislature and
governor’s office
Testify at committee hearings
Another personal visit if
necessary
Keep working it!

12. National Advocacy
Patricia Relay
Executive Director
Valdez Museum &
Archive

13. American Alliance of
Museums
 Museum Advocacy
Day (MAD) Recap
Why Advocate on a
National Level?
Relationship building
Network with your peers
& understand national
issues that affect your
field
Testify back home in
support of museums
Provide your museum’s
posters & brochures to
your congressional office

14. • Build your public speaking
skills
• Advocate for your field on a
national level
• Meet other institutions on a
national platform
• Secure grants & funding for
your institution at home
• Secure an item for an
exhibit

15. National Advocacy
 What can you do now: Advocate from anywhere
Advocacy Resources
http://www.aam-us.org/advocacy/resources
 Why advocate?
 Tools to advocate
 Can I advocate?
 What can I do in the future?
Plan to attend 2015 MAD in DC, February 23-34, 2015

16. If you plan to attend
Museum Advocacy Day
February 23-34, 2015
here are a few things to
consider:
• Get rested
• Wear comfortable shoes
• Bring information
• Use AAM mobile app
• Enjoy DC

17. Museums Alaska Fly-In
Heather Beggs
Executive Director
Museums Alaska
Former Legislative Aide

18. The Need & The Action
 Museums in Alaska have
critical capital improvement
needs that are difficult for
their small budgets and staff
to negotiate
 Museums Alaska forms
Advocacy committee
 McDowell Group publishes
study of museum
infrastructure needs, initiated
by the Foraker Group
 CHAMP forms and together
plan January 2014 Legislative
Fly-In
2014 Partners:
Museums Alaska
The Alaska Historical Society
The Alaska State Council on the Arts
The Alaska Humanities Forum

19. CHAMP Advocacy Delegation in Juneau
Culture, Humanities, Art, Museums Partnership

20. How much do our Alaska state
legislators know about our
museums?
CHAMP Fly-In is an opportunity to
create a voice for our Institutions

21. HB333 & Beyond
Sponsor: Rep. Bob Herron
HB333 – filed in 28th
Legislature (2013-14) and
did not move forward
Granted hearing by
Education Committee at
end of session
Testimony by Museums
Alaska members

22. Legislation for funding museum capital
projects
 Background on current library legislation
 Amend library statute to include museums or draft new
legislation
 New Legislation for 29th Legislature (2015-16)
GOALS:
 Participation of Museums Alaska in ranking projects, as
AKLA does for libraries
 Participation by Division of Libraries, Archives, Museums
in review process

23. Why Participate in 2015
CHAMP Fly-In?
• Other groups visit the
Capitol each year to share
their message
• Telling our story is powerful
• Presenting a unified
message that museums
are essential will have
impact
• Be on the legislative radar
at home and in Juneau

24. Questions?
Contact us
 Heather Beggs director@museumsalaska.org
 Jane Lindsey jane_lindsey@ci.juneau.ak.us
 Michele Miller mmiller@prattmuseum.org
 Patricia Relay prelay@valdezmuseum.org
Join us
Advocacy Breakfast Roundtable
Friday, at the Breeze-Inn, 7:00 am