Statement by National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Rocco Landesman on the Continuing Expansion of Blue Star Museums

More than 700 museums across America will now offer free admission to active duty military personnel and their families this summer

May 27, 2010

		Contact: Sally Gifford 202-682-5606 giffords@arts.gov

"This past Monday, I was in San Diego with our colleagues from Blue Star Families and the museum community to announce that 'more than 600 museums' would offer active duty military personnel and their families free admission this summer. In the three days since we made that announcement, one hundred more museums have signed up. We now have more than 700 participating museums, and museums are still contacting us," said NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman. "The museum community has overwhelmingly responded to our call to support and embrace our military families this summer, and this jump in participation sets exactly the right tone as we head into this weekend's launch of the program."

From left to right: Sophia Tillman (age 7), Gabriel Fitzgerald (age 8), Rachel Fitzgerald, Sophie Roth-Douquet, Charlie Roth-Douquet, Noeleen Tillman, and Zoe Tillman (age 11) explore the Museum of Photographic Arts in San Diego's Balboa Park after the May 24 announcement of Blue Star Museums. Photo by Sandy Huffaker

Please see more information about Blue Star Museums on the website.

Read the full text of a statement about Blue Star Museums from Brigadier General Nolen V. Bivens, U.S. Army, Ret, titled The Arts of War...and Peace, in which he writes eloquently about the role of arts and culture in supporting the security and diplomatic goals of our nation's armed forces.

Contact the NEA at 202-682-5570 for a high-resolution copy of the above photo.

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Press event Please watch the video of the Blue Star Museums press conference courtesy of San Diego City TV.