Arizona Museums to Open Their Doors to Military Families This Summer

PHOENIX, AZ Six Arizona museums will offer free admission to all active duty military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day 2010, according the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Blue Star Families, a national, nonpartisan, nonprofit network of military families from all ranks and services. Arts organizations have traditionally opened their doors and programs for service men and women over the course of history, said Arts Commission Executive Director, Robert C. Booker. The Arizona Commission on the Arts is pleased to see these Arizona nonprofit museums participating in this program. The Blue Star Museum initiative involves over 600 museums throughout the country which have agreed to offer free admission to members of the military and their families. In Arizona, the six museums are: Arizona State Museum: www.statemuseum.arizona.edu/ Tucson, AZ Desert Caballeros Western Museum: www.westernmuseum.org/ Wickenburg, AZ Heard Museum: www.heard.org/ Phoenix, AZ Museum of Northern Arizona: www.musnaz.org/ Flagstaff, AZ Phoenix Art Museum: www.phxart.org/ Phoenix, AZ Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art: www.smoca.org/ Scottsdale, AZ The Mini Time Machine Museum: www.theminitimemachine.org/ Tucson, AZ Americas museums are proud to join the rest of the country in thanking our military personnel and their families for their service and sacrifice, said NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman. I cannot imagine a better way to do that than welcoming them in to explore and enjoy the extraordinary cultural heritage our museums present. The works of art on view this summer will certainly inspire and challenge viewers and sometimes they will just be a great deal of fun. For more information about the Blue Star Museum initiative and the partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, please visit www.arts.gov/national/bluestarmuseums/index.php. Related links: For a full list of participating museums, visit www.arts.gov/bluestarmuseums. Blue Star Museums Blog: www.arts.gov/bluestarblog/ About the National Endowment for the Arts The NEA is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts both new and established bringing the arts to all Americans, and providing leadership in arts education. Established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government, the Arts Endowment is the largest annual national funder of the arts, bringing great art to all 50 states, including rural areas, inner cities, and military bases. For more information, please visit www.arts.gov. About Blue Star Families Blue Star Families is a national, nonpartisan, nonprofit network of military families from all ranks and services including guard and reserve, with a mission to support, connect and empower military families. In addition to morale and empowerment programs, Blue Star Families raises awareness of the challenges and strengths of military family life with civilian community and leaders. Membership includes spouses, kids, parents, service members, veterans and civilians. About the Arizona Commission on the Arts One of 56 state and jurisdictional arts agencies across the United States, the Arizona Commission on the Arts is an agency of the State of Arizona that supports a statewide arts network. The Arizona Commission on the Arts supports access to quality arts and arts education opportunities for all Arizona citizens; the development and retention of statewide jobs in the nonprofit arts, culture and education sectors; and increased economic impact in local communities through arts-based partnerships that develop tax and small business revenue. For more information about the Arizona Commission on the Arts and its programs, visit www.azarts.gov.