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Portland Museum Of Art's New Admissions Policy: If You're 21 Or Younger, It's Free

Craig Becker
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Courtesy Portland Museum of Art
The Portland Museum of Art.

The Portland Museum of Art is upending its admissions policy - it's going to make it free to everyone 21 years of age and under. The museum says it's part of a campaign to make the museum more welcoming and inclusive. Maine Public Radio’s Morning Edition host Irwin Gratz talked with two people integral to making that happen: Susie Konkel, who donated the money to cover the funds needed to make the change, and Elizabeth "Lizzie" Jones, who is with the museum.

GRATZ:  Good morning to both of you.

KONKEL/JONES: Good morning.

GRATZ:  Susie, word of this of course is already out. I'm just curious as to whether you've heard some reaction to it?

Credit Willis Ryder Arnold / Maine Public
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Maine Public
Susie Konkel, who provided the funds for the free admissions initiative.

KONKEL: Yes, I have. There have been 181 shares on Facebook. I'm getting friend requests. I'm getting notes. I'm getting letters from people I've never even heard of that have found out about this.

GRATZ:  I'm wondering, how will this work for young people who want to come and visit the museum for free?

JONES: So, anyone can come into the museum that is 21 or under and get in for free. What we want is for people to sign up for the Susie Konkel pass, to be enrolled so that we can communicate about the opportunities that this pass provides. We're going to add to it. We're going to really make sure that people can come back and return to visit for opportunities like free films or gallery talks.

GRATZ:  Yeah, there's no charge for the pass either?

JONES:  No, it's completely free. And it's a plastic card, so it feels just like a library card or a membership card. You have ownership over it.

GRATZ: So tell me a little bit about what compelled you to make the donation that’s going to make this possible.

KONKEL: I am a retired teacher. Education’s always been very important to me. And I think every child - not just in Maine - every child around the world should have the opportunity to experience the arts. And they get about 9,000 children here each year, into the museum. And this will just make it endless!

GRATZ:  There must be, I assume, some museum, some art museums around the country that have done something similar. Do you have any idea how widespread free admission might be for young people?

Credit Willis Ryder Arnold / Maine Public
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Maine Public
Elizabeth "Lizzie" Jones, of the Portland Museum of Art.

JONES:  I believe the Lunders funded a program for the Met that it allows 18 and under free. LACMA [Los Angeles County Museum of Art] has a membership for youth that we really kind of modeled this after. But for an institution our size in Maine to really take this on is pretty extraordinary.  And, you know, it's an opportunity that we felt we needed to do to really engage our youth. You know, we have 9,000 kids coming in every year through the school programs, through culture clubs, and we are hoping that this increases that number twofold, maybe more. We've had about 600 already signed up to the Susie Konkel pass, which is pretty extraordinary in three weeks.

GRATZ:  Lizzie, tell me a little bit about how this has evolved, from the museum's point of view.

JONES: Well, I've had the privilege of working with Susie for a little while on this opportunity and gift to the museum. Susie had the forethought to say, "You know what? This gift should go to children." And so we worked with Susie to really think about what kind of opportunity there is to endow opportunities - that is, giving free admission for 21 and under forever. This is not something that's going to be short term. This is not something that's going to end in five years. This is forever. And this is a commitment to our community to say, “We want to open our doors a little wider. This is your place.” You know, art should be accessible for all.

GRATZ:  Do you expect this is going to change the makeup of the people who visit the museum?

JONES:  I think it will add to the makeup of the museum. I think that the museum - you know, we have taken a real focus to become more inclusive and welcoming on the heels of  “Your Museum Re-imagined,” where we reinstalled the galleries, to putting our collection online. That's all aspects of how we have really focused to become more accessible to our visitors.

GRATZ:  Susie, you're pretty excited about this?

KONKEL: Yes, I am, Irwin. I agree with Liz - it's very exciting. And this isn't just 21 and under in Maine or New England - it's all over the world, children can come and sign up.