Two years after Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh introduced a group of Community Access Memberships meant to make its four museums more accessible to all, more than 23,000 individuals, families, and organizations are benefiting from the program.
- 19,100 teens have joined through the program’s free Teen Membership, which remains active until a teenager turns 19.
- 3,800 families and individuals who qualify for public assistance are now enjoying the full benefits of membership at the reduced cost of $20, thanks to the Family Access Membership (a regular Family Membership is $160).
- 120 regional social-services organizations have signed up for free year-round access to the four Carnegie Museums through the program’s complimentary Organizational Outreach Membership, which allows groups to visit with the community members they serve for free (up to 11 people per visit).
“Museums are transformative places, and we want more people of all ages to be able to connect with each other and the world around them at the four Carnegie Museums,” said Steven Knapp, president and CEO of Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh. “We’re especially pleased that more than 19,000 young people have taken advantage of our teen memberships, which enable them to experience, free of charge, all that our museums have to offer, including new programming created just for them.”
Huntington National Bank has partnered with Carnegie Museums as the lead sponsor of the Community Access Program since November 2022. “Huntington is committed to strengthening the communities we serve. By providing greater access for teens, families, and community groups to the exceptional educational experiences of the four Carnegie Museums, our entire region benefits,” said Susie Shipley, regional president for Huntington National Bank.
Among the 120 community-based non-profits that now benefit from Carnegie Museums’ complimentary Organizational Outreach Membership are Hello Neighbor, which provides support to recently resettled refugee and immigrant families, and Community Living & Support Services (CLASS), an organization that fosters community inclusion for people with disabilities.
“Museums are spaces of hope, of culture, and of learning,” said Jenni Walkup Jayes, public anthropologist and program manager for Hello Neighbor. “When we travel, museums are often a key to learning about the history and culture of a place. The same is true for our new neighbors from around the world. Programs like this invite refugees and immigrants to feel themselves fully at home in Pittsburgh.”
“At CLASS, we are thrilled to take advantage of the Organizational Outreach Membership,” said Jan Harangozo, Program Specialist with CLASS. “It gives us the opportunity to participate in museum activities throughout the year by eliminating several barriers to participation. We treasure the many meaningful experiences we get to enjoy at Carnegie Museums.”
Since the launch of the Community Access Program, all four Carnegie Museums have expanded their lifelong learning experiences through more teen-centric offerings and programming targeted to seniors. Carnegie Museums now has a record 38,000+ member households, representing more than 150,000 people. A Carnegie Museums membership provides year-round access to Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History, Carnegie Science Center, and The Andy Warhol Museum, and invites families and individuals of all ages to be part of a large and diverse community of discovery.
