Children age 12 and under will always be admitted to the Milwaukee Art Museum free of charge due to an anonymous $3.54 million gift to establish an endowment at the museum in support of its longstanding commitment to providing children with access to world-class art experiences. The donation ensures that free admission for children will continue for years to come.
The anonymous donor, whose philanthropy has supported a range of museum education and outreach programs, shared fond memories of visiting the museum with family throughout life. The donor expressed a wish for the endowment to foster similar experiences for future generations of families.
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“This wonderful gift is a celebration of the way that philanthropy can have a significant and lasting impact for generations,” MAM Chief Development Officer André Allaire said. “Every day, our youngest museum visitors will be able to access, engage with and learn from world-class exhibitions and programs free of charge thanks to the generosity of an individual who believes in the power of art to strengthen our community.”
Effective immediately, the gift supports continued free access for kids 12 and under to the museum’s collections, exhibitions and youth and family programs. Signature youth and family programs include the semi-annual Kohl’s Family Sundays, monthly Play Date with Art, and weekly Story Time in the Galleries. Families can look forward to four days of Winter Break fun from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Dec. 26–29 when the museum will bustle with artful activities to engage and entertain all family members.
“Since our earliest days as an institution, the Milwaukee Art Museum has provided free educational experiences for children,” MAM Director Marcelle Polednik said. “The endowment established from this inspirational donation will keep that tradition alive for future generations of the communities we serve.”
Through ArtPacks and SketchPacks, Family Guides, costumes, and Museum Moments cards, families have a variety of opportunities to make art and learn together in the galleries. Kids and grown-ups alike can also engage in hands-on art activities every Saturday and Sunday in the Kohl’s Art Studio, where projects are inspired by the museum’s collections and exhibitions and change every month.
“This gift allows us to always be an accessible, safe space where kids can express themselves, apply their critical thinking and imagination, build their visual literacy skills, strengthen their relationships with others and learn through creative play, all of which are significant to early childhood development,” MAM Chief Learning and Engagement Officer Amy Kirschke said.
For more information about kid-friendly activities and amenities, visit mam.org/learn/visiting-with-kids. To plan a family outing to the Milwaukee Art Museum, go to mam.org/visit.
Editor’s Note: Admission for children 12 and under was already free before this donation. The donation guarantees that free admission for children will continue in perpetuity.
