Dear Friends of the HRM,

On March 14, the White House issued an Executive Order directing further cuts to the government agency that efficiently provides CRITICAL funding to museums and libraries in all 50 states. The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) makes up only 0.0046% of the overall federal budget to support a sector that generates more than $50 billion dollars in economic benefits to the American economy and supports more than 726,000 jobs. American museums—including the Hudson River Museum—receive bi-partisan support. and research shows that 96% of Americans would approve of lawmakers who act to support museums and 96% of Americans want to maintain or increase federal funding for museums.

Did you know? The HRM is a proud recipient of an IMLS matching grant to support the digitization of approximately 8,000 collection objects largely consisting of historical photographs representative of the Museum’s local and regional artists and communities. Among these are the archives of the John Bond Trevor family—the original residents of Glenview—the Alexander Smith Carpet Factory, artist Alvin C. Hollingsworth, and celebrated photographer Rudolf Eickemeyer Jr., who was a founder of the Museum. Our IMLS grant is intended to help the Hudson River Museum be able to inform scholarship and share our collection with a wide audience. The work would not be possible without this impactful grant.

Please email AND call your members of Congress today to ask them to speak up to the Administration about the importance of IMLS in your communities. It is very important that you include in your email your personal story about the impact museums and libraries have had on you and your family.

Urge Congress to Support IMLS

Instructions:

1. First enter your address and select “Go.”
2. The page will update with an email icon automatically selected, with the template email you should edit, and with your members of Congress already identified.
3. If you click on the phone icon, the page will switch to the draft phone scripts including phone numbers for your House member and both Senators. After you call your members of Congress, please answer the two questions under the script.

IMLS provides essential funding and guidance for the vast collections of museums across America. They are also community anchors, supporting youth and senior citizens, serving people with disabilities, and helping veterans heal. Beyond education, museums are economic engines, providing jobs, driving tourism, and serving as community cornerstones. Museums cannot do this vital work without the support they receive from agencies like IMLS.

Your voice matters.

In partnership,

Masha Turchinsky
Director and CEO