The South Carolina Federation of Museums values your health and well-being. We will continue to follow any developments from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and public health officials to keep you informed of any information that may relate to our museum community. 

We urge you to take the normal precautions prescribed by the CDC for navigating cold and flu season, including social distancing, adhering to coughing and sneezing etiquette, and proper hand washing. 

Please use the following resources to best inform your governing body and visitors. 

South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

World Health Organization (WHO)

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Museum Advocacy

Due to museum closures throughout the state, we ask that you register the affects the COVID-19 epidemic has had on your institution. To do so, please click here. Once the federation has accumulated enough information from our members, we will generate an impact survey that we will then use to advocate on behalf of museums in South Carolina. are other ways you and your audience can help.

There are other ways you can help…

The American Alliance of Museums is currently urging Congress to include nonprofit museums in COVID-19 (coronavirus) economic relief legislation to provide emergency assistance through June. Not only can your museum be involved, but you can help your audience amplify their voice. Ask your audience to support your museum by writing to their elected officials using our easy to use template and by sharing why your museum is important to them using #4BillionForMuseums and #MuseumsAdvocacy on social media.

To learn more about the AAM’s campaign, CLICK HERE.

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Letter from the President

Dear South Carolina Museum Family,

As Desmond Tutu once said, “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” The COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic has placed a dark cloud over museums and cultural institutions throughout our state and our nation. Uncertainty and confusion have taken over our day to day operations and lives. We ask ourselves “When will this be over?” and “How will we be able to make it through the quarantine?” Those questions will now be in our minds for the foreseeable future. But, there is hope. Hope that we can all make it through these dark times.

The South Carolina Federation of Museums wants to be a light for all South Carolina museums in this moment of darkness. We want to be an organization that advocates for the many museums in our great state. In the coming weeks, we will communicate information and resources that will help your institution during these difficult times. We will also be sending out surveys to determine the economic impact that the quarantine has had on South Carolina museums. Please participate in these surveys so that we can obtain vital information needed for our advocacy efforts at the state and national level.

South Carolina museums will continue to shine through these dark days. We want to share stories of the ways that our South Carolina museums are shining through this situation. Please share stories, social media posts, and other ways that your museum is coping through this time with Steven Kramer at steven.kramer@scmuseum.org. We will share your stories through our website and our own social media outlets.

We must also be a light among ourselves. Continue to be supportive of our museum colleagues throughout the state. Send an uplifting email to a different museum employee. Encourage fellow colleagues to take time for self care. If you are working from home, check in with colleagues over video chat.

We have hope because museums shine the light of knowledge, wonder, and beauty into our communities. We will make it through this dark time, although there will be many struggles ahead. We will persevere, we will shine that light!

Jennifer E. Moss

President