The President issued an Executive Order (EO) on Friday, March 14 requiring several agencies, including the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), to eliminate all “non-statutory components and functions” and to reduce personnel “to the minimum presence and function required by law.” It is clear that this EO directs dramatic cuts to be made […]
Speak up for museums and science centers Read More »
About 50 representatives of ASTC-member organizations were among the more than 350 people who descended on Washington, D.C., for Museums Advocacy Day 2025. This annual event organized by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) is our community’s opportunity to speak with one voice about the essential value of museums when we meet with Members of
Advocates make the case during Museums Advocacy Day Read More »
As part of our ongoing efforts to champion public engagement with science and to build greater support for science engagement activities and institutions, ASTC is submitting testimony to the House Appropriations Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee, underscoring the importance of robust support in fiscal year 2025 for federal programs and agencies that support science centers
ASTC submits appropriations testimony to U.S. Congress Read More »
ASTC emphasized the importance of public engagement with science in comments to the National Science Foundation (NSF) as it develops a roadmap for its new Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP) Directorate. The comments were submitted in response to a Request for Information issued by the agency. ASTC encouraged NSF to focus on technology areas that
ASTC champions public engagement with science to new NSF directorate Read More »
As part of our ongoing efforts to champion public engagement with science and to build greater support for science engagement activities and institutions, ASTC submitted testimony to the House Appropriations Committee calling for increased funding at a range of federal agencies. ASTC was joined on our testimony by other national museum organizations including the American
ASTC asks Congress for increased support for science engagement Read More »
ASTC joined with fellow museums associations to request increased funding for the Federal programs that support our field in the fiscal year (FY) 2023 budget, which begins on October 1, 2022. The public witness testimony was submitted to subcommittees of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees that are currently at work developing the budgets for
A coalition of national museums associations—including ASTC—are speaking up on the continuing need for relief to museums as a result of the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a letter sent to the bipartisan leadership of the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate, the museums associations asked for additional funding through
Museum community requests additional COVID-19 relief for museums Read More »
ASTC joined with our fellow museums associations to call for including museums in infrastructure legislation. In a letter sent to the bipartisan House and Senate leadership earlier this month, the associations argued that our members’ institutions have infrastructure needs that align with the goals of the emerging Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework while our museums are key
ASTC calls for including museums in infrastructure investments Read More »
This post was written in collaboration with the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM) and is cross posted on the ACM blog. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on science and technology centers and museums, natural history museums, children’s museums, and other STEM-rich, place-based institutions. Our field is beginning to get a sense of
#InviteCongress for an August visit Read More »
On May 6, a coalition of 143 chambers of commerce sent a letter to U.S. Congressional leadership requesting Federal relief and funding for the cultural and performing arts sectors during the COVID-19 pandemic, including museums, aquariums, and zoos. Led by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce (GBCC) and the Capital Region Chamber of Commerce (New York),
143 Chambers of Commerce Urge the U.S. Congress to Support Cultural Institutions Read More »
As a result of our previous collective advocacy efforts, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act enacted on March 27, 2020 included nonprofits in the loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA) and some support for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). See this summary for more on the CARES Act. On April 6, nine museum associations
Museum Community Asks for Support in Phase 4 of U.S. Federal COVID-19 Relief Read More »
UPDATE: A new letter asking for $4 billion in relief funds for museums and a temporary universal charitable deduction was sent on Wednesday, March 18. View the blog. On Friday, March 13, ASTC joined with our colleagues to send a letter asking the United States Congress to consider museums and other centers for science engagement that are helping communities prepare and respond to
Asking Congress to Support Museums in COVID-19 Response Read More »
Last week, nearly 400 individuals from across the country came to Washington, D.C., to make the case for museums as part of Museum Advocacy Day. This annual event, organized by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), brings the entire museum together and raises the profile of our community to Members of Congress and Federal agency
Advocates Make the Case for Museums Read More »