Michener and Mercer Museums, Fonthill Castle Open Doors and Eyes to Art and Culture
(Doylestown, PA) This summer, Doylestown’s James A. Michener Art Museum, the Mercer Museum and Fonthill Castle are collaborating in an effort to welcome college students, military families and area legislators to the rich and varied cultural treasures of Bucks County and beyond. Beginning in August, free admission is being offered for specific times for each of these unique groups.
In announcing the programs, Michener Art Museum Director and CEO Lisa Tremper Hanover, noted that, “We are delighted to join together in promoting our distinctive institutions to our legislative supporters, our military families, and to provide access to new audiences, especially students who may be new to our region. Our mission is to work together to strengthen the cultural district of Doylestown and to reach beyond our town in support of numerous educational programs in area school districts and service organizations.”
Free Admission programs include:
Delaware Valley College Incoming Freshmen
Incoming freshmen from Delaware Valley College will enjoy free admission to the Michener and Mercer Museums during the College’s New Student Welcome Weekend, August 22-24, 2014. As a complement to the Delaware Valley College learning environment, the museums look forward to introducing students to the rich cultural heritage and exciting artistic resources of the Doylestown area.
Active-Duty Military Families
From now until September 1, 2014, the museums will proudly participate in the Blue Star Museums program, offering free admission to military families. Blue Star Museums is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 2,000 museums across America. Free admission will be offered to active-duty military personnel and their families, including those serving in the National Guard and Reserve.
Legislators
Area, state and federal legislators were invited to explore the museums free of charge as part of an initiative by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM). The effort is a national collaborative project among museums designed to introduce legislators and political leaders to the many ways museum collections are a vital part of the fabric of the local community.
Engaging New Audiences
According to Mercer Museum Executive Director Douglas Dolan, “These partnerships are a wonderful opportunity to engage new audiences who otherwise might not have visited our museums, and to let them experience the wonderful and varied artistic expressions of our Cultural District and the Doylestown area.”
Those audiences include college students, with a focus on first-year students. Andrew Moyer, director of student involvement at Delaware Valley College, notes that “Our freshman class includes local students as well as students from other states and other countries. We are excited about the opportunity to connect them with our area’s wonderful cultural institutions, as well as with the Doylestown and Bucks County communities.” Moyer notes that faculty members will accompany groups visiting the museums as a way to further connect museum exhibits and local history with Delaware Valley College academic programs.
Special Events and Exhibits
Summer is the perfect time to visit the Michener and Mercer Museums and Fonthill Castle. August highlights at the Michener Art Museum include an August 20 dance performance by the MM2 Modern Dance Company, and an August 27 performance by the Nai Ni Chen dance company celebrating the sculptures of Steve Tobin (Out of this World: Works by Steve Tobin on view through October 26).
At the Mercer Museum, “America’s Road: The Journey of Route 66,” will be on view until August 24, and a variety of road-themed programs for families and children run throughout the month. On August 23, Fonthill Castle will host the Fonthill Castle Beer Fest, featuring a variety of national, regional and local drafts, locally grown foods and music from the band Hot Bijouxx.
About The James A. Michener Art Museum
The James A. Michener Art Museum collects, preserves, interprets and exhibits American Art, with a focus on art of the Bucks County region. The Museum presents changing exhibitions that explore a variety of artistic expressions, and offers a diverse program of educational activities that seek to develop a lifelong involvement in the arts as well as nurture a wide range of audiences. We also seek to educate our community about nationally and internationally known Bucks County artists of all creative disciplines. The James A. Michener Art Museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.
The James A. Michener Art Museum is located at 138 South Pine St., Doylestown, PA. The Museum is open Tuesday through Friday, 10:00 am – 4:30 pm; Saturday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm and Sunday noon – 5:00 pm. For more information, visit MichenerArtMuseum.org or call 215.340.9800.