WHAT:

"Army Wives" cast members Brian McNamara, Terry Serpico, and Katelyn Pippy will join author and military spouse Sue Hoppin and military spouse Lisa Ripa  for a private tour of the Gibbes Museum of Art on Friday, July 9, 2010 at 9:30 a.m.

Blue Star Museums is a partnership among Blue Star Families, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and more than 850 museums across America offering free admission to active duty military personnel and their families this summer; details at arts.gov.

"Army Wives" is filmed in Charleston, South Carolina, and the GIbbes Museum of Art is located along the Museum Mile in Charleston's historic district.

WHO:

"Army Wives" cast members Brian McNamara ("Major General Michael Holden"), Terry Serpico ("Colonel Frank Sherwood"), and Katelyn Pippy ("Emmalin Holden," Major General Holden's teenage daughter)

Sue Hoppin and her son.  Hoppin is the wife of an Air Force officer; founder and president of the National Military Spouse network; and author of A Family's Guide to the Military 

Lisa Ripa and her two children, whose husband and father is an Army Major deployed for his third tour

Robert Frankel, NEA Director of Museums and Visual Arts

Bret Lott, NEA National Council of the Arts Member, author, and Professor of English at the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina

Angela Mack, Executive Director and Chief Curator, the Gibbes Museum

Ellen Dressler Moryl, Director, City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs

WHERE:  

The Gibbes Museum of Art
135 Meeting Street
Charleston, South Carolina

WHEN:   

Friday, July 9, 2010
9:30- 10:00 a.m. - guided tour, leaving from the steps of the Gibbes Museum 10:00-10:30 a.m. - press availability and Q&A

WHEN:   

Media must R.S.V.P. to Sally Gifford, NEA Public Affairs, at giffords@arts.gov, 202-536-7162 (Blackberry) or 202-682-5606 (office).