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Part of the main exhibit at the USC Pacific Asia Museum on Saturday January 31, 2015. This museums exhibits were free as part of the 10th Annual “Museums Free-For-All.” (Traece O. Craig/Courier)
Part of the main exhibit at the USC Pacific Asia Museum on Saturday January 31, 2015. This museums exhibits were free as part of the 10th Annual “Museums Free-For-All.” (Traece O. Craig/Courier)

SoCal Museums and Metro partnered up to host the Museum Free-For-All last Saturday, an all-day event for the public to celebrate art and culture by visiting participating museums for free.

Over 20 museums in cities such as Los Angeles, Pasadena, and Santa Monica opened their doors and invited the public to enjoy a day full of art ranging from cultural heritage, science, and history.

Although this was SoCal Museum’s 10th annual year of hosting the Museum Free-For-All, this was the first year they had partnered with Metro. Therefore, it only makes sense that most of the museums were within walking distance of Metro’s public transportation stations such as the Metro Bus or the Metro Rail.

“One of our goals is to educate the public on fun places to visit via public transit, and Los Angeles is home to so many great museums,” said Anna Chen, a public communications officer for Metro. “Metro’s partnership with museums works to get people excited about public transportation and exploring museums they may not have known were so accessible!”

The public was equally excited about taking part in the SoCal Museums and Metro partnership.

“I did take the public bus here today,” said Lorraine Bulla, a Los Angeles local and a visitor to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. “Los Angeles is such a ‘car’ city, but it was nice to take advantage of a cheaper way to get around today… I’m having a great time and it cost me less than $5.”

The Museum Free-For-All was also an easy and fun way for museums to encourage the public to visit and learn something new.

“The Free-For-All was created with the idea that there is power in numbers, and that it was a great way for Southern California museums to band together and offer something to the communities,” said Emma Jacobson-Sive, a public relations representative for SoCal Museums. “As a group, we have found that when we work together, we reach a lot of people and fulfill a need for access to our museums.”

With free access to these numerous museums, visitors were able to step out of their normal routine, visit a new place, and learn something new.

“I’m happy that I came here with my mom today,” said Steven Leon, an 8-year-old visitor at the Page Museum. “I want to come back with my little brother and show him the dinosaurs too!”

SoCal Museums hosted an estimated 50,000 visitors this year.

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