The Toolkit

A SHARED MESSAGE, PERSONALIZED FOR YOUR MISSION

You’re already doing the work.

Anytime you tell a friend about an exhibit, explain your impact to a community partner, or share a story about your staff and visitors you are making an impact locally. This toolkit is here to help you be more intentional about those everyday actions. Each piece supports a unified message about why museums matter, but allows you to customize the details to harness the power of your own story.

Speaking up for your museum involves a continuous cycle of steady, proactive efforts. Toolkit resources align to each step of the cycle, ensuring you have guidance and support no matter what stage of the journey you find yourself on.

Access the entire toolkit, or explore by resource and hotspot below.

General Resources

The Work in Action Understand the cycle of work and see resources matched to the stage of the cycle you're on.
Planning Framework Guidance to help you build your plan.
Networks in Local Communities Learn more about the who, how, and why of connecting with local government, community organizations, and local media.
Communicating for Change A starting place for museums to speak up for their value and build lasting relationships, complete with tips and templates.
Evaluation Tips Quick ideas to help you evaluate, adjust, and adapt your plan.

Hotspot Resources

These resources focus on the most immediate challenges museums are facing right now. Each hotspot includes tools like talking points, board briefings, impact stories, and templates for social media and traditional press to help you respond locally and share your story within the bigger picture across Texas.

Federal Funding

Why Continued Funding Matters

Federal support strengthens local museums. These tools help you show what that investment makes possible in your community.

Weather Events

Strengthening Preparedness and Resilience

From hurricanes to extreme heat, these resources help you prepare for and respond to weather events with confidence.

If you have a story related to the above hotspots, please share it in the record of impact.

Tips for Using Any of Our Resources

Be clear. Tell your audience not only what you do but why you do it. Help them understand what specific support you’re looking for.
Be timely. Reach out when there’s a relevant moment for community or government engagement.
Be real. Promise only what you can deliver, and focus on building two-way relationships. Ask for help, but also thank people for their support.
Keep it local, but connect to the broader picture. Share stories from your own museum, but connect them to how museums across Texas strengthen communities.
Collaborate. Work with other museums or associations when possible. A coordinated effort is stronger and more consistent.

Important: Make sure only those designated to represent your museum use these materials for external outreach. Shared messaging builds credibility and trust.

ADD YOUR VOICE

We need your input. The more we know, the stronger our case for public investment in museums. Right now, that piece is missing—and your voice can help fill the gap.

If you've used the tools on our website, we want to know what worked and what impact it had.

Are you looking for further support? What kind of tools, materials, or trainings would make this effort easier for you? Let us know!

Share your story with us.

STAY CONNECTED

Texas Museums Together helps museums engage communities, track field trends, and advocate for our shared future. We add new tools and resources all the time. Sign up to receive periodic updates and learn more.

Texas museums are indispensable community assets that make meaningful contributions to the state’s economic, educational, and cultural landscape, and we’re here to help prove it. As more museum voices join, we further strengthen our collective voice, gathering steam and creating a robust support network

This initiative is powered by Story + Reason, who are committed to equitable access to these resources and tools and provide them at no cost. If you'd like to support our work, we appreciate you!

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