By Michelle Kortenaar
Executive Director

Earlier this week, the Sciencenter joined over 300 advocates in Washington, D.C. for the 16th annual Museums Advocacy Day, hosted by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM). It was inspiring to join museum professionals and supporters from across the country in speaking up for museums, engaging our legislators and their staff, and making our case directly to Congress. 

On Monday, we had a day of training and planning – including a deep dive into the legislative and budgeting process, how to make the case with data, and emerging policy issues.

Museums have a huge economic impact on our communities. Museums are well-trusted, ranking second only to family and friends as sources of information. 97% of Americans believe that museums are educational assets for their communities. 96% would think positively of their elected officials for taking legislative action to support museums. And 96% want to maintain or increase federal funding for museums.

On Tuesday morning, Lauren Garnese (Director of Development & Communications) and I along with the entire New York delegation, met staff in the offices of Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand.  The New York delegation was the largest one on the Hill, with more than 30 museum advocates!

Senator Gillibrand is a big museum supporter and co-sponsored a letter that calls for robust funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) – a federal agency that provides grants to museums.

The Sciencenter’s voice was well represented:

The Museum Association of NY (MANY) asked us to speak about our latest IMLS grant with Senator Gillibrand’s staff to share the impact of federal funding on our museum.

In Senator Schumer’s office, the Sciencenter shared data on the impact of donations on museums and asked for support of a Universal Charitable Deduction.

In the afternoon, we visited with our Congressman, Marc Molinaro (New York District 19). Ryan Opila (Grants Manager) joined us for that meeting, as did Ben Sandberg, Executive Director of the History Center in Tompkins County. We shared our important partnership with Tompkins Community Action Head Start that has led to national recognition supported by IMLS, and highlighted our accessibility programs that make the Sciencenter welcoming to our diverse community.

Everywhere we went, we left behind a one-pager on the impact the Sciencenter makes, as well as our recent Report to the Community. We of course invited everyone to come to Ithaca so they can see the impact of the Sciencenter in person!