History, Natural History & the Arts
In the coming weeks, our elected officials at both the state and federal levels will work on legislation that will directly impact our museums. In Albany, legislators are working on budget priorities. In Washington, Congress is shaping the next COVID-19 relief package and gathering support for 2022 appropriations.
We have a small window in which to effect change and I’m asking you to take action today. [Read more…] about Erika Sanger: Take Action Today in Support of NYS Museums
We are fortunate that New York State is represented in the US Congress by members of the House of Representatives and Senate whose steadfast support of our museum sector has historically helped sustain our federal funding agencies.
New York Congressional Representatives were also instrumental in passing the CARES Act, which included provisions that helped many museums in New York State through this worldwide health crisis. [Read more…] about NYS Museums Slouch Towards Recovery
I hope all who are reading this are well, that your families are well, and that you are taking precautionary measures to remain healthy and safe.
Every museum in New York is closed, thousands of staff have already been laid off, and thousands more will follow. A Washington, DC source estimated that as many as 30% of museums across the nation may remain permanently closed. [Read more…] about NYS Museums Working Together in Uncertain Times
This past November I turned 57. Depending on which demographer you choose to believe, I am either a Baby Boomer or a member of the elusively-defined Generation “X.” My older cousins wore POW-MIA bracelets to honor soldiers captured in the Vietnam War. Some went to Woodstock, others got stuck on the Thruway trying to get there. I was surrounded by people who fought for racial and gender equality, protested against injustice, questioned authority, broke dress codes, and stepped outside of social norms. There was a clear divide from older generations fueled by a mutual lack of trust; places and spaces to come together and agree on politics, music, or values were few and far between. [Read more…] about Don’t Trust Anyone Over (or Under?) 30
I am writing from American Alliance of Museums’ Museum Advocacy Day where 300 museum professionals will be speaking up for museums on Capitol Hill, in Washington D.C. — 26 are from 18 of New York’s Congressional Districts comprising the largest delegation represented.
New York State Congressional Representatives are critically important to federal funding for museums. The new Chair of the House Appropriations Committee is Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY17). Senator Gillibrand (D-NY) is the author of the Institute of Museum and Library Services re-appropriation letter in the U.S. Senate. Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY20) is one of the bill sponsors in the House. [Read more…] about Erika Sanger: MEA Update, Museums Advocacy March 11-12
Monday I attended two meetings where state support for museums in New York was discussed. The first was a strategic planning workshop for the New York State Council on the Arts and the second was the Cultural Education Committee meeting of NYSED’s Board of Regents. [Read more…] about Support for NYS Museums: Speaking Out
Last week we were in Washington, D.C. for Museums Advocacy Day sponsored by the American Alliance for Museums. We learned some important things about New York’s Museums that made us proud to speak up for our sector.
Oxford Economics’ 2017 national report “Museums as Economic Engines” found that the total annual economic impact of Museums in New York State is $5.4 billion dollars – equal to that of the state’s agricultural industries and second only to California in contributions to our nation’s economy. [Read more…] about NYS Museums Advocacy Report From Erika Sanger
On Tuesday, February 6, Sheila Healy, the Museum Association of New York’s government relations consultant, and I had the opportunity to attend the Assembly’s Education Committee meeting chaired by Assembly member Catherine Nolan.
Guest speaker MaryEllen Elia, Commissioner of Education, shared her 2018 budget priorities and fielded member questions. We then met with Museum Education Act (A.3892A/S.1676A) sponsors Assembly Member Matt Titone and Senator Betty Little. [Read more…] about Erika Sanger: Museum Education Act Needs Your Support
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.” [Read more…] about MANY’s Erika Sanger: Advocate For Museum Funding