SNF Grant Provides Free Admission to Guggenheim for CUNY Students & Staff
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum announced on September 24 free admission for City University of New York (CUNY) students and staff from five participating schools- Brooklyn College, Hunter College, Lehman College, Queens College, and College of Staten Island through the museum’s University Membership pilot program. Made possible solely through a grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), this new program covers two full academic school years, from fall 2018 through summer 2020. Students, faculty, and staff from participating schools may obtain tickets for themselves and a guest by presenting their university ID at the museum’s Admissions or Membership desks.
The Guggenheim’s pilot University Membership program is designed to provide over 100,000 New York City college students with increased opportunities to connect with and enjoy the Guggenheim’s acclaimed collection of modern and contemporary art, dynamic exhibition offerings, and the iconic architecture of the museum’s Frank Lloyd Wright–designed building.
Richard Armstrong, Director, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation, said, “We are grateful for this catalytic gift from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation to activate a program that encourages students and staff members from participating CUNY schools to engage with the Guggenheim’s many offerings. Expanding and diversifying our audience is a key priority for the museum, and we are delighted to present more opportunities for area college students.”
“The Stavros Niarchos Foundation has focused over the years on, among other initiatives, encouraging the establishment of a broader and more diverse audience at cultural organizations through a number of accessibility grants. We are proud to support free admission at the Guggenheim Museum for students at five CUNY schools as part of a larger effort to make world-renowned cultural institutions more accessible to all,” said Kira Pritchard, Program Officer at the SNF. “The Guggenheim offers a dynamic and thought-provoking program and collection of modern and contemporary art, which will reach more students across the city through this grant.”
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) (www.snf.org) is one of the world’s leading private, international philanthropic organizations, making grants to nonprofit organizations in the areas of arts and culture, education, health and sports, and social welfare. Since 1996 the foundation has committed more than $2.6 billion, through more than 4,000 grants, to nonprofit organizations in 124 nations around the world..