SMA Statement on Cuts to IMLS Funding

The Time to Act is NOW

The recent cuts to IMLS funding are an emergency for museums of all sizes. Advocacy is not just about lobbying Congress; it starts at the local level. Just as people vote to create change in their communities, small museums can activate their local networks to build support and become an integral part of the civic landscape.

We know museum professionals are already stretched thin. Adding another responsibility to an already overwhelming workload may feel impossible—but if we do not act now, the future of our institutions and the funding that supports them are at risk of quickly being dismantled.

How Small Museums Can Lead the Charge

Putting Community First

If museums want the public to fight for them, we need to first show that we are fighting for our communities. That means stepping beyond our traditional roles, showing up in meaningful ways, and aligning our work with the needs of the people we serve. This will require a reorganization of priorities within our normal day-to-day and a change in how museums have traditionally operated.

Building Local Support

Small museums should prioritize building relationships with local government, school districts, libraries, and community organizations. Museums that demonstrate direct local impact are more likely to gain public support and secure funding through municipal or regional sources.

Educating and Advocating

We must do a better job educating our boards, supporters, and communities about the impact of these funding cuts to museums, especially with educational and public programs, preservation, and economic contributions. An informed community is an engaged community, and an engaged community will fight for its museums.

Prioritizing Staff

Museums are more than just their collections; they are THE people who make them come alive. Without staff, there are no programs, no outreach, no interpretation. Advocacy efforts must emphasize people over objects, ensuring that funders and the public understand that investing in museums means investing in the professionals who create public value. Museums contribute more than $21 billion to the national economy, employ over 400,000 people, invest more than $2 billion a year in education and collectively attract nearly 900 million visitors each year. They ARE economic drivers and employers.

Elevating Our Scrappiness

Small museums have always done more with less. We need to share our success stories and how we have secured funding through unconventional means, built creative partnerships, and found ways to thrive despite financial constraints. Now is the time to come together, brainstorm new solutions, and innovate.

Collaborating with Other Nonprofits

We are stronger together. Partnering with libraries, historical societies, and other nonprofit organizations can create a united front for advocacy and shared funding opportunities. By aligning with other community-focused organizations, we amplify our collective impact.

A Moment to Lead

Unmistakably, cuts to IMLS are a blow, but small museums have always done more with less. Instead of following the same narrative of loss and crisis, we can lead a new conversation: one that highlights resilience, resourcefulness, and the power of small museums as local changemakers. By displaying scrappiness and mobilizing grassroots advocacy, we can position small museums not as victims of budget cuts, but as vital institutions that communities will fight to protect. The time to act is now—small museums must rally their communities, advocate for their value, and fight for the funding that sustains them. By leading with resilience and resourcefulness, we can ensure that museums remain essential spaces for education, preservation, and civic engagement for generations to come.