Denver Art Museum Kicks Off Free Admission For Kids, Denver Offers More Free Programs For Families
DENVER (CBS4)- Families in Denver are encouraged to take advantage of free programs during spring break offered through the MY Denver Card while the Denver Art Museum offers a new program for free admission to children.
Launched in 2013, the MY Denver Card offers free, year-round access to Denver's 27 recreation centers and 29 pools to more than 100,000 children in Denver ages 5 to 18. The card also offers benefits at nine arts, culture and science organizations, and also serves as a library card.
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock encourages families to renew their kids' MY Denver Card, or get their first card, during break. Residents just need to fill out the online application and pick up a card at any Denver recreation center.
Over spring break, special MY Denver Card offers include:
- Free admission to the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver.
- Free admission to the History Colorado Center (after 3pm).
- Free admission to the Clyfford Still Museum (March 21–April 5, 2015).
- Additional programming at Denver rec centers, which are free with the MY Denver Card.
"Here in Denver, we are creating a city filled with abundant opportunities so that all our children, no matter what neighborhood they live in, can have healthy options to keep their minds and bodies engaged," Hancock said in a statement.
"From rec center classes to reading programs to arts and culture access, the MY Denver Card is providing every kid in the city quality activities throughout the year. All you have to do is sign up, and what better time than during spring break!
"With critical partners like the Denver Art Museum stepping up to play their part and give our kids the keys to the city, it is clear that there is a movement in Denver to make the success of our children the No. 1 priority," said Hancock.
The Denver Art Museum kicked off a new program on Wednesday that offers Colorado kids the opportunity to experience most exhibits free of charge.
"Free general admission to everybody 18 and under," said Denver Art Museum Director Christoph Heinrich.
"I'm really excited because, my parents, we don't come here alot," said St. Elizabeth student Mary Sullivan.
"These young people get a chance to access these great exhibits, these international exhibits that many people yearn for around the world," said Hancock.
Offering free admission for children makes the museum experience more affordable for families and fun for kids.
Free for Kids funded admission gifts also enable the museum to cap youth pricing for all special ticketed exhibitions at $5 for the next five years.
"Enjoying our world class collections, enjoying as well the whole world, the whole culture, the whole diversity we have under one roof," said Heinrich.
The free admission program continues for the next five years, through the spring of 2020, thanks to grants from Scott Reiman and the Reiman Foundation. A one-year grant from Kaiser Permanente Colorado also supports the Free for Kids program.
"I'm just excited to look around. I haven't been here very often so it would be cool to just see it again," said St. Elizabeth student Ella Link.
Visit Denverartmuseum.org for a full list of creative, family-centric opportunities at the Denver Art Museum.
Understanding many Denver children rely on meals during the school day, free healthy meals are available to families at various locations throughout the city during spring break, including many of Denver's recreation centers. For meal opportunities closest to your family, please call the Hunger Free Hotline toll-free at (855) 855-4626.
"The city encourages our families to start exploring summer opportunities and activities for their kids," said Erin Brown, Executive Director of Denver Office of Children's Affairs. "It's important to keep kids engaged during the summer months. That is why the city is working to expand quality options in our neighborhoods, and will continue this targeted effort. Together, this community is providing Denver kids with a positive environment and combating summer learning loss."
Families can search for afterschool and summer programs at: www.denvergov.org/denverafterschoolalliance. Parents must contact programs directly to verify availability, eligibility, hours of operation, etc.
To provide more Denver families with summer activity options in their neighborhoods, the Office of Children's Affairs has helped expand summer and afterschool programs via local grant funding to the following organizations:
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver
- The Bridge Project
- Denver Kids
- El Sistema
- Friends of Arts Street
- Girls Inc.
- The GrowHaus
- Metro State Center for Urban Education
- Mi Casa Resource Center
- Museo de las Americas
- Open World Learning
- Project Voyce
- Summer Engineering Experience for Kids (SEEK)
- Summer Scholars
- Summer SLAM
- YMCA
- Youth Biz
