SDMA Announces Free Admission Second Thursday of Each Month

New in 2024, The San Diego Museum of Art (SDMA) is offering free general admission to all on the second Thursday of each month and extending free general admission daily to active and veteran military service members with a valid military ID, plus one guest, and all students with student ID.

These admission updates are a result of the Museum being awarded an Access for All grant funded by the Art Bridges Foundation, a national arts nonprofit founded by philanthropist Alice Walton.

SDMA Free Admission and Expanded Access

Through the grant, SDMA will receive $1.6 million over three years and is committed to offering free general admission to all visitors on a monthly basis and extending more access opportunities to the community.

In addition to general admission, Access for All at the Museum also features tailored programming for the community on select Saturdays and Access for All Thursdays, including:

●     Community Art Workshops, which are open to everyone (no reservations required)
●     Storytelling for all ages and Books and Art activities in the SDMA library
●     Free guided tours (available in English and Spanish) sharing collection highlights on view
●     Free accessibility tours for groups with special needs (reservation required)
●     In-gallery digital interactives to enhance your experiences with the art on view

“We are proud to open our doors to more audiences and enhance our Museum offerings, so all members of the San Diego community and beyond can experience the Museum without barriers,” said Roxana Velásquez, Maruja Baldwin Executive Director and CEO at The San Diego Museum of Art.

“It is an honor to be recognized through the Access for All grant from the Art Bridges Foundation alongside many other historic institutions, and we look forward to expanding our audience and bringing in new communities as a result of the grant.”

Art Bridges’ Nationwide Initiative and its Impact

Access for All is a $40 million nationwide initiative from the Art Bridges Foundation aimed at closing access and opportunity gaps that prevent communities from experiencing art.

This $40 million in funding to 64 art museums and cultural institutions nationwide aims to increase access to art across the country and foster engagement with local communities by covering the costs of free admission days and expanded free hours, as well as programming, outreach, and community partnerships that will eliminate many common barriers to access.

The Art Bridges Access for All initiative represents a sweeping effort to get people back to museums after COVID-19 brought declines in revenue, staffing, and attendance.

With many museums seeing just 71 percent of their pre-pandemic attendance, the new initiative aims to restore pre-pandemic level—and open opportunities for all people to enjoy art by reducing barriers to access and strengthening community relationships.

See you there!

For more information on The San Diego Museum of Art and to purchase tickets, visit here.

See you there, San Diego!