NEA announces new slate of museums giving free admission for active-duty military personnel

The Japanese Friendship Garden is one of nearly two dozen San Diego County museums participating in the Blue Star Museums program.

San Diego Union-Tribune

May 22, 2018 10 AM PT

Blue Star Museums, a National Endowment for the Arts program, has announced the list of participating museums nationwide that will offer free admission to active-duty military personennel this summer, starting on Memorial Day Weekend.

The program, now in its ninth year, is a partnership between the NEA and Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense and more than 2,000 museums across the country.

“Visiting a museum is a great way to get to know a community — whether it’s in your hometown or a stop on a road trip,” said NEA Chairman Jane Chu. “We appreciate the enthusiasm of museums all across the country who open their doors for military and their families to spend time together and have new arts experiences.”

In San Diego County, nearly two dozens museums — from the San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum in Escondido to the Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park — are participating. For a complete list, go to arts.gov/bluestarmuseums

Blue Star Museums

When: Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day 2018

What: Free for active-duty military personnel and up to five family members (military ID required at entrance)

Online: arts.gov/bluestarmuseums

Twitter: @outdoorlivingsd

michael.rocha@sduniontribune.com

Arts | Culture

Michael James Rocha

Michael James Rocha is the digital creative director at the Union-Tribune. He oversees the online presentation of Union-Tribune stories online and has oversight of the photo and graphics teams. Most recently, he was the arts and entertainment editor. During his tenure, the Union-Tribune’s Sunday arts section was named the best in the nation two years in a row (2021 and 2022). Michael started his career at the Union-Tribune in December 1997 as a features page designer. He eventually became the features design editor, managing a staff of 15 designers and 17 features sections. Through the years, he has done stints as the front page designer, audience development editor and home decor editor. He previously wrote a monthly column on outdoor living, which focused on outdoor decor. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communications (with an emphasis on print journalism) from California State University-Fullerton in 1994. He is a founding member of the Asian American Journalists Association’s San Diego chapter, and he has taught magazine writing, editing and design at Point Loma Nazarene University. He also loves dogs.