Major Gift to Endow Free General Admission for Children
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The Museum is pleased to announce a major gift to its endowment to fund free admission opportunities. Gordon D. Sondland and Katherine J. Durant have pledged $1 million to endow free general admission for children, ages 17 and younger.
Free general admission for children will begin this spring. There may be minimal fees for special exhibitions, and there will still be a modest registration fee for school tours.
During the past several years, the Museum has offered sporadic free days based on one-time donations or sponsorships. Last year, the Museum announced an initiative to endow free admission times to provide greater access to the Museum, its exhibitions, and collections.
The goal of the endowment is to ensure that the Museum offers multiple, regularly scheduled opportunities to visit without charge. The $5.5 million endowment goal is divided into five parts:
- $1 million for free regular admission for children (ages 17 and under) – to be funded by this pledge from Sondland and Durant
- $1 million for free admission for school tours to cover the administrative fees associated with organizing and accommodating tours of groups of school children
- $1 million for free transportation to the Museum, for schools that need transportation assistance for student tours
- $1.25 million for free admission on one Thursday night each month
- $1.25 million for free admission on four Sundays per year
To date, the Museum has raised $1.15 million toward this endowment. Learn more on how to support this endowment.
Posted: Monday, February 11th, 2008 | 
Museum Update
