13. Advocating for Museum Workers (Not Just Museums)

Who gets to shape the future of museums?For a long time, advocacy in the museum field has focused on institutions (funding, preservation, and public programs). But what about the people doing the work?In this episode of Curate Your Career, Elin Filbey and Alli Schell are joined by members of the National Emerging Museum Professionals Network (NEMPN) board to talk about Museum Workers Advocacy Day (MWAD) and the growing movement to center museum workers in conversations about the future of the field.Together, they explore how NEMPN evolved from a community-focused network into an advocacy-driven organization, why Museum Workers Advocacy Day was created in response to barriers in traditional advocacy spaces, and what it looks like to advocate for fair pay, equitable hiring practices, and sustainable careers in museums.They also break down a powerful idea: advocacy isn’t just something directors or institutions do. It’s something museum workers are already doing every day.If you’ve ever felt frustrated by the structure of museum work or wondered how to create change without burning yourself out, this episode is for you.In This Episode, We Discuss:What the National Emerging Museum Professionals Network (NEMPN) is and who it servesThe shift toward advocacy in 2022 and the 2023 strategic planWhy Museum Workers Advocacy Day was created and how it’s different from traditional advocacy effortsKey issues facing museum workers today (fair pay, unpaid internships, burnout, access to the field)Why emerging professionals are often closest to the future of the fieldHow advocacy shows up in everyday museum workPractical ways to get involved in advocacy, locally and nationallyWhy “you don’t have to do everything” when it comes to advocacyKey TakeawaysAdvocacy in museums has historically centered institutions but museum workers themselves need representation tooMuseum Workers Advocacy Day was created to remove barriers and make advocacy accessible, free, and inclusiveIssues like low pay, unpaid internships, and burnout continue to impact the sustainability of museum careersEmerging professionals bring fresh perspectives, current knowledge, and direct audience experience that are critical to the field’s futureAdvocacy doesn’t have to be big — it can start with asking better questions, building relationships, and making small changesYou don’t have to do everything. Advocacy is not all-or-nothingBuilding a more equitable museum field requires collective action, not individual sacrificeChapters00:00 Why Advocacy Feels Out of Reach for Museum Workers03:00 What is NEMPN? Origins and Evolution08:30 Who Counts as an “Emerging Museum Professional”?13:30 Career Development, Community, and Advocacy18:00 The Shift to Discord + Building Community21:00 Volunteering as Skill-Building (and Why It Matters)26:30 The Origin of Museum Workers Advocacy Day31:00 Why Center Museum Workers (Not Just Institutions)38:00 What to Expect from MWAD 202646:30 Key Issues Facing Museum Workers Today54:00 Why Advocacy Feels Hard (and How to Start Anyway)1:02:00 Practical Ways to Get Involved1:08:00 What Gives Us Hope About the FutureKeywordsmuseum careersmuseum advocacymuseum workersmuseum workers advocacy dayNEMPNmuseum jobscareer sustainabilitymuseum burnoutunpaid internships museumsmuseum salary transparencymuseum professionalsmuseum career advicearts and culture careers