In early July of 2018, the Akron Art Museum, Akron Children’s Museum, Akron Zoo, Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens and Summit County Historical Society began offering a substantially discounted admission price of $1 to $3 to any guest who presents their U.S. government-issued Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card upon arrival, as part of the Museums for All program.

After the launch, METRO, SARTA and PARTA saw the story, and its teams knew they could assist by offering additional access to their riders. Together, the Northeast Ohio transportation services launched pro-bono marketing ads on their buses and crafted pamphlets with details about Museums for All available to all riders.

And within just six months of partnership, all organizations are reaching an underserved audience—together.

From July through December 2018, the program has been utilized by more than 1,500 individuals in Summit County.

Stan Hywet President & Executive Director Sean Joyce explained, “We valued the idea of a collaboration among peer organizations, and are thrilled METRO, PARTA and SARTA have joined our efforts. This community thrives on collaboration, and this project is proof of how strengthening each other strengths Summit County. Individually, we may be addressing the need in various ways, but together, we can increase our collective reach and impact as a coalition that speaks with one voice.”

Known nationally as Museums for All, this program, adopted by the participating Summit County museums and attractions, was launched in 2014 by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMSL) in partnership with the Association of Children’s Museums. The effort was designed to encourage those who may have the interest but not the means to make museums a part of their everyday lives. It was later expanded to include museums in every category, and to date, it has facilitated more than one million visits across the country.

Because of the partnership and collaboration show, Akron has been named a “Hub Location” as part of the national Museums for All network.

“This collaborative is aware that truly creating welcoming spaces is a complex issue,” states Nicole Mullet, Executive Director of ArtsNow, a local nonprofit that works to bolster the arts and culture sector in Summit County. “Partnering with a successful national program is one more step in our collective mission of ensuring our cultural assets are available and welcoming to everyone.”

For more information on the local Museums for All program, please visit ArtsNow.org. If you have questions or want to learn more about food assistance and the EBT program, please visit GetFoodHelp.org.