International Museum Day is tomorrow (Tuesday, May 18) and, in support of this annual event, marked by museums and cultural institutions around the world, admission to the Wichita Art Museum on Tuesday is free to everyone. International Museum Day is organized by the International Council of Museums (ICOM), representing the global museum community.

This year’s International Museum Day theme, “The Future of Museums: Recover and Reimagine,” emphasizes the ability of museums around the world to create, imagine, and share innovative solutions to the challenges of the past year, particularly in regard to the COVID-19 global pandemic that temporarily shuttered cultural institutions and museums in 2020, including WAM. The experience of navigating this pandemic reignited the museum’s passion and purpose, and offering free admission tomorrow honors a critical ingredient in WAM’s success: our museum visitor.

In addition to free admission on Tuesday, the Museum Store is offering a 10% discount to visitors on all merchandise (except consignment pieces). WAM Members, who normally receive a 10% discount as a benefit of membership, will receive 20% off their Store purchases on Tuesday.

WAM Director Dr. McDonnell is available for media interviews. Call Teresa Veazey, public relations manager, at (316) 268-4985 or email pr@wam.org. COVID-19 protocols remain in place at the museum, such as requiring facial masks for visitors, including those who have been vaccinated for the virus, and maintaining social distance between visitors who are not from the same household.

International Museum Day was celebrated for the first time in 1977. Last year, according to ICOM’s website, more than 37,000 museums participated in the event in 158 countries and territories.