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

-The Milwaukee Art Museum is one of more than 2,000 museums nationwide participating in the Blue Star Museums program –

Milwaukee, Wis. – May 17, 2018 – Military personnel and their families will be able to visit the Milwaukee Art Museum free of charge this summer. The Museum will again participate in the annual Blue Star Museums, a collaboration between the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense and more than 2,000 museums across the United States to offer free admission to the nation’s active duty military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Military veterans and one guest will also be able to attend the Milwaukee Art Museum free of charge this summer.

“We are excited to participate in the Blue Star Museums collaboration again this summer,” said Amanda C. Peterson, Director of Marketing and Communication at the Milwaukee Art Museum. “Those who serve our country in the military or as supportive family members deserve every bit of inspiration that we can give them. And as we’ve got the Milwaukee County War Memorial Center right here, it just makes sense to extend free admission to veterans. We hope that we can welcome everyone into the Museum this summer.”

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.

“As many military families spend the summer months moving from one duty station to another, or reconnecting with a parent who has returned from deployment, Blue Star Museums helps service members and their families create memories,” said Blue Star Families Chief Executive Officer Kathy Roth-Douquet. “Blue Star Families has great appreciation for the generosity of the museums across the country who roll out the red carpet for the families who serve alongside their service members. We are thrilled with the continued growth of the program and the unparalleled opportunities it offers.”

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 Active Duty and Reservists, National Guardsman (regardless of status), 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.

“Visiting a museum is a great way to get to know a community—whether it’s in your hometown or a stop on a road trip,” said NEA Chairman Jane Chu. “We appreciate the enthusiasm of museums all across the country who open their doors for military and their families to spend time together and have new arts experiences.”

About the National Endowment for the Arts

Established by Congress in 1965, the NEA 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 NEA 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 NEA.

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.

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