Phoenix Art Museum reduces admission for children and teens to $5 during pandemic

Oct, 22, 2020

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Phoenix Art Museum reduces admission for children and teens to $5 during pandemic

PhxArt Field Trip for Kids program presented by UMB Bank to honor low-cost field-trip pricing through January 31, 2021 for all visitors younger than 18

PHOENIX (October 22, 2020) –In response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Arizona families, Phoenix Art Museum has reduced admission for all visitors younger than 18 from $14 to the institution’s field-trip rate of $5 per youth. Made possible through the profound generosity of UMB Bank and the William T. Kemper Charitable Trust, the new program, known colloquially as PhxArt Field Trip for Kids, represents a 60% reduction in youth admission, providing a more affordable way for working families who have been economically impacted by the pandemic to visit the Museum. In support of this effort and in response to Arizona schools suspending group activities such as field trips, the Museum has extended its weekday hours to 7 pm to provide parents and their children with more opportunities to benefit from the new pricing structure and experience arts and culture while social distancing.

“We are very excited to offer this program for working families in Arizona in hopes that it will open doors to fun and educational experiences for parents and children alike, while also helping to reduce economic barriers that may prevent community members from visiting the Museum,” said Tim Rodgers, PhD, the Museum’s Sybil Harrington Director and CEO. “We are truly grateful to both UMB Bank and the William T. Kemper Charitable Trust who have made it possible for the Museum to reduce youth admission. Their generosity is a deeply impactful investment in increasing access to inspiring art for the youngest members of our community.”

Each year, more than 20,000 students visit the Museum as part of its school-tours program, which offers a reduced field-trip admission rate of just $5 per student. School visits to Phoenix Art Museum, along with other institutions, help to provide a foundational connection to arts and culture for young people and often represent their only opportunity to experience museums. With the suspension of school tours at Phoenix Art Museum to safeguard the health and well-being of students as well as other Museum visitors, volunteers, and staff, the Museum created the new discounted admission program, PhxArt Field Trip for Kids, to ensure Arizona students can still learn about and experience art during the pandemic in an affordable, socially distanced way. In addition to reduced general admission for youth, the Museum will also suspend the $5 special-exhibition charge for visitors younger than 18 during voluntary-donation hours, including Pay-What-You-Wish Wednesdays, offered weekly from 3 – 7 pm, and monthly First Fridays from 3 – 7 pm.

“We are proud to support the important role that Phoenix Art Museum plays in our community,” said Robert Faver, President, Arizona Region of UMB Bank. “By continuing to make art accessible to our youth in a safe way during this pandemic, the Museum is helping to keep our culture alive and vibrant.”

Phoenix Art Museum, with the support of UMB Bank and the Kemper Charitable Trust, will offer the $5 discounted admission rate for youth through January 31, 2021, at which point the Museum will evaluate its financial capacity to continue the program and the status of the pandemic in Arizona. The waived $5 special-exhibition charge for youth during the Museum’s free times will also be offered through January 31, 2021. For more information about the PhxArt Field Trip for Kids program, contact the Museum’s Communications Office at 602.307.2003 or samantha.andreacchi@phxart.org.

About Phoenix Art Museum

Since 1959, Phoenix Art Museum has provided millions of guests with access to world-class art and experiences in an effort to ignite imaginations, create meaningful connections, and serve as a brave space for all people who wish to experience the transformative power of art. Located in Phoenix’s Central Corridor, the Museum is a vibrant destination for the visual arts and the largest art museum in the southwestern United States. Each year, more than 300,000 guests engage with critically acclaimed national and international exhibitions and the Museum’s collection of more than 20,000 works of American and Western American, Asian, European, Latin American, modern and contemporary art, and fashion design. The Museum also presents a comprehensive film program, live performances, and educational programs designed for visitors of all ages, along with vibrant photography exhibitions made possible through the Museum’s landmark partnership with the Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona. To learn more about Phoenix Art Museum, visit phxart.org, or call 602.257.1880.