Museums Advocacy Day

Museums Advocacy Day Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to your questions about Museums Advocacy Day 2025!

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About Museums Advocacy Day

Who should attend?

Museum professionals, independent professionals, and advocates, including museum studies and related students, who work for and with the museum field, are encouraged to attend, at any stage of your career and in any role at your museum. Museum board members and trustees are also highly encouraged to participate.

See AAM’s Trustee Resource Center to learn more about engaging your board in advocacy.

What can I expect leading up to Museums Advocacy Day 2025, and how can I prepare?

At any time, you can access our breadth of Advocacy and Advocate from Anywhere resources to learn about your legislators, deepen your own advocacy skills, and engage in year-round advocacy for museums.

In the weeks leading up to Museums Advocacy Day 2025, registered attendees will receive materials to help them prepare and learn about their legislators, the legislative process, issues affecting museums, and advocacy tips and best practices.

What can I expect during Museums Advocacy Day, how does the overall event go, and what’s included?

Registration for Museums Advocacy Day includes access to all Museums Advocacy Day programming and events. Museums Advocacy Day 2025 takes place in Arlington, VA (see location information for the Sheraton Pentagon City Hotel) Monday, Feb. 24, and includes a day of advocacy and policy sessions and opportunities for participants to network and prepare for Tuesday Congressional meetings. Tuesday, Feb. 25 will take place in Washington, DC with advocates on Capitol Hill for Congressional meetings. On Feb. 25, the AAM Charter Bus will run a regular rotation between the Sheraton Pentagon City Hotel and Capitol Hill.

More information about programming, events, and registration desk hours will be updated on this page and in emails to registered attendees prior to Museums Advocacy Day.

How can I receive email updates about Museums Advocacy Day?

  1. Ensure you are subscribed to AAM emails by filling out this form (it will notify you if you are already subscribed).
  2. If you haven’t already done so, add communications@aam-us.org to your Safe Senders list.
  3. Sign up for updates about Museums Advocacy Day!

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Registration

When will registration be open?

Registration for Museums Advocacy Day 2025 is open! Register now through January 17, 2025.

How are registration rates determined for Museums Advocacy Day?

The registration structure for Museums Advocacy Day has been designed to minimize barriers to participation while ensuring the event continues to be sustainable. While we estimate participation in Museums Advocacy Day to cost at least $300 per participant, the registration rates below are designed to be as affordable as possible for participants. Among these costs are the development and production of advocate materials, contractor services for meeting scheduling and event registration, and rising costs for event spaces as well as food and beverage. We are grateful to the individuals and our partners whose financial support helps keep registration as affordable as possible and provides advocates access to the high-quality training and resources they need to effectively make the case for museums and have successful Congressional meetings.

I’m not seeing the member rate but think I am a member. What should I do?

To view your individual membership status and your organization’s membership status in your AAM Profile, log in. If your membership is not active, become a member or renew today!

Once your membership is verified, return to register for Museums Advocacy Day 2025 and use the email address associated with your membership.

If you need additional assistance regarding your membership contact our membership team by email at membership@aam-us.org.

I registered but am no longer able to attend.

Below is the cancellations and substitutions policy for Museums Advocacy Day 2025:

All cancellation requests must be made via e-mail museumsadvocacyday@aam-us.org. The Alliance is not responsible for cancellation or transfer requests that are incomplete or are not received. Cancellation requests received on or before January 17, 2025, will receive a refund minus a $25.00 administration fee. The $25.00 administration fee covers the cost of processing cancellations. Refund requests received on or after January 18, 2025, are not guaranteed.

If you become unable to participate in Museums Advocacy Day 2025, please notify AAM as soon as possible, especially so we are aware of impacts to Congressional meetings being scheduled by AAM. Substitutions may be accepted as is feasible. Registrants who are no longer able to attend Museums Advocacy Day may request a substitution by submitting their request in writing email museumsadvocacyday@aam-us.org.

I have a question about registration options, a technical issue, or need more information.

Contact our team at museumsadvocacyday@aam-us.org

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Accessibility at Museums Advocacy Day

The American Alliance of Museums is committed to making attendance at Museums Advocacy Day accessible for all. View AAM’s Diversity and Inclusion Policy.

How can I share my accessibility and accommodations needs?

If you require any of the following for Museums Advocacy Day:

  • Special Assistance – an aide or personal assistant to help you navigate
  • Sign Language Interpreters
  • Accessible Housing
  • or if you have Accessible Transportation concerns

Please include your accessibility need(s) during your registration, when prompted in the form. Please also contact AAM staff at museumsadvocacyday@aam-us.org with information about your accessibility and accommodations need(s).

If you have additional Accessibility questions, email museumsadvocacyday@aam-us.org.

Location & Travel

Where will the Museums Advocacy Day 2025 programming take place?

Please note a change in hotel/headquarters location for 2025. The Museums Advocacy Day headquarters hotel for February 24-25, 2025, where Monday programming takes place, will be:

Sheraton Pentagon City Hotel
900 South Orme Street, Arlington VA, 22204

Pentagon City is an vibrant neighborhood across the Potomac River from Washington, DC. Near the Pentagon City Metro stop are many retail and dining options.

This hotel has the transportation options below for access to the Metro station.

Are rooms available in the Museums Advocacy Day room block at the hotel?

You can book your room by Friday, January 31, 2025 in the AAM hotel block with the group rate at the Sheraton Pentagon City Hotel. Learn how to make your room reservation.

Is parking available at the hotel?

Onsite parking is $32.00 daily. 

What travel options are available?  

In the DC Metro area and for the Sheraton Pentagon City Hotel in Arlington, the following transportation options are available:

Hotel Shuttle

  • Complimentary round trip airport shuttle to DCA/Ronald Regan National Airport
  • Complimentary shuttle to Pentagon City Metro

AAM Charter Bus on Tuesday, February 25

  • On this day, the AAM-provided Charter Bus will run a regular rotation between the Sheraton Pentagon City Hotel and Capitol Hill.

WMATA – Metro/Bus

  • The hotel is located in the vicinity of the Pentagon City Metro, on the Metro’s Blue and Yellow lines.
  • WMATA’s website has information on bus routes, train stations, schedules, fares, and SmarTrip cards.

Taxi/ride-share

  • It is an estimated six-minute ride from DCA/Ronald Regan National Airport to the hotel.
  • Dependent upon traffic conditions and time of day, it is an estimated 15-30 minute ride from the hotel to Capitol Hill.

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Congressional Meetings

How are Congressional meetings scheduled?

After registering for Museums Advocacy Day, AAM will arrange your Congressional meetings on Capitol Hill for you based on the information you provide during registration, including grouping you with any fellow advocates from your state or congressional district.

Access to your Congressional meetings schedule will be emailed to you prior to Museums Advocacy Day 2025, including fellow advocates in your meetings. In some cases an advocate may be making visits in more than one state, in some states or congressional districts there may be delegations of one.

Scheduling is a fluid process, and updates will be ongoing until the time of Museums Advocacy Day. Once you’ve accessed your meeting schedule, it will always be available to you via electronic format as any updates are made.

How do Congressional meetings go, and what can I expect?

  • One or more congressional staff may join your meetings. Meetings may range in length from 10-30 minutes, and could take place in individual offices, conference rooms, common office spaces, or even hallways.
  • Meetings should generally include introductions, exchanging business cards, sharing relevant stories, making the field-wide asks, engaging with legislators and staff (not just talking at them!), and building rapport.
  • Advocates participating in congressional meetings should be prepared to be flexible, polite, and positive when moving around Capitol Hill and meeting with congressional offices.
  • Always thank legislators and staff for any ways they have previously supported museums or your museum and for their time meeting with you. Meeting follow-up is a valuable way to cover any information that was not able to be raised during a meeting. Templates will be made available from AAM to help you easily send thank you messages to the offices that met with you.

What should I know about visiting Capitol Hill?

  • The United States Capitol Police provides information for general access, awareness, and navigational ease throughout the Capitol Complex. Prior to visiting, review the regulations and prohibitions.
  • The Capitol Visitors Center (CVC) provides:
  • Security is high across Capitol Hill. Carry your photo ID with you at all times during Museums Advocacy Day. Be prepared for security checks when you enter legislative office buildings or the Library of Congress—build time into your schedule to get through security. The less metal you wear, the quicker it will be to enter.
  • D.C.’s weather can vary day-to-day. Check the forecast and pack accordingly—and wear comfortable shoes!
  • Bring lots of business cards to share and leave with Congressional offices.
  • Don’t forget your cell phone charger, or external battery if you’ve got one.

More details will be available soon about hotel room bookings, the proram, and more for Museums Advocacy Day 2025. If you have additional questions, please contact AAM staff at museumsadvocacyday@aam-us.org.

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