Tucson Museum of Art to participate in Blue Star Museums
Tucson, AZ – June 8, 2012 – Today the Tucson Museum of Art (TMA) announces the launch of Blue Star Museums, a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 1,500 museums across America to offer free admission to all active duty military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day 2012. Leadership support has been provided by MetLife Foundation through Blue Star Families. The complete list of participating museums is available at www.arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.
In addition to offering free admission as a Blue Star Museum, the TMA will also continue to host monthly family arts education programs like Picture This! Art for Families, a free arts course on the first Sunday of every month, and smARTy Pants, a low-cost family event for children ages 3-5 and their adult companions presented on every third Saturday of the month. Morgan Wells, Curator of Education at the TMA says: “We are very excited to be participating in this influential NEA program, and we’ve made sure to distribute pamphlets and posters on all of our educational family events to the local air force base.”
“Through Blue Star Museums, the arts community is extending a special invitation to military families to enjoy over 1,500 museums this summer,” said NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman. “This is both an opportunity to thank military families for their service and sacrifice, as well as a chance to create connections between museums and these families that will continue throughout the year. Especially for families with limited time together, those on a limited budget, and ones that have to relocate frequently, Blue Star Museums offers an opportunity to enjoy one another and become more fully integrated into a community.”
About Blue Star Museums
Blue Star Museums is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 1,500 museums across America. The program runs from Memorial Day, May 28, 2012 through Labor Day, September 3, 2012. The free admission program is available to active-duty military and their family members (military ID holder and up to five family members). Active duty military include Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and active duty National Guard and active duty Reserve members. Some special or limited-time museum exhibits may not be included in this free admission program.
About The Tucson Museum of Art
Connecting art to life, The Tucson Museum of Art (TMA) inspires discovery, creativity, and cultural understanding through meaningful, engaging exhibitions and experiences. At the crossroads of west Alameda and north Main Avenue, the museum includes five historic houses, an education center, and a Research Library and features original and traveling exhibitions focusing on Art of Latin America, Art of the American West, Modern and Contemporary Art, and Asian Art. The museum also provides tours, education programs, studio art classes, and a Museum Store to delight and educate visitors. Beginning July 1st, the TMA is open Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10am – 5pm, Thursday 10am – 8pm, and Sunday Noon – 5pm, and will be closed Monday and Tuesday. The first Sunday of each month is free.
