Phoenix Art Museum Responds to #RedforEd With Free Admission

Phoenix Art Museum is offering free admission for children younger than 18 on Thursday, April 26, and Friday, April 27. Adult admission will be pay-what-you-can for those two days, according to an email sent to museum supporters on Wednesday, April 25. It was signed by Amada Cruz, the museum's director and CEO.

It's a move prompted by the teacher strike, which starts on Thursday, April 26. Teachers voted on Thursday, April 19, to stage a walkout in response to the state's dismal education funding and low teacher pay. It's part of a grassroots #RedforEd movement focused on increasing teacher salaries and education funding overall.

Several districts around the Valley have announced plans to close on Thursday, April 26. Others are planning a two-day closure. But some, including Scottsdale Unified School District and Mesa Public Schools, are planning to be "closed indefinitely."

"As teachers, administrators, and parents navigate the challenges that face public education in Arizona, we hope to provide a safe, engaging, and affordable space for families to gather," Cruz wrote, in part.

The museum is currently showing more than a dozen exhibitions, including "Valeska Soares: Any Moment Now," which puts intriguing twists on familiar objects such as headboards, lightbulbs, book covers, and disco balls. There's no surcharge to see the special exhibition "Iris Van Herpen: Transforming Fashion" during the designated free days.

On a typical day, museum admission is $18 for adults, $13 for students, and $9 for children ages 6 to 17.

Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. Interested patrons can participate in Slow Art & Mindfulness, which includes art and guided meditation, at noon on Thursday, April 26. For details, see Phoenix Art Museum's website.