California Museum Month and President’s Awards--May 2005
By Celeste DeWald, Executive Director

In a continuing effort to communicate the value and importance of museums in California, the California Association of Museums (CAM) is in the midst of implementing the sixth statewide public relations and advocacy campaign on behalf of the state’s museums. On behalf of the CAM Board of Directors, thank you to all the museums that are participating in California Museum Month and helping us focus the attention of media, legislators, and the public on the important role that museums play in our state. California Museum Month draws attention to the fact that there are over 1,300 museums in the state addressing a wide range of subjects, including art, history, science, and technology. It reminds the public that California’s museums perform a unique service to the state and its citizens by preserving and interpreting California’s natural and cultural heritage. To communicate this, CAM sent press releases and 30-second public service announcements to 238 newspapers and radio stations across the state in March and April and posted the diverse events hosted across the state on our web site. CAM also provided sample releases to participating institutions and encouraged them to submit their own press packets to regional and local media. Again, thank you to our institutional members for their participation in recognizing the vast and important services provided by California's museums.

In honor of California Museum Month and International Museum Day, CAM also hosted a Legislative Advocacy Day on Wednesday, May 18, 2005 in Sacramento. Museum professionals met with elected officials on this day to discuss the needs of the California museum field as a whole. The day began with a kick-off meeting at the newly renovated Leland Stanford Mansion and culminated with the California Museum Month Reception and President's Awards at the California Museum of History, Women, and the Arts. The program featured special guest speaker Muriel Johnson, Director of the California Arts Council, and the presentation of the President’s Awards by CAM President, Stephen Becker. The recipients of the 2005 CAM President’s Awards are Senator Christine Kehoe and Assembly Member Mark Leno for their support of California’s museums. Recipients of the President’s Award have demonstrated a continuing commitment to museums in California and publicly supported museums in their local district.

(Pictured above: Senator Kehoe, Muriel Johnson, and Assembly Member Leno at the California Museum Month Reception.)