SAN JOSÉ, California (February 27, 2019)– The San José Museum of Art (SJMA) is pleased to announce a newly funded initiative to offer free admission to all children and youth 17 years and under, undergraduate students, and school teachers beginning Saturday, March 9, 2019. This new admission policy, announced to coincide with the Museum’s 50th anniversary season, is intended to deepen SJMA’s ties to its diverse community and to increase public awareness of and access to the Museum as an educational resource.
The announcement follows the Museum’s recent launch of Facebook First Fridays, which provide free admission on the first Friday of each month from 5-9pm. Together, the two new initiatives advance the Museum’s overarching goal to become a borderless museum, essential to creative life throughout the diverse communities of San José and Silicon Valley. Additionally, this change to the admissions policy advances a broader national dialogue in the cultural sector around issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and access, bringing SJMA in line with leading national museums and setting a strong example for other arts organizations in the Bay Area. According to San José Museum of Art Oshman Executive Director, Sayre Batton, “SJMA believes in providing access to the arts, and we want to remove any barriers preventing youth, college students, and teachers from experiencing our exhibitions. We are dedicated to welcoming all audiences to our programs with contemporary art and artists and to encouraging new and repeat visitors to the Museum.”
The San José Museum of Art is the largest provider of in-school arts education in Santa Clara County, serving more than 40,000 school children per year. The new admission policy for students and teachers amplifies the Museum’s commitment to education by encouraging this critical demographic to make frequent and repeat visits to the museum. By providing additional opportunities for educators to utilize SJMA exhibitions and programs in their work, it also enhances the impact of SJMA’s popular standards-based school programs and museum tours, which strive to integrate the arts into the broader curriculum.
Free admission for youth, college students, and teachers is made possible with support from the Yellow Chair Foundation.
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ABOUT SAN JOSE MUSEUM OF ART
The San José Museum of Art reflects the diverse cultures and innovative spirit of Silicon Valley. Through its exhibitions, programs, scholarship, and collections, SJMA connects the present and the past, the art of the West Coast and the world. The Museum fosters awareness of artists’ broad contributions to society and engages audiences with the art of our time and the vitality of the creative process.
The San José Museum of Art is located at 110 South Market Street in downtown San José, California. The Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, 11am to 5pm and until 8pm or later on the third Thursday of each month. As of Friday, February 1, 2019, SJMA is also free to all on the first Friday of each month from 5–9pm.
ADMISSION POLICY DETAILS
Normal admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors. This newly updated admission policy is for free individual admission for children and youth 17 years and under, undergraduate students, and school teachers with valid ID. Group tours, which may require additional fees, can be arranged Tuesday–Sunday 11am–4pm and must be booked in advance. For questions regarding our group tour policy please visit sjmusart.org/education or contact our education program coordinator at education@sjmusart.org.