New York’s public libraries are celebrating five years of running a successful partner program that allows library card holders free access to the state’s cultural gems.
“Library cards open portals to worlds near and far through the pages of a book or through the doors of the finest museums and performances venues in the world,” said Linda Johnson, president and CEO of the Brooklyn Public Library.
In July 2018, the Brooklyn, New York and Queens Public Library launched the Culture Pass, which provides library card holders free access to cultural institutions.
At its inception, the library-led initiative had 30 partners.
“We are grateful to the arts organizations who every day grant New Yorkers free access via the Culture Pass program, an initiative that furthers the Library’s aim to provide access to information to all,” Johnson said.
Today, the program partners with more than 80 museums, historic sites, gardens and performance venues.
“Poster House is a happy beneficiary of the Culture Pass program as we see a growing and important number of our visitors booking tickets through the platform,” said Julia Knight, executive director of Poster House.
“Partnering with Culture Pass has improved our outreach throughout the city, especially to disadvantaged communities. The system is easy to use and our whole visitor services team is trained to welcome Culture Pass visitors, and it has been an absolute pleasure working with the team behind the scenes,” Knight continued.
To improve user experience, the Culture Pass initiative has also partnered with Bloomberg Connects, a free arts and culture app.
Bloomberg Connects offers curated content and guides to hundreds of cultural organizations, including trip-planning tools and interactive maps.
“Our free arts and culture app Bloomberg Connects can help users enjoy even more from engaging with participating sites around the city,” said Kate Levin, arts program lead with Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Over the course of its five years in operation, more than 230,000 Culture Passes have been distributed, which holds a monetary value of over $10 million.
According to program organizers, 60% of the Culture Pass reservations have been made by New Yorkers living in low or mixed-income neighborhoods across all five boroughs.
Additionally, 75% percent of Culture Pass users report using a pass to visit a cultural site they had not visited before.
In April 2023, approximately 7,200 New Yorkers reserved a Culture Pass, the most in a single month since the program launched.
“Culture Pass has brought NYC’s world-renowned cultural treasures back home to any New Yorker with a library card, no matter where they live or their financial circumstances,” said Julie Sandorf, president of the Charles H. Revson Foundation. “It has been a huge success, and clearly demonstrates how equitable access to arts and culture is a win-win for everyone. As a founding donor, the Revson Foundation is proud to celebrate five years of Culture Pass, and its essential place in New York City’s cultural landscape.”
Support for the pass is provided by the Charles H. Revson Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund.
“Our foundation is committed to access and opportunity for all New Yorkers,” said Laurie Tisch, president of the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund. “Culture Pass is an important effort to use the network of the City’s libraries to increase opportunities to access a rich array of cultural institutions in every borough.”
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