Did you know that the Washington Park Arboretum and other botanic gardens are living museums? It’s true! And we want to let you, our supporters, know about critical updates impacting museums.
On March 14, President Trump issued an Executive Order that would gut the only federal agency dedicated to supporting American museums. The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is a government agency that efficiently provides CRITICAL funding to museums and libraries in all 50 states.
A grant from IMLS allowed UW Botanic Gardens to streamline our collections management systems, making our plant collections data more accessible to our staff and the general public. This work included the creation of our online plant map of the Washington Park Arboretum. Nearly every institution we work with for research and shared knowledge—both locally and nationally—receives funding from IMLS.
The IMLS received $294.8 million in appropriations in 2024. That is only 0.0046% of the overall federal budget. Museums support more than 726,000 jobs and generate $50 billion for the economy. IMLS has wide bi-partisan support, and research shows that 96% of Americans want to maintain or increase federal funding for museums.
We are asking you to take a few minutes to email and call your members of Congress today to ask them to speak up about the importance of IMLS. You can use this template language crafted by the American Alliance of Museums. Remember to personalize the template email with your own story about the impact museums have had on you and your family.
You can learn more about the recent Executive Order and facts about museums’ impact on American communities on the American Alliance of Museums website.
Thank you for considering our ask!
Photo by Libby Lewis.
