OMAM offers free summer admission to military personnel and families.

Written by Kristen Schmutz

Belden Communications News

The Ormond Memorial Art Museum & Gardens (OMAM) is proud to announce its participation in the 2023 Blue Star Museums program, allowing current military personnel and their families free admission throughout the summer beginning on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 20, and running until Labor Day, Monday, September 4, at 78 East Granada Avenue in Ormond Beach. Regular visiting hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, with hours from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Blue Star Museums is a collaborative initiative that brings together the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and museums across the United States.

"We are honored to be a part of this important initiative and have the opportunity to enrich the lives of our military personnel and their families with art and nature," said Museum Executive Director Stephanie Mason-Teague.

OMAM, which was founded in 1946, is deeply committed to honoring those who have defended our freedom. The museum features a collection of spiritual oil paintings donated by Malcolm Fraser, an artist and decorated World War I veteran, two original sculptures that pay tribute to veterans of the Korean and Vietnam Wars displayed in the Gardens, and commemorative plaques for World War I and II.

According to a release, since 2010, OMAM has provided hundreds of hours of art instruction for veterans through the VA's Wellness Recovery Program, and in February 2023, OMAM began a new, on-site outreach program called the Veterans Creative Expression Workshop. This free monthly series provides veterans and a spouse or other family member (age 16 or older) an opportunity to explore the museum's current exhibit with Curator of Outreach Diamond, and create a one-of-a-kind art project.

Additionally, all veterans are eligible for 100% financial scholarships for any tuition-based classes year-round, thanks to the support provided by our annual sponsors.

“We thank the 2023 Blue Star Museums who invite military personnel and their families to experience the many wonders they have to offer, whether it’s a glimpse into the past, an encounter with awe-inspiring art, or a moment of discovery,” said Maria Rosario Jackson, Ph.D., chair of the National Endowment for the Arts. “Ormond Memorial Art Museum is helping to enrich the lives of military families and build meaningful connections between our nation’s military and their local community.”

On Tuesday, July 13, OMAM will also present a special film screening of “The Girl Who Wore Freedom” across the street at St. James Episcopal Church, 44 S. Halifax Drive. The documentary captures the previously untold stories of D-Day from the men, women, and children who lived through German occupation and the Allied liberation of Normandy, France. A reception will take place before the film inside the museum.

For a list of participating Blue Star Museums, visit www.arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.