Miami Beach’s Cultural Institutions to Cover Admission Cost for Affected Federal Employees and their Families

(Miami Beach, FL) Jan 11, 2019 -

As federal employees across the nation feel the effects of the government shutdown, Miami Beach’s cultural institutions are rolling out the welcome mat. The following cultural institutions will provide free admission to federal workers and their families: The Bass Museum of Art, The Wolfsonian-FIU and The Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU.

“Today, nearly a million federal workers did not receive their paychecks,” noted Mayor Dan Gelber. “These are our neighbors and members of our community who, through no fault of their own, have become pawns in an unfortunate political conflict. While our City cannot help with the real challenges that these public servants and their families must now unfairly confront – rent, food, child care, health care – our City would like to do what we can to offer our world-class cultural amenities free of charge to those impacted by the shutdown.”

“The Bass Museum welcomes those affected by this situation into our community of creativity as a means of providing an inspiring experience during these uncertain and difficult times,” said Executive Director Silvia Karman Cubiñá.

Additionally, the City sponsors various free activities to partake in. A list of free happenings over the next month include:

“With two of Florida International University’s flagship museums located on Miami Beach, we’re proud to be able to extend this small gesture to federal employees,” said Wolfsonian director Tim Rodgers. “Throughout history art has always shone brightly, both uplifting and unifying.”

Individuals impacted are also encouraged to take the free citywide trolley for getting around town or enjoy any one of the urban island’s beautiful parks.

“Hopefully, the shutdown will end soon,” added Gelber. “Until it does, our City will do our small part to make it more bearable for those most impacted.”

For a full list of the City’s cultural institutions, visit www.mbartsandculture.org.

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About the Bass
The Bass is Miami Beach’s contemporary art museum. The exhibition program encompasses a wide range of media and artistic points of view, bringing fresh perspectives to the diverse cultural context of Miami Beach. Central to the museum’s mission, The Bass maintains a vigorous education program for lifelong learning and visitors of all ages. Founded in 1964 by the City of Miami Beach, the museum was established after the donation of a private collection by residents John and Johanna Bass and opened in what was formerly the Miami Beach Public Library and Art Center, a 1930s Art Deco building designed by Russell Pancoast. The Bass is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and funded by the City of Miami Beach, Cultural Affairs Program and Cultural Arts Council, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners, and sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and The Bass membership. For more information, please visit www.thebass.org, or follow The Bass on social media at www.facebook.com/TheBassMoA or Twitter and Instagram @TheBassMoA.

About the Jewish Museum
The Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU tells the story of more than 250 years of Jewish history, art and culture in the Sunshine State. It is housed in two beautifully restored Art Deco former synagogues located at 301 Washington Avenue. Current exhibitions include Mosaic: Jewish Life in Florida, Daniel Chimowitz: Walking Canvasses, The Art of the Lithograph and Kaddish for Dąbrowa Białostocka by Mark Podwal. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00am to 5:00pm, except holidays.

About The Wolfsonian–Florida International University
The Wolfsonian–FIU is a museum, library, and research center that uses objects to illustrate the persuasive power of art and design, to explore what it means to be modern, and to tell the story of social, historical, and technological changes that have transformed our world. The collection comprises approximately 180,000 objects dating from 1850 to 1950—the height of the Industrial Revolution through the aftermath of the Second World War—in a variety of media including furniture; industrial-design objects; works in glass, ceramics, and metal; rare books; periodicals; ephemera; works on paper; paintings; textiles; and medals.

The Wolfsonian is located at 1001 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, FL. Admission is $12 for adults; $8 for seniors, students, and children ages 6–18; and free for Wolfsonian members, State University System of Florida staff and students with ID, and children under 6. The museum is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, 10am–6pm; Friday, 10am–9pm; Sunday, noon–6pm; and is closed on Wednesday. Contact us at 305.531.1001 or visit us online at wolfsonian.org for further information.

The Wolfsonian receives generous and ongoing support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation; Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners; State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture; and City of Miami Beach, Cultural Affairs Program, Cultural Arts Council.