Museum Advocacy Day | March 10, 2020

On Museum Advocacy Day, museum staff and volunteers from around the state come to Capitol Hill to help legislators understand the crucial role museums play in the community while giving Capitol regulars and visitors a peek at their collections, programs, and missions. If you have any questions please contact Ruth White.

Attendees please take our survey at the end of Museum Advocacy Day to help us plan for 2021.

Choose your Own Advocacy Adventure!

Registration is required to attend. Organizations may choose to participate in one track, or both, just remember to participate in both tracks at least two staff need to attend and a separate registration must be completed for each track. This event is free for UMA Members - learn more about the benefits of membership.

Education Track
Registration deadline: February 28, 2020
Fee: $15 per organization | UMA Members are FREE
View registrant list

This track focuses on spotlighting museum offerings and networking in the Capitol Rotunda. Each organization will have a display table (or space). This is a chance to learn about other organizations and share your knowledge with legislators and school children alike! Space for this track is limited, as there is only so much room on the Rotunda floor.

Timeline
7:30 am-8:30 am     Attendee check-in [Presentation Room]
7:30 am-8:30 am Set-up of table displays [Rotunda]
8:30 am-2:00 pm Museum Advocacy Day tables, network with fellow attendees and chat with Capitol visitors [Rotunda]
9:00 am-9:15am Group photo [Rotunda - west steps]
1:30 pm-2:00 pm Load-out, report on which legislators stopped by your table [Rotunda]

Advocacy Track
Registration deadline: February 28, 2020
Fee: $10 per person | UMA Members are FREE
View registrant list

With a focus on advocating directly about the importance of continued support for the Museum community, this track is for attendees who want to learn the ropes of advocacy and meet with legislators directly. UMA will contact legislators to schedule group meetings (which will take place at any time between 9 am - 5 pm) and provide additional training and resources throughout the day.

Timeline
7:30 am-8:30 am     Attendee check-in [Presentation Room]
8:30 am-9:00 am Advocacy Overview [Presentation Room]
9:00 am-9:15am Group photo [Rotunda - west steps]
9:00 am-5:00 pm Meetings with legislators [scheduled by captains] and advocacy activities [led by captains]
  

Location

Utah State Capitol Building

Visit utahstatecapitol.utah.gov/visitors-tours/directions-parking for more information on directions and parking. Please be sure to follow parking signs.

Why You Should Attend

This is your opportunity to speak to your legislators on behalf of your institution! Suggested talking points include:

• Utah’s diverse and thriving museum community benefits the state’s cultural tourism portfolio and contributes a measurable, positive impact on the state’s overall economy.
• Continued legislative support for museums will help safeguard Utah’s cultural legacy for future generations of visitors and residents.

How to Prepare for Museum Advocacy Day!

• Familiarize yourself with your institution’s legislators. Visit https://le.utah.gov/GIS/findDistrict.jsp to find out who represents you.
• Create a quick fact sheet about your museum. Include your mission statement, how many visitors  you served in the past year, a description of what your institution has accomplished with the help of state grant money (if applicable), and general contact information. See fact sheets from around the country.
• Emphasize “substance over style”… Museum Advocacy Day is less about “Show and Tell” and more about communicating the need for continued legislative support.
• The American Alliance of Museums has great resources.

UMA takes photographs and/or video at all of our events. By registering for this event you grant UMA permission to use any photographs and video of yourself in its print publications, online presence, or social media. UMA becomes the sole owner of these photographs and videos. It is your responsibility to notify UMA by email if you do not want your image used.