WEDNESDAYS TO BE FREE OF CHARGE AT THE ART MUSEUMS
Released: June 10, 1998
Cambridge, Massachusetts - The Harvard University Art Museums is pleased to announce that beginning on July 1, 1998 entrance to the Fogg, Busch-Reisinger and Sackler museums will be free of charge on Wednesdays. This free day will be in addition to the current free hours on Saturday mornings from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. "These three museums combine to make up one of the most outstanding community resources in the Cambridge and greater-Boston area," said James Cuno, Elizabeth and John Moors Cabot Director. "As our mission emphasizes accessibility, the entire staff is delighted that we will soon be able to offer the public one and a half days a week to view the collections for free. We realize this runs counter to current trends in museums. But we are committed to public accessibility to the fullest extent possible."
The Art Museums are already among the most accessible museums in the region. They are open seven days a week and most of their curatorial departments have study rooms with public hours during which visitors can request to see any work of art in storage. Objects in other departments can be viewed by appointment. "Looking at a work of art is an intimate experience," said Cuno. "We pride ourselves in encouraging close examination of works of art, and not just in the study rooms but in the galleries as well. One of the greatest benefits of being free on a Wednesday as well as Saturday morning is that the Art Museums are fairly quiet during the week, offering people the chance to experience the works of art in our collection with few distractions. Although we expect more people to visit the Art Museums on Wednesdays now that that is a free day, our intention was not to increase attendance. Rather it was to reduce the obstacles that sometimes come between a visitor and a work in our collection. And sometimes admission fees can be an obstacle."
The Art Museums also recognizes the benefit of public instruction and docent tours of all three museums will be offered on Wednesdays in July and August. Tours are offered Monday through Friday from September to June. The Fogg tour is at 11:00 a.m., the Busch-Reisinger tour is at 1:00 p.m. and the Sackler tour is at 2:00 p.m. **
The Harvard University Art Museums' facilities are wheelchair accessible. For general information, please call (617) 495-9400. For press information or photographs, please contact Kate McShea Ewen at (617) 495-2397. For more information on events, please contact the Friends, Fellows, and Special Programs Office at (617) 495-4544. World Wide Web: www.artmuseums.harvard.edu.
**
The Harvard University Art Museums comprise three museums (Busch-Reisinger Museum, Fogg Art Museum, Arthur M. Sackler Museum), all located on the Harvard University campus in Cambridge, MA, at the intersection of Quincy Street and Broadway, adjacent to Harvard Yard. The Art Museums are open Monday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., and Sunday 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Closed holidays. Admission is $5.00; $4.00 for senior citizens; $3.00 for students; free under 18, on Saturday mornings and beginning July 1, on Wednesdays. For special tour reservations, please call (617) 496-8576. General tours are offered Monday through Friday from September through June. The Fogg tour is at 11:00 a.m.; the Busch-Reisinger tour is at 1:00 p.m.; and the Sackler is at 2:00 p.m.
The Harvard University Art Museums is supported in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council. -end