Advocacy

BCMA’s advocacy, research and communications build awareness about the value and impacts of our members and the BC cultural sector among policymakers and the general public.

The BC Museums Association defines advocacy as: The development and maintenance of ongoing relationships with influential people and/or groups that results in sustained recognition, and supporting the resources required to promote culture and heritage as valuable, essential assets and museums, art galleries and cultural centres as keepers of legacy, places of learning and economic drivers for the community.

 

Advocacy Committee

  • Joelle Hodgins, Museum Director, Rossland Museum and Discouver Centre (Committee Co-Chair)
  • Lynn Saffery, Manager, Surrey Museum (Committee Co-Chair
  • Connie Baxter, Connie Baxter Consulting
  • David Alexander, BCMA Past President and Head of Archives, Access and Digital, Royal BC Museum (as member of from the GLAM Sub-Committee)
  • Stephanie Halapija, Director and Curator, Nisga’a Museum
  • Stephen Topfer, Collections Manager, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria

 

Click here to read the Advocacy Committee Terms of Reference

Advocacy Committee (2018)

Terms of Reference

 

1.1 – Purpose

The purpose of the Advocacy Committee is to increase awareness and understanding of British Columbia’s cultural sector, and advocate for stable funding.

 

1.2 – Role

The Committee’s role is to initiate and implement an annual advocacy action plan, advise BCMA, and develop position papers as required.

 

1.3 – Membership/Composition

The Committee should be composed of one third council members and two thirds BCMA members with strong representation from across the BCMA membership. Membership is two years.

 

1.4 – Duties and Responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities of the Advocacy Committee is to advise BCMA administration and membership on advocacy issues and progress. The Committee will create and implement an annual action plan that will have a minimum of two new initiatives. The Committee will develop position papers as required and be mindful of using RoundUp magazine as an advocacy/communications tool.

 

1.5 – Reporting

The committee reports to BCMA Council.

 

1.6 – Meeting Frequency

Monthly, or as agreed by membership.

 

Advocacy News and Updates

We regularly publish advocacy news and updates to help our members and stakeholders stay informed about new policies, statistics and opportunities to advocate for museums and culture.

Submission to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services

BCMA was pleased to provide a summary of funding needs for BC museums as the Province develops its 2018 budget.

BC Museums Week

The Province of British Columbia has proclaimed the third week in May “BC Museums Week,” recognizing, among other things, “the importance of museums, art galleries, historic sites, cultural centres and other memory institutions as keepers of legacy, places of learning, and drivers for the economic and social well-being of our communities.”

Last year, the BC Museums Association was joined by 55 museums and related organizations from around BC as we celebrated and highlighted the work of our members, discussed important themes for the sector, and advocated for reconciliation and innovation within the sector.

BC Museums Week was perfectly situated in the international museum calendar as it included International Museum Day (IMD), an ICOM-sanctioned celebration that takes place annually on May 18.

To learn more about BC Museums Week and IMD, click here.

Invite an MP to Visit Your Museum

In 2017 the Canadian Museums Association and the BC Museums Association partnered on an initiative to encourage museums to invite their MPs to visit their museum.

In a letter to BCMA members, the CMA and BCMA provided resources, tips, and talking points for inviting MPs to visit.  To read the full letter, click here.

Roundup

The Spring 2017 special issue of Roundup was devoted to advocacy, including articles on the upcoming BC election and a call to action for BC museums.