Donor's gift allows PMA to offer free under-21 admission
Courtesy / Portland Museum of Art
Starting April 11, the Portland Museum of Art will offer free admission to visitors 21 years and younger. The Portland Museum of Art will begin offering free, unlimited admission to everyone age 21 and under on April 11. The program is made possible through the vision and generosity of Susie Konkel, a leading philanthropist and advocate for youth in Maine and the region.
The Portland Museum of Art will begin offering free, unlimited admission to everyone age 21 and under on April 11.
The program is made possible through the vision and generosity of Susie Konkel, a leading philanthropist and advocate for youth in Maine and the region, and will include other benefits, all named in her honor as the Susie Konkel Pass.
All visitors age 21 and under will receive free admission automatically when they visit the PMA, but young people or their guardians can also increase their level of engagement by signing up for the Susie Konkel Pass, which will provide the holder opportunities to attend special events including select free screenings of PMA Films, ways to stay up to date on museum happenings, and more.
The museum stated in a news release that broadening its audiences and the people it serves has been a top priority in recent years and sees the Susie Konkel Pass is a natural step in that progression given recent trends showing a growing interest among young adults.
Each year, the museum said, 11,000 visitors under the age of 21 visit either through existing relationships with the museum or by being charged admission. Buoyed by a nearly 20% increase in website traffic for visitors ages 18-24 over the past two years, a redesigned Winslow Homer High School Fellow program, Teen Nights at the museum and collaborations with Maine College of Art and University of Southern Maine, the museum said it began thinking about a new way to deepen the engagement of young adults.
"I’m honored to work with the staff at the PMA to ensure that every child in the Maine community and throughout the world can feel the joy and wonder that comes from experiencing magnificent works of art," Konkel said. "It’s my hope that children, teens and young adults alike will discover the many ways that art appreciation can enrich their lives, and also feel inspired and empowered to share their voices with the world. I’m incredibly gratified to help the PMA share its wonderful collection with children far and wide."
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