One of more than 1,300 museums across America to offer free admission to military personnel and their families this summer
The Akron Art Museum has announced its participation in Blue Star Museums, a partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families and more than 1,300 museums across America to offer free admission to all active duty military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day 2011. Based on the Akron Art Museum’s hours of operation, free admission to all galleries will be offered Wednesday, June 1 through Sunday, September 4, 2011. The complete list of participating museums is available at www.arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.
Military personnel can be among the many to enjoy the awe-inspiring works in M.C. Escher: Impossible Realities on view through June 5, Sarah Kabot: Unfolding Space on view through June 11 and All-Star Jazz: The Photographs of Herman Leonard on view through July 10. Starting June 18 Kaleidoscope Quilts: The Art of Paula Nadlestern and The Dorothy and Herbert Vogel Collection: Fifty Works for Ohio will open, followed by Flora opening on July 16.
“The Akron Art Museum is honored to again offer this wonderful program to our service men and women. Last year many military families enjoyed this benefit,” said museum Director and CEO Mitchell Kahan. “It is a great opportunity for local military personnel to familiarize themselves with the museum and we also hope to attract visitors from around the country.”
“Blue Star Museums may be the program at the NEA of which I am proudest,” said NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman. “Blue Star Museums recognizes and thanks our military families for all they are doing for our country, and simultaneously begins young people on a path to becoming life-long museum goers.”
“Last year the success of the inaugural year of the Blue Star Museums program showed that partnerships between the nation’s museum and military communities are a natural,” said Blue Star Families Chairman Kathy Roth-Douquet. “We are thrilled that 300,000 military family members visited our partner museums in the summer of 2010. We hope to exceed that number this year as the military community takes advantage of the rich cultural heritage they defend and protect every day. We appreciate the NEA and the nation’s museums who chose to partner with us. We also are grateful to our friends at the MetLife Foundation, the lead supporter of the Blue Star Museums outreach initiative, whose generous donation helps make our work possible.”
