Honoring Service: Dayton Art Institute Celebrates Military Families with Free Admission All Summer Long

Thursday, May 15, 2025

MEDIA RELEASE: For Immediate Release
CONTACT: Erin Wood, Marketing Communications Manager
937-271-1341 (cell) | ewood@daytonart.org

High-resolution media images available online:
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Daytonartinstitutebluestarmuseum mediarelease2025

Dayton Art Institute is a 2025 Blue Star Museum. Military personnel and their families will receive free admission to the museum from May 17 through September 1, 2025.

(DAYTON, OHIO) – May 15, 2025 – The Dayton Art Institute (DAI) announced it will again join museums nationwide in the Blue Star Museums initiative, a program that provides free admission to currently serving U.S. military personnel and their families during the summer. The 2025 program will begin on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 17, 2025, and end on Labor Day, Monday, September 1, 2025.

The Blue Star Museums initiative is a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families, in collaboration with the Department of Defense and participating museums across America dedicated to supporting, connecting and empowering military families. Together, these organizations open the doors to the nation’s cultural heritage institutions and offer families the opportunity to better connect with their communities. Year after year, thousands of museums participate in the initiative. Find the list of participating museums at arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.

"At the DAI, we are incredibly proud to participate in the Blue Star Museums program each year as a way to honor and thank the brave military families who sacrifice so much for our country," said Michael R. Roediger, Director & President of the DAI. "This initiative is more than just free admission — it’s our invitation for military families to find moments of joy, connection and inspiration at the museum, time and time again. We hope they’ll visit often, not just in the summer, but throughout the year. Every time you visit the DAI, you are creating memories and a sense of belonging in our community.”

During the duration of the program, the DAI will offer free museum admission to those currently serving in the United States Military—Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy and Space Force, members of the Reserves, National Guard, U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps and up to five family members. Qualified members must show a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID), DD Form 1173-1 ID card or the Next Generation Uniformed Services (Real) ID card for entrance into a participating Blue Star Museum. This includes admission to all Special Exhibitions, Focus Exhibitions and the DAI collection galleries. In addition, the DAI offers active-duty military personnel and their families a $10 discount on the purchase or renewal of an individual, duo or family membership.

Current and upcoming Exhibitions at the museum include Jamie Wyeth: Unsettled (on view until June 8, 2025), The Need for Beauty (on view until May 18, 2025), A Taste for Pop: gifts from S. Bradley Gillaugh (on view until May 25, 2025), Contemporary Japanese Ceramics from the Horvitz Collection (on view until September 2025), Themes in Yoshitoshi’s 100 Aspects of the Moon: Heroism & Loyalty (on view until July 13, 2025), Cats in Art and Dogs in Art (on view June 18–September 14, 2025) and Curtis Barnes, Sr., Dayton Icon (on view July 12–September 14, 2025)

For more information about planning a visit, including current museum hours and updates, go to www.daytonartinstitute.org/visit or call 937-223-4ART (4278). Connect with the Dayton Art Institute on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for additional information, behind-the-scenes photos and videos, and exclusive offers.

ABOUT DAYTON ART INSTITUTE
MISSION: Through art, we create transformative and diverse experiences, strengthen community connections and inspire imagination.

VISION: Through art, we will be a community leader recognized as a welcoming, thought-provoking and collaborative place that nurtures inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility.

The Dayton Art Institute (DAI) is the Miami Valley’s premier fine art museum, offering a full range of programming in addition to exhibiting its collection. The museum is currently open Wednesdays, 11 AM–5 PM; Thursdays, 11 AM–8 PM; Fridays & Saturdays, 11 AM–5 PM; and Sundays, noon–5 PM. Go to www.daytonartinstitute.org/visit for the latest museum information and updates. Museum admission is $15 adults, $10 seniors (60+), active military and groups (10 or more), $5 students (18+ w/ID) and youth (ages 7–17), free for children (ages 6 & younger) and free for museum members. Admission includes access to all Special Exhibitions, Focus Exhibitions, The Lange Family Experiencenter and the museum’s collection galleries. Some events and programs may carry an additional charge and include museum admission as part of that price. Free parking is available at the museum, and the facility is fully accessible. The DAI’s Museum Store and Leo are open during regular museum hours, offering unique shopping, as well as drinks and tasty treats. The Museum Store also offers online shopping at www.daimuseumstore.org. For more information about the DAI, visit daytonartinstitute.org or call 937-223-4ART (4278). The Ohio Arts Council helps fund this organization with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. The DAI also receives support from Culture Works and the Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District.

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