The message from the American public is clear: museums matter.
In a recent report from the American Alliance of Museums, Americans overwhelmingly value museums as educational, cultural, and economic assets to their communities. Supporting museums is a core value of the American public that crosses the political aisle, bridges divides between urban and rural communities, and is even consistent among those who do not regularly visit museums.
CWAM knows this, which is why we work to advocate for museums in Colorado and Wyoming and promote museum interests across our states.
Many counties and cities in Wyoming support museums through a property tax levy. Counties in Wyoming can tax up to 12 mills and cities can tax up to 8 mills. Often a small percentage of those levies are passed on to local museums for operations and programming. These public funds help museums protect and document Wyoming’s distinct natural, cultural, and industrial heritage but also allow museums to be vital community anchors with long-lasting economic, educational, and social value.
Did you know that there are five special museum districts in Wyoming that are funded by a property tax mill levy? This dedicated, stable funding is essential for the preservation of local and regional history in a rural state like Wyoming.
Read the full AAM report and connect with the CWAM Advocacy Team to support museums across Wyoming and Colorado.
CWAM loves and supports its museum community. Read our press release showing our support for all of our Colorado and Wyoming museums.
The Colorado Wyoming Association of Museums (CWAM) supports and assists both small and large museums with advocacy efforts. CWAM seeks to provide advocacy resources on our website, deliver tailored advocacy information upon request to museums, while also promoting advocacy events. The largest advocacy event that CWAM directs and formulates is Museums Advocacy Day where museum members come together to advocate and explain the societal impact of museums to government officials at all levels and the communities they serve. Advocacy is essential in order to bring museums to the forefront of the public’s eye, contact us to start your advocacy efforts in conjunction with CWAM today!