FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Alison Goldstein, 646.695.7040 or alison@rosengrouppr.com
Nancy Knight, 901.523.ARTS or nancy.knight@belzmuseum.org
Belz Museum Participates in
Smithsonian Magazine’s 5th Annual Museum Day
--Museum Day 2009 Poised to be Largest to Date—
Belz Museum of Asian & Judaic Art August 7, 2009—On Saturday, September 26, 2009, Belz Museum of Asian and Judaic Art will participate in the fifth annual Museum Day, presented by Smithsonian magazine. A celebration of culture, learning and the dissemination of knowledge, Smithsonian’s Museum Day reflects the spirit of the magazine, and emulates the free-admission policy of the Smithsonian Institution’s Washington, DC-based properties. Doors will be open free of charge to Smithsonian magazine readers and Smithsonian.com visitors at museums and cultural institutions nationwide.
Last year, upwards of 200,000 people attended Museum Day, with all 50 states plus Puerto Rico represented by over 900 participating museums, including 84 Smithsonian affiliate museums. This year, the magazine expects to attract over 1,000 museums.
“We are delighted to participate in Smithsonian Magazine’s Museum Day. With so many wonderful national museums and cultural institutions, Museum Day encourages everybody to celebrate what these institutions have to offer all year, not for just one day,” said museum director, Nancy Knight.
Belz Museum of Asian & Judaic Art, founded in 1998, houses the largest and most comprehensive collection of Asian art in the southern region of the United States.The collection of more than 900 objects, which range in date from 202 BC to the early twentieth century, includes intricately carved jades and ivories, paintings, ceramics, textiles and funerary art. In addition to the Asian collection, the collection of Judaica (historical and literal pieces relating to Judaism) reflects the artistic journey of some of Israel’s most celebrated contemporary artists including, Daniel Kafri, Nicki Imber and Ofra Friedland.
Visit www.smithsonian.com/museumday to download your Museum Day Admission Card. Attendees must present the Museum Day Admission Card to gain free entry to participating institutions. Each card provides museum access for two people, and one admission card is permitted per household. Listings and links to participating museums’ can also be found at www.smithsonian.com/museumday.