MAH and American Museums and Libraries Need Your Voice
The Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History (the MAH) faces potential significant challenges due to a recent Executive Order issued by President Trump on March 14th. This order proposes the elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the sole federal agency dedicated to supporting American museums and libraries.
The IMLS plays a crucial role in providing critical funding to these institutions across all 50 states. For the MAH, the IMLS is its largest single donor. Without this support, the museum would be forced to close its Archives and reduce its already limited staffing. This closure would impede access to community history and impact exhibitions, such as the upcoming "HOWL: The Art & History of Pets."
Currently, the MAH benefits from two active IMLS grants:
The London Nelson Legacy Initiative: This project, a collaboration with Black Health Matters, focuses on researching and sharing the stories of Black pioneers in pre-1900s Santa Cruz County, particularly those buried at Evergreen Cemetery. To date, this initiative has identified 22 previously unnamed individuals, including a 5-year-old girl who will be reunited with her relatives. This project was awarded $249,359.
Unearthed Phase II: Digitizing the MAH General Photographic Collection: This initiative aims to digitize, update documentation, and make accessible online a collection of photographs depicting figures, businesses, industries, neighborhoods, events, and ethnographic communities in Santa Cruz County from the mid-1800s to the late 1900s. This project received $211,044 in funding.
Additionally, the IMLS recently funded the Kincentricity Garden, a collaboration with the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band. This garden serves as an educational space for visitors to learn about native plants and indigenous knowledge. This project was awarded $193,768.
The IMLS represents only 0.0046% of the overall federal budget, yet museums generate over $50 billion in economic benefits and support more than 726,000 jobs across the United States. Public opinion shows strong bipartisan support for museums, with 96% of Americans approving of lawmakers who support them and 96% wanting to maintain or increase federal funding.
The MAH urges individuals to contact their members of Congress via email and phone to advocate for the continued support of the IMLS. Personalizing these communications with stories about the impact museums have had on individuals and families is highly encouraged.
Further information about the Executive Order and the impact of museums on American communities can be found on the American Alliance of Museums website.