Connecticut Humanities staff member, Scott Wands, joined 350 plus colleagues from all fifty states at the 10th Annual Museum Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C., February 26th-27th. The program began with a day-long training session on Monday, where participants received advocacy updates on national policy issues impacting museums and cultural non-profits, in addition to tools and training to effectively communicate about these topics with Congress. On Tuesday, Scott and nine colleagues from Connecticut met with the entire Connecticut Congressional delegation, urging lawmakers to continue to support the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Institute of Museums and Library Services, as well as to enact a universal charitable deduction so that all Americans can deduct their donations to charity (regardless of whether or not they itemize their taxes).

Four interesting facts and figures shared with attendees:

-97% of the public believes that museums are educational assets for their communities*
-96% of the public want federal funding for museums to be maintained or increased*
-726,200 jobs were supported by museums in the U.S. in 2016^
-$50 billion was contributed to the U.S. GDP by museums in 2016^

Dr. Jason Mancini will be in Washington, D.C. next week for the Federation of State Humanities Councils’ “Humanities on the Hill“ advocacy event. Stay tuned for more news from the Hill.

*Source: 2017 AAM & Wilkening Consulting Museums & Public Opinion Report
^Source: 2017 AAM Museums as Economic Engines National Report