NYC's Whitney Museum to offer free admission to visitors 25 and under

Manhattan's Whitney Museum of American Art is offering free admission to visitors 25 and under beginning in mid-December to expand access to contemporary art in the city.
Manhattan's Whitney Museum of American Art is offering free admission to visitors 25 and under beginning in mid-December to expand access to contemporary art in the city. Photo credit Nic Lehoux / The Whitney Museum

NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — The Whitney Museum of American Art in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District will begin offering free admission to visitors 25 and under in mid-December.

The museum, which has already offered free admission to those 18 and under for 10 years, is using the initiative as a way to broaden access to American art and culture.

“Since its founding the Whitney has been committed to supporting young and innovative artists, and we now hope to further support younger audiences, too, by addressing financial barriers that affect this group the most,” Scott Rothkopf, the Whitney’s Alice Pratt Brown Director, said.

Visitors at the Whitney Museum during free admission nights.
Visitors at the Whitney Museum during a free admission night. Photo credit Filip Wolak / The Whitney Museum
Visitors at the Whitney Museum during free admission nights.
Visitors at the Whitney Museum during a free admission night. Photo credit Filip Wolak / The Whitney Museum

The program builds on two of the museum’s other popular initiatives, Free Friday Nights and Free Second Sundays, which offer open admission for people of all ages from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and the second Sunday of every month.

In under a year, the programs welcomed 200,000 visitors, and “transformed the Whitney’s audience” to be younger and more diverse, the museum said. On Friday nights, the average visitor age dropped 10 years, and the majority of attendees (over 60%) are BIPOC.

The Free 25 and Under program was made possible by two three-year gifts from Whitney Museum Board members Susan Hess and artist Julie Mehretu.

“You can’t have any conversations around diversity, equity and inclusion without providing access, and the culture can’t change and it can’t continue to grow without new and diverse voices having access to the culture being created at the moment,” Mehretu said.

Visitors at the Whitney Museum during free admission nights.
A visitor at the Whitney Museum during a free admission night. Photo credit Filip Wolak / The Whitney Museum
An exterior view of the Whitney Museum in Manhattan's Meatpacking District.
An exterior view of the Whitney Museum in Manhattan's Meatpacking District. Photo credit Max Touhey / The Whitney Museum
A visitor at the Whitney Museum during a free admission night.
A visitor at the Whitney Museum during a free admission night. Photo credit Filip Wolak / The Whitney Museum

Free admission requires tickets as the museum has a limited capacity, and visitors are strongly encouraged to get tickets before visiting. Learn more at the Whitney Museum website.

Located at 99 Gansevoort St., the Whitney Museum houses American art from the 20th and 21st centuries.

“Engagement with the arts for young people in particular can be transformative, and the Free 25 and Under program will make sure that residents of all income levels and backgrounds can get the access they deserve to the world-class exhibitions and programming that the Whitney creates for audiences,” NYC Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo said.

Featured Image Photo Credit: Nic Lehoux / The Whitney Museum