The Marilyn Horne Museum and Exhibit Center announced it is joining museums nationwide in the Blue Star Museums initiative, a program that provides free admission to currently-serving U.S. military personnel and their families this summer.
The 2021 program will begin on Armed Forces Day today and end on Labor Day, Sept. 5. Find the list of participating museums at arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.
Blue Star Museums is a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families, in collaboration with the Department of Defense and museums across America. Because the museum already offers free admission to everyone, the museum is giving special discounts in the museum shop and museum café. Active duty military personnel and their families will receive a 10% discount on purchases in the museum shop, and a 20% discount on purchases in the museum café.
“Growing up in a military family, I understand the importance of recognizing active duty military personnel and their families,” said Matthew Hileman director of the Marilyn Horne Museum and Exhibit Center. “My father and brother were both service members, and my mother was an active volunteer in many base organizations as well as the USO welcome center at the St. Louis airport in the 1990s. When I learned about this program, I jumped at the chance to be a part of it.”
“Museums educate and inspire, cause us to wonder and imagine, dream and remember,” said Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson, chair of the National Endowment for the Arts. “By participating in the Blue Star Museums program, the Marilyn Horne Museum is offering military personnel and their families an opportunity to feel connected to the Bradford community and to explore the world through the power of arts, culture and design, contributing to each person being able to live an artful life.”
Blue Star Museums include children’s museums, art, science, and history museums, zoos, gardens, lighthouses, and more, and hail from all 50 states, District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The current list of participating museums will continue to develop over the summer as organizations are welcome to register to be a Blue Star Museum throughout the summer.
“Our military community looks forward to the Blue Star Museum program each year and I am excited to celebrate the 2022 season along with them!” said Kathy Roth-Douquet, CEO of Blue Star Families. Thank you, Marilyn Horne Museum for participating in this impactful program and offering military families the opportunity to enjoy the arts with you this summer.”
The free admission program is available for those currently serving in the United States Military—Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, and Space Force, 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), DD Form 1173-1 ID card or the Next Generation Uniformed Services (Real) ID card for entrance into a participating Blue Star Museum.
