By: Heather Ferrell

Living in the Middle East as I do now, I am especially aware – more than any other time in my life – about the importance of having a voice in your government and the right and security to speak with elected representatives. For museum leaders we often spend more energy focused on the pressing priorities of raising money for our institutions’ budget, our capital campaign, or creating the next season of a stellar exhibitions and programs than spend the time to connect with our representatives. In the furor of our busy schedules, it’s easy to overlook an inherent right and its associated civil liberties that millions of other people fight for today.

Having just read Ravnitzky Silberglied’s Civic Duty Calls and the announcement of AAM and WMA’s partnership for Museum Advocacy Day 2012, I had to take a few moments from my office in Qatar to encourage my US colleagues to join these efforts. I recall my first visit with a Kansas Senator Jerry Moran’s office in DC several years ago. A friend had encouraged me to stop by as part of my trip to Washington DC, introduce myself and my museum, and let my senator know the great work we were doing at our art center. While somewhat intimidated by the vast halls of Capitol Hill, I was also elated to so actively participate in the democratic process – my first foray into advocacy! I owe this visit in part to WMA and AAM’s joint education efforts at past annual meetings (I currently live in Qatar, serve on the WMA board, and soundly believe WMA shouldn’t have geographical boundaries). The simple tools and talking points these sessions provided me, as well as the website, guided my successful visit.

If you can’t make it to Washington DC this February, contact a senator or send a letter to your member of Congress.  And, set an appointment in the coming months with a local government representative – perhaps it’s your city or county mayor, or state representative to tell your story and the importance of your museum in the community. If you take the time to meet with your representative, and to advocate for museums, they will take the time to listen.

Heather Ferrell
Board Member
Western Museums Association