California museums had a presence in the offices of our elected officials last week as over 50 museum advocates and professionals from approximately 30 museums across the state met to discuss legislative issues, meet with their elected officials, and enjoy a late afternoon reception on the lawn of the State Capitol. In addition to our museum colleagues, over 20 state agency representatives and 20 legislators and/or staff representatives participated in order to learn and celebrate how California museums strengthen communities. To see photographs from the Museum Advocacy Day, visit http://www.calmuseums.org/museum_month/MuseumDay2008.html.
It is not too late to be a voice for the museum field! CAM encourages all museum advocates to support these efforts, send letters of support, and meet with their elected officials regarding these issues.
CAM prepared a 2008 Museum Advocacy Day Toolkit to help inform and guide participation in the Museum Advocacy Day. The toolkit included the following key components:
- Legislative Brief on AB 2687, a bill that would require the Department of Parks and Recreation to develop guidelines for a competitive grant process that would begin implementation of the park and nature component of Proposition 84. Proposition 84, approved by voters in 2006, makes $100 million in bond funds available for grants for nature education and research facilities and equipment to nonprofit organizations and public institutions, namely natural history museums, aquariums, and botanical gardens.
- Legislative Brief on AB 2728, a bill which would allocate 20% of state sales and use tax revenues derived from art-related sales to the California Art Council at a time when the California state budget is balanced.
- Position Paper on the need for increased capital funding for museums. This document outlines the need for the legislature to include museums in a future state bond. California museums are part of the state’s infrastructure and are significant contributors to a valued quality of life, healthy tourism, K-12 education, and lifelong learning.
To learn more, review the Museum Advocacy Day toolkit at http://www.calmuseums.org/museum_month/2008_Advocacy_Toolkit.pdf or contact Celeste DeWald, CAM Executive Director at (831) 471-9970 or cam@calmuseums.org.
