The Valentine Joins Smithsonian Magazine’s Eleventh Annual Museum Day Live!
Free Admission for All Participants Presenting a Museum Day Live! Ticket on September 26, 2015
RICHMOND, Va. (August 24, 2015) – The Valentine will open its doors free of charge on Saturday September 26, 2015, as part of Smithsonian magazine’s eleventh annual Museum Day Live! A nationwide event, Museum Day Live! offers free admission to visitors presenting a Museum Day Live! ticket at a participating museum or cultural institution.
Inclusive by design, the event represents Smithsonian’s commitment to make learning and the spread of knowledge accessible to everyone, giving museums across all 50 states the opportunity to emulate the admission policy of the Smithsonian museums in Washington D.C. Last year’s event drew over 400,000 participants, and this year’s event expects record-high participation.
“It is so important for the Valentine to be involved with Museum Day Live! because Richmond is a significant city in the history of this country,” said Valentine spokesperson Bill Martin. “Richmond is also an ever-growing city, and it’s important to know the history behind those changes.”
The Valentine’s mission to collect, preserve, and interpret Richmond’s history is showcased in exhibits such as the Edward V. Valentine Sculpture Studio, a collection of works produced by the museum’s namesake, and the Signs of the Times, an opportunity to see the change in Richmond businesses’ commercial growth and advertising trends through the Valentine’s assortment of vintage neon signs. Visitors can also go on a guided tour of the 1812 John Wickham House, a National Historic Landmark, and discover aspects of early 19th-century life. An exhibition on the Valentine family, their entrepreneurial success and the original collection of the museum is also on display on the second floor of the Wickham House. Our newest exhibition In Gear: Richmond Cycles opens Thursday, August 27th, which is a uniquely Valentine-take on Richmond’s cycling culture from past to present. Also, on display currently is Classical Allure: Richmond Style and Beard Wars!
The Museum Day Live! ticket will be available to download beginning in August at Smithsonian.com/museumdaylive. Visitors who present the Museum Day Live! Ticket will gain free entrance for two at participating venues for one day only. One ticket is permitted per household, per email address. For more information about Museum Day Live! 2015 and a list of participating museums and cultural institutions, please visit: Smithsonian.com/museumday/venues.
# # #
About Smithsonian Media
Smithsonian Media comprises of its flagship publication, Smithsonian magazine, as well as Air & Space, and Smithsonian Media Digital Network. Smithsonian Media is a division of Smithsonian Enterprises, the revenue-generating business unit of the Smithsonian Institution. The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum and research complex consisting of 19 museums and galleries, the National Zoological Park and nine research facilities. Approximately 30 million people from around the world visit the museum annually.
About the Valentine
The Valentine preserves, conserves and interprets Richmond, Virginia history and diverse community issues by focusing on urban and social history, costumes, decorative arts and architecture. It is the only institution in the country committed solely to this mission and it is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. It houses a 40,000-piece collection of textiles and costumes, one of the largest Western collections of its kind. The Valentine maintains more than one million photographic images of the city, and 25,000 decorative arts pieces, including portraits, furniture and domestic items. Its research library provides primary source material for national and international scholars. The Valentine-owned 1812 John Wickham House is listed on the National Register of Historic Landmarks.
For more information, contact:
Domenick Casuccio
Public Relations & Marketing Director
pr@thevalentine.org
804-649-0711 ext. 322
804-467-2431 (cell)
