The results of AAM’s 2017 Public Opinion Survey demonstrate overwhelming support for museums:
- 97% of Americans believe that museums are educational assets for their communities
- 96% would think positively of their elected officials taking legislative action to support museums
In preparing for meetings with your legislators, take note of the recently released Museums as Economic Engines report (easily downloaded from the AAM website). The report shows the incredible economic impact made by museums: $50 billion per year to the national economy; 726,000 jobs; 850 million visitors annually. Also, check out the economic impact of museums in your state so that you can share specific data with your state and local representatives.
Museums are considered by their communities to be invaluable assets and U.S. citizens invest over one million hours of volunteer time in museums each year. This statistic alone demonstrates the passion we have for museums, and the recent compelling data from AAM lends strength to our requests for support from government representatives.
Guiding points for your meetings can include encouraging reauthorization of the Institute of Museums and Library Services’ Office of Museum Services and advocating for a universal charitable deduction. We encourage you to share poignant and personal stories that demonstrate the value of museums to you and in your community.
We are delighted to share that MTA’s Membership Committee Chair Margaret Benjamin was honored with a 5-year advocacy award. Congratulations, Margaret!