Tuesday, May 21, 2013

ANITQUE BOAT MUSEUM TO PARTICIPATE IN BLUE STAR MUSEUMS


Fritz Hager, ABM Executive Director


Antique Boat Museum is one of more than 1,800 museums across America to offer complimentary admission to military personnel and their families
in collaboration with the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, and the Department of Defense

CLAYTON, New York (May 21, 2013) – The Antique Boat Museum (ABM), North America’s premier freshwater nautical museum based in Clayton, New York, announced today that it has again joined forces with the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, and the Department of Defense in an effort to provide active military personnel and their families with complimentary museum admission through the Blue Star Museums initiative in 2013.

The Blue Star Museums initiative provides active United States military personnel and up to five (5) additional guests with complimentary admission to the ABM.  The ABM will also provide free admission in 2013 to retired United States military personnel and a discounted rate to any spouse visiting with them. In addition, any active Canadian military personnel will receive one (1) free admission in 2013.

Proper military identification is required. Offer is not valid for the 2013 Antique Boat Show & Auction or ticketed events during non-museum hours. However, this offer is valid for the 3rd annual Concours d’Elegance Classic Car Show on July 13.

“We are pleased to join such an extensive list of institutions across the country and show our thanks to the men and women who serve us,” explained Fritz Hager, ABM Executive Director. “In addition to the outstanding Blue Star Museums program, the ABM is pleased to extend our offer to retired United States military personnel and active Canadian military personnel. Plus, our offer will exceed the national program by being in place through the conclusion of our operating calendar this coming December 20.”

“Blue Star Museums is a collaboration between the arts and military communities," said NEA Acting Chairman Joan Shigekawa. “Our work with Blue Star Families and with more than 1,800 museums ensures that we can reach out to military families and thank them for their service and sacrifice.”

“Blue Star Museums is something that service members and their families look forward to every year and we are thrilled with the continued growth of the program,” said Blue Star Families CEO Kathy Roth-Douquet. “Through this distinctive collaboration between Blue Star Families, the National Endowment for the Arts and more than 1,800 museums across the United States, service members and their families can connect with our national treasures with this unparalleled opportunity to visit some of the country’s finest museums for free.”

This year, ABM joins more than 1,800 (and counting) museums in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and American Samoa which will take part in the initiative, including more than 450 new museums.

About Blue Star Museums

BlueStar Museums is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 1,800 museums across America. The program runs from Memorial Day, May 27, 2013 through Labor Day, September 2, 2013.

The free admission program is available to any bearer of a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), a DD Form 1173 ID card, or a DD Form 1173-1 ID card, which includes active duty U.S. military - Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, as well as members of the National Guard and Reserve, U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps - and up to five family members. Some special or limited-time museum exhibits may not be included in this free admission program. For questions on particular exhibits or museums, please contact the museum directly. To find out which museums are participating, visit www.arts.gov/bluestarmuseums. The site includes a list of participating museums and a map to help with visit planning.

This is the latest NEA program to bring quality arts programs to the military, veterans, and their families. Other NEA programs for the military have included the NEA/Walter Reed Healing Arts Partnership; Great American Voices Military Base Tour; and Shakespeare in American Communities Military Base Tour. 4

About Antique Boat Museum

Located on the St. Lawrence River in the 1000 Islands region of upstate New York, the Antique Boat Museum features a collection of over 300 antique and classic boats among thousands of recreational boating artifacts. The Museum will host its 49th annual Antique Boat Show & Auction, the longest running antique boat show in North America, on August 2-4, 2013. For more information please visit the Museum’s website at ABM.org.

About Blue Star Families

BlueStar Families is a national, nonprofit network of military families from all ranks and services, including guard and reserve, dedicated to supporting, connecting and empowering military families. With our partners, Blue Star Families hosts a robust array of morale and empowerment programs, including Books on Bases, Blue Star Museums, Operation Honor Corp, Blue Star Careers and Operation Appreciation. Blue Star Families also works directly with the Department of Defense and senior members of local, State and Federal government to bring the most important military family issues to light. Working in concert with fellow nonprofits, community advocates, and public officials, Blue Star Families raises awareness of the challenges and strengths of military family life and works to make military life more sustainable. Our worldwide membership includes military spouses, children, parents, and friends, as well as service members, veterans and civilians. To learn more about Blue Star Families, visit http://www.bluestarfam.org.

About the National Endowment for the Arts

TheNational Endowment for the Arts was established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. To date, the NEA has awarded more than $4 billion to support artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation for the benefit of individuals and communities. The NEA extends its work through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector. To join the discussion on how art works, visit the NEA at arts.gov.