Bank of America, Merrill, and Bank of America Private Bank credit and debit cardholders are in for a treat this weekend. “Museums on Us” is a program that offers free admission to more than 225 cultural institutions across the country.
In Atlanta, visitors can experience the Atlanta History Center and the High Museum of Art for free on Sat., Feb. 1 and Sun., Feb. 2 to experience unique art exhibits and programming. “Bank of America believes the arts have a unique ability to connect people and communities and help local economies thrive,” reads a statement promoting the event.
“Through ‘Museums on Us,’ Bank of America provides its cardholders with free access to artistic and cultural experiences across the United States at celebrated institutions ranging from art, children’s and history museums to aquariums, botanical gardens and science centers.”
The Atlanta History Center, a unique museum nestled in 33-acres of beautiful gardens and woodlands in Buckhead, is an institution that is dedicated to preserving local history and research opportunities. Founded in 1926 as a small, archival-focused historical society, the concept behind the Atlanta History Center evolved over time to become a local landmark and important resource that keeps the history of many local families and the city itself. The Buckhead campus includes the historic Swan House and the Swan Coach House Gallery, the Smith Farm, Wood Family Cabin, and beautifully curated Goizueta Gardens.
A recent addition to the Atlanta History Center is the Goizueta Children’s Experience which is an exciting new 5,000 square-foot immersive and multi-sensory experience for kids from 1-8 years old. This year’s theme, “Our Great Big City,” is rooted in Atlanta’s history and features fun and informative interactions with local landmarks. They plan to rotate the theme each year, providing an all-new experience for young visitors to the Center.
Currently on view at the Atlanta History Center is the “King Family Women’s Hat Exhibit,” a traveling exhibition of traditional church hats donned by influential women in the King family. The exhibit, which opened on January 18 as part of the Center’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, features 17 hats that offer a unique perspective of the King family’s legacy and achievements.
At the High Museum of Art this weekend, visitors can experience powerful civil rights photography that provides a window into pivotal moments of American history. In addition to works in the High’s robust permanent collection, there are also two notable temporary exhibits on display now.
“Thinking Eye, Seeing Mind: The Medford and Loraine Johnston Collection” features one of the best collections of postwar American works by notable artists including Sol LeWitt, Brice Marden, Elizabeth Murray, Martin Puryear, and Stanley Whitney, among others. This impressive collection was gathered by the couple in the late 1960s and 1970s, and focused predominantly on contemporary abstract drawings.
Rights Society (ARS), New York, 2024. Courtesy Paula Cooper Gallery, New York.
Also on display is Georgia O’Keeffe’s “My New Yorks” exhibition, a critical examination of O’Keeffe’s paintings, drawings, and pastels that she completed during a particularly energetic 5-year span beginning in 1924. The works in this collection explore urban landscapes in compositions that prompt the viewer to consider the relationships between man-made structures and the nature that surrounds them.
Georgia O’Keeffe Museum Courtesy of the Minneapolis Institute of Art
Georgia O’Keeffe Museum / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
Georgia O’Keeffe Museum.
On Sat., Feb. 1 the High Museum of Art offers a line up of programming for kids, families, and teens. Family Saturday offers experimentation, play, art-making, and even family-friendly tours of the galleries. Toddler Saturday, offered from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., is geared towards children aged fifteen months through three years of age. Teen Art Afternoon, from 2-4 p.m., is a Celebration of Black Art with workshops that utilize nontraditional materials to create miniature scenes inspired by artists such as Nellie Mae Rowe.
Other participating Georgia venues include the Georgia State Railroad Museum, Morris Museum of Art, Old Fort Jackson, Pin Point Heritage Museum, Savannah Children’s Museum, Savannah History Museum, and the SCAD Museum of Art. To learn more about all the offerings of the “Museums on Us” program, check out their website.