Civic Engagement Resources

Page Index

Understanding Civic Engagement in Cultural Organizations

(Nonpartisan) Civic Engagment Resources for Museums & Cultural Organizations

Webinars to Help Your Organization Master Civic Engagement

"Civic engagement means working to make a difference in the civic life of our communities and developing the combination of knowledge, skills, values, and motivation to make that difference. It means promoting the quality of life in a community, through both political and non-political processes." – Civic Responsibility and Higher Education, edited by Thomas Ehrlich

The Western Museums Association is calling upon our member institutions and the greater museum field to move beyond statements and engage in acts of civic responsibility. In this era of the partisan divide that has been swept up by a global pandemic and protests fueled by anger at racial injustice, it is now even more imperative that museums and cultural institutions understand their position in civic engagement and social impact. Join us in this effort and help us to amplify the voices of our communities.

Understanding Civic Engagement in Cultural Organizations

Regardless of the type of institution – art museum, science center, natural history museum, etc. – majority are embedded within communities as centralized place-makers and have a mission intertwined with a civic obligation to serve people. Begin your journey to a more unified, inclusive community by understanding the role civic engagement and social impact plays within your very own institution.

Find Your Museum's Civic Strategy - American Alliance of Museums (AAM)
Critical Preparations for Civic Engagement - Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC)
Civic Engagement: Museums Create Meaning - Getting Smart
Why Nonprofits are Crucial for Democracy – NonprofitVote.org
Guide to Election Year Activities – American Alliance of Museums (AAM)
Nonprofits and the Promotion of Civic Engagement: A Conceptual Framework for Understanding the “Civic Footprint” of Nonprofits within Local Communities – Scholarly Commons, University of Pennsylvania

(Nonpartisan) Civic Engagment Resources for Museums & Cultural Organizations

Through dedicated hard work, every museum, historical site, science center, library, and other organization has the potential to become an incubation of innovative, actionable ideas that create long-term change and inspire communities.

Even though nonprofits, museums, and cultural institutions are required by law to remain nonpartisan in any election activities, they can still play a critical role in supporting political participation by spreading awareness, promoting equity in democracy, and becoming a polling site. From when, where, and how to vote, to mobilizing staff and advertising Election Day, there is plenty that your institution can do and these resources are designed to help.

The following resources and guides will help you to activate civic engagement within your institution and spark social impact across your community.

Mastering Civic Engagement: A Challenge to Museums - American Alliance of Museums (AAM)
Voting and Community Engagement Resources - National Council of Nonprofits
Nonprofit VOTE Resource Library - Nonprofit Vote
Alliance Advocacy for Museums - American Alliance of Museums (AAM)
Advocacy Resources and Updates - National Council on Public History (NCPH)
Civics Resources - American Association for State and Local History (AASLH)
Cultivating Civic Engagement - American Alliance of Museums
Educator Resources: Social Studies and Civics - Smithsonian
Tools to Engage: Resources for Nonprofits – Community Resource Center
Civic Engagement Resources - Institute of Museums and Library Sevices (IMLS)
Digitally Accessible Educational Resources – iCivics, a nonprofit whose mission is to ensure that every student in America receives a quality and engaging civic education and graduates from high school well prepared and enthusiastic for citizenship.