Advocacy Update
Unified Voice of Oklahoma Museums
The first day of the Oklahoma First Regular Session of the 56th Legislature will convene on Monday, February 6, 2017. OMA continually communicates with our statewide and national partners on legislative topics, actions and possible threats which could impact our Oklahoma museums and cultural organizations.
As we continue to watch the legislative landscape, we want to share some of the upcoming advocacy work in which OMA will be participating to carry the voice of Oklahoma museums to our legislators, both state and national.
In late February, OMA leadership will be participating in Museums Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C. We will be meeting with our entire Oklahoma delegation. Among other important issues, we will be letting them know what charitable giving means to our museums and communities, and ask them not to reduce the deductibility of charitable contributions. In addition, we will ask for their support of continued funding of the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. If you would like to go on record in support of NEA and NEH and make sure your members of Congress know how important these funds are to your museum, use the American Alliance of Museum’s template letter.
From March 20-26 we will be celebrating #MuseumWeek. This global event is a time when Oklahoma museums can let the world know about their collections, treasures and so much more. OMA will be requesting an Executive Proclamation from Governor Fallin. In addition, OMA will email all Oklahoma State Senators and Representatives a list of museums in their district as well as inform all Oklahoma museums who represents them in the legislature.
Here are a few additional resources we think you will find helpful with your advocacy efforts:
- From American Alliance of Museums and BoardSource: For museum boards and trustees, a resource to get involved with advocacy, Stand for Your Mission
- From Oklahomans for the Arts: Ways to take action for Oklahoma today- Be in touch with your state legislators now. Make sure they know about how arts and culture funding impacts your community. Help more people get involved to strengthen our voice- Ask your board members, audiences, and colleagues to sign up for the Oklahomans for the Arts email list or follow on Facebook and Twitter.
Over the course of the next few months when we receive important advocacy alerts which need your immediate action such as contacting your legislators, we will let you know. As always, if you would like to bring an issue to our attention, please contact
Brenda Granger with the information.
Thank you for your advocacy efforts.