Free Admission this Summer to the Milwaukee Art Museum for Members of the Military

Milwaukee, Wis. – May 17, 2019 – Military personnel and their families will again be able to visit the Milwaukee Art Museum free of charge this summer. The Museum will participate in the annual Blue Star Museums program, a collaboration among the National Endowment of the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense and more than 2,000 museums in the United States.

Beginning Armed Forces Day on Saturday, May 18, through Labor Day, Sept. 2, 2019, active military and up to five family members can visit the Milwaukee Art Museum free of charge. Military veterans and one guest will also be able visit the Museum for free this summer.

“We are proud to be this community’s art museum, welcoming everyone in it to explore, be inspired and spend quality time with their friends and family,” said Amanda C. Peterson, Senior Director of Audience Engagement at the Milwaukee Art Museum. “We are so thankful to have programs like this that allow us to welcome those who give so much to this country, as service members, as veterans and as the families that miss their loved ones serving. ”

This year’s participating Blue Star Museums represent not just fine arts museums, but also science museums, history museums, zoos, nature centers and children’s museums.

Museums are welcome to sign up for Blue Star Museums throughout the summer by emailing bluestarmuseums@arts.gov. A list of institutions nationwide participating in the Blue Star Museums collaboration is available at arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.

“The Defense Department congratulates Blue Star Families and the National Endowment for the Arts on reaching an incredible milestone: ten years of service to the military community though Blue Star Museums,” said A.T. Johnston, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy. “We offer our sincere gratitude to the more than 2,000 museums across the country who open their doors through this wonderful program. Your patriotism and generosity have enriched the lives and experiences of our military families.”

The free admission program is available for those currently serving in the United States Military—Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard as well as members of the Reserves, National Guard, U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps, and up to five family members. Qualified members must show a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID), or a DD Form 1173-1 ID card for entrance into a participating Blue Star Museum.

The Milwaukee Art Museum has added two unique offers at their Museum on top of the Blue Star Museums program. The Milwaukee Art Museum will extend free summer admission for military veterans and one guest with any proof of service, such as a VA card. The Museum’s admissions desks will also offer free postcards and postage for anyone who wants to send a note to those currently deployed.

“The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to celebrate the 10th summer of collaborating with Blue Star Families, Department of Defense, and especially the more than 2,000 museums across our nation that make this program possible,“ said Mary Anne Carter, Acting Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. “Organizations such as the Milwaukee Art Museum are providing wonderful opportunities for military families to share a memorable experience together this summer.”

About the Milwaukee Art Museum

Home to a rich collection of more than 30,000 works of art, the Milwaukee Art Museum is located on the shores of Lake Michigan. Its campus includes the Santiago Calatrava–designed Quadracci Pavilion, annually showcasing three feature exhibitions, and the Eero Saarinen–designed Milwaukee County War Memorial Center and David Kahler‒designed addition.In 2016, after a yearlong renovation, the Museum reopened its Collection Galleries, debuting nearly 2,500 world-class works of art within dramatically transformed galleries and a new lakefront addition. This reimagined space also allows for the presentation of additional changing exhibitions. For more information, please visit: mam.org.

About the National Endowment for the Arts

Established by Congress in 1965, the National Endowment for the Arts is the independent federal agency whose funding and support gives Americans the opportunity to participate in the arts, exercise their imaginations and develop their creative capacities. Through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies and the philanthropic sector, the Arts Endowment supports arts learning, affirms and celebrates America’s rich and diverse cultural heritage and extends its work to promote equal access to the arts in every community across America. Visit arts.gov to learn more.

About Blue Star Families

Blue Star Families builds communities that support military families by connecting research and data to programs and solutions, including career development tools, local community events for families and caregiver support. Since its inception in 2009, Blue Star Families has engaged tens of thousands of volunteers and serves more than 1.5 million military family members. With Blue Star Families, military families can find answers to their challenges anywhere they are. For more information, visit bluestarfam.org.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.