THE NEW ORLEANS MUSEUM OF ART TO JOIN IN ASSOCIATION OF ART MUSEUM DIRECTORS’ CELEBRATION OF ART MUSEUM DAY ON MAY 18 2013 WITH FREE ADMISSION

(Fees Still Apply for John Paul II, Since It’s a Special Exhibition)

VISITORS ENCOURAGED TO SHARE THEIR MUSEUMEXPERIENCES THROUGHOUT THE CELEBRATIONS VIASOCIAL MEDIA

NEW ORLEANS, LA – The New Orleans Museum of Art will offer free admission as part of the Association of Art Museum Directors’ (AAMD) Art Museum Day, coinciding with International Museum Day on Saturday, May 18, 2013. Last year, The New Orleans Museum of Art-along with more than 120 other AAMD member museums across North America-participated in Art Museum Day.

In 2012, AAMD launched an initiative encouraging visitors of all ages to share their experiences of Art Museum Day through social media. Last year’s event prompted an outpouring of responses with tweets, “check-ins” via FourSquare, and personal responses from across North America. NOMA invites visitors to continue the conversation this year by sharing their perspectives via social media with the hashtag #artmuseumday.

“Art museums bring communities together and engage people of every background in the shared exploration of human expression across time and cultures,” said Chris Anagnos, Executive Director of AAMD. “AAMD is so pleased that NOMAis joining us in celebrating Art Museum Day and is encouraging everyone in New Orleans to participate and share their experiences in a public forum.”

Art Museum Day emphasizes the essential role that art museums play in their communities, highlights the value of the visual arts in society, and provides new opportunities for audiences to participate in the wide-ranging programs offered by AAMD member museums. These member institutions-located across the United States, Canada, and Mexico-include regional museums as well as large international museums. International Museum Day is organized annually around the world by the International Council of Museums (ICOM). AAMD’s Art Museum Day is an opportunity to focus attention on the role of art museums in North America, as part of ICOM’s global celebration.

A comprehensive list of participating AAMD member art museums will be available on the AAMD website (http://www.aamd.org/). Note that while AAMD’s Art Museum Day and ICOM’s International Museum Day are formally held each year on May 18, some institutions shift their celebrations to adjacent dates.