Over the past hundred days, I have read with boundless admiration the passionate letters, emails, and social media posts that you have shared in support of the NEA, NEH, and IMLS. From the largest museums in New York City, to the smallest historical societies in the Finger Lakes, you are ALL speaking up, advocating for the importance of museums and, indeed, to quote Congressman John Lewis, making “good trouble.”
I am asking you now for your help to advocate for funding for the museums in which you work and for those that serve your community. Please take moment this week to direct some of the energy that you have put into advocacy on the federal level into advocacy for museums in New York State. Write to your Assembly member or State Senator and ask them to co-sponsor the Museum Education Act (MEA) Senate Bill 1676/Assembly Bill 3892.
As you may know, New York State’s museums, historical societies, zoos, botanical gardens, and aquariums are among the leading cultural institutions in the world, yet we do not have a direct state-supported funding stream to help us serve the millions of people who use our resources on a daily basis. With the passage of the MEA, we can secure a competitive grant program that will provide students, teachers, and adult learners access to New York State Museums while making those museums more competitive in the global economy.
Your legislators can be found by using this link on the MANY website: Legislative Contacts.
The advocacy page of our website also has a new template for a letter of support and other tips for reaching out to your elected officials.
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