AUSTIN AREA CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS WORK TOGETHER

TO OFFER FREE ADMISSION AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS ON AUSTIN MUSEUM DAY

Austin Museum Day

Sunday, September 17th, 2017

AUSTIN, TX – August 14th, 2017– The Austin Museum Partnership announces its 20th Annual Austin Museum Day, a free city-wide celebration of art, culture, history, music, nature, and science on Sunday, September 17, 2017. More than thirty-five museums in the greater Austin area will welcome visitors with special programming, including guided exhibition tours, hands-on activities, and more, for visitors of all ages. Organized by the Austin Museum Partnership, a consortium of Austin area museums founded in 1998, Austin Museum Day is a longstanding collaboration among Austin’s cultural institutions that invites the public to experience for the first time, or to rediscover, the dynamic, high-quality resources at museums in their community. Last year, nearly 30,000 area residents visited their community museums on Austin Museum Day.

“Austin Museum Day has become a treasured and much-anticipated ‘day of discovery’ when residents and visitors can seek out not only our flagship institutions, but also smaller hidden gems,” Austin Museum Partnership Co-Chair Lani Gonzalez remarks. “We hope that a positive Museum Day experience will plant the seed for return visits.”

Over the past few years, the Austin Museum Partnership has expanded to include museums in surrounding communities, including Cedar Park, Georgetown, and Johnson City. “Museum Day is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the truly vibrant and diverse cultural offerings of not just Austin, but the entire Hill Country region,” states Gonzalez.

A day of fun and discovery, Austin Museum Day is coordinated by a volunteer board and made possible through the support of community organizations and sponsors. Austin Museum Day’s “open house” atmosphere aims to strengthen the metropolitan area’s museum community through increased awareness and accessibility.

Participating museums include:

Art. Science. Gallery.; Austin History Center; Austin Nature and Science Center; Austin Toy Museum; Austin Woman’s Club; Blanton Museum of Art; Briscoe Center for American History; Brush Square Museums (O. Henry and Susanna Dickinson Museums); Bullock Texas State History Museum; City of Austin Cultural Arts Division; Dougherty Arts Center; Elisabet Ney Museum; Harry Ransom Center; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center; Landmarks Public Art Program, The University of Texas at Austin; LBJ Presidential Library and Museum; Mexic-Arte Museum; Neill-Cochran House Museum; Pioneer Farms; Save Austin’s Cemeteries at Historic Oakwood Cemetery; Science Mill; Sheffield Education/Splash!; South Austin Museum of Pop Culture; Texas Capitol Visitors Center; Texas Department of Public Safety Historical Museum and Research Center; Texas Medical Association History of Medicine Gallery; Texas Memorial Museum; Texas Military Forces Museum; Texas Music Museum; Texas State Capitol; Texas Wendish Hertiage Museum; Texas State Library and Archives Commission; The Contemporary Austin; Thinkery; Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum; Williamson Museum; Waller Creek Conservancy; Women and Their Work

Visit www.austinmuseums.org and download the Austin Museum Partnership mobile app for the latest details about Austin Museum Day, participating museums, and program hours.

Austin Museum Day is sponsored by:

HEB, Whataburger, The City of Austin, The Austin Chronicle, Capital Metro

About the Austin Museum Partnership:

The Austin Museum Partnership (AMP) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that promotes and facilitates collaboration within the museum community for the benefit of the city’s museums and the community at large. Since 1998, the Austin Museum Partnership has coordinated Austin Museum Day, a community event that offers free admission and includes special programs and activities at museums and cultural institutions across the area. Austin Museum Day is held every year on the penultimate (second-to-last) Sunday of the month of September.

Follow the Austin Museum Partnership:

@AustinMuseums

www.facebook.com/AustinMuseums

#MuseumDay2017

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