Degree candidates, alumni and faculty from GSEHD’s Museum Education Program (MEP) visited Capitol Hill February 23–24 to participate in the annual Museums Advocacy Day, joining museum professionals and supporters from across the country to champion critical federal funding and policies that strengthen the museum field.
Over the two-day event, MEP students met with congressional offices representing Virginia, Washington, D.C., Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Georgia, New York, Maryland, Oklahoma, and Illinois. In these meetings, they shared firsthand perspectives on the essential role museums play in education, community engagement, economic development, and cultural preservation.
This year’s advocacy efforts unfolded at a particularly consequential moment for cultural institutions nationwide. Capitol Hill was bustling with advocates from a wide range of sectors, alongside heightened law enforcement activity in preparation for the State of the Union address later that evening—creating a dynamic and memorable backdrop for students’ legislative visits.
For more than 15 years, Museums Advocacy Day has provided training and support to help advocates meet effectively with members of Congress and their staff. The event equips participants with policy briefings, messaging strategies, and opportunities to unite as one voice to reaffirm the essential value and collective contributions of museums across the country.
By participating in Museums Advocacy Day, Museum Education Program students not only helped elevate the voice of museums at a pivotal time, but also gained meaningful experience in public policy engagement, advocacy strategy, and civic leadership—bringing classroom learning into direct dialogue with national decision-makers.
