Newport Art Museum Expands Access to the Arts with Free Museum Entry Days

Newport Art Museum Expands Access to the Arts with Free Museum Entry Days
New Series of Grants and Partnerships Emphasize the Museum’s Commitment to Making Art More Accessible

Newport, RI — Newport Art Museum (NAM) announced today a series of grant awards and partnerships that reflect its ongoing commitment to increasing access to the arts for the Newport community and beyond. Support from the City of Newport, Bank of America, and BankNewport is facilitating programs that provide free museum entry and engage new audiences for the 114-year-old institution.

These enhanced offerings build upon NAM’s longstanding commitment to accessibility. The Museum continues to offer free opening receptions for new exhibitions, free entry for military families and veterans, and free entry for SNAP beneficiaries.

“Art welcomes all and so does the Newport Art Museum. Making the arts more accessible and engaging and creating opportunities for our visitors to channel and share their creativity is a priority for the Museum. With the generous support of our partners, we are offering new, fun, and free ways to visit the Museum, explore extraordinary art, and connect with Newport’s creative community,” said Executive Director Harry Philbrick.

The City of Newport has awarded NAM a $12,500 grant through its FY-27 Civic Support Grant Program. NAM was selected for its successful record of improving Newport’s quality of life by educating and engaging the public on the arts.

“I am proud that the Newport City Council approved civic support grant funding for the Newport Art Museum. As a strong supporter of the arts, I recognize that institutions like the Art Museum add to the city’s creativity and quality of life. I was pleased to join my fellow councilors in supporting this important investment in one of Newport’s valued cultural institutions,” said Lynn Underwood Ceglie, member of the Newport City Council.

This grant will expand NAM’s “Free for All Saturdays” series, which provides free admission to the public on select Saturdays throughout the year. Two additional dates will be added to the existing schedule of four Free for All Saturdays, which have been sponsored by BankNewport.

BankNewport has been a partner for the Museum since 2022.

“BankNewport is pleased to continue its support of the Newport Art Museum’s Free For All Saturdays, which help make the Museum’s exhibitions and programming more accessible to all throughout our community,” said Jack Murphy, President and CEO, BankNewport. “The arts play an important role in strengthening communities, creating connections and enhancing quality of life, and we are proud to partner with the Newport Art Museum to help ensure more residents and visitors have the opportunity to experience all that it has to offer.”

In addition to Free for All Saturdays, NAM is offering free admission as a featured partner in Bank of America’s “Museums on Us” program, which offers free general admission to Bank of America credit and debit cardholders on the first full weekend of every month.

“Cultural institutions like the Newport Art Museum are essential to enriching our local communities and fostering a deeper appreciation of the arts,” said Kevin Tracy, president Bank of America Rhode Island. “We are proud to welcome Newport Art Museum as a new partner in Bank of America’s Museums on Us® program and look forward to expanding access to the arts and supporting cultural engagement in Rhode Island.”

About Newport Art Museum
Founded in 1912, the Newport Art Museum is one of the oldest continuously operating art museums and schools of its kind in the country, engaging diverse audiences through exhibitions, education, and programs that celebrate the visual arts of Newport, New England, and beyond. Located on historic Bellevue Avenue, the Museum’s campus includes the landmark John N.A. Griswold House, a National Historic Landmark designed by Richard Morris Hunt. For more information, visit newportartmuseum.org.