By Lookout Staff

February 7, 2023 -- Those receiving food assistance (SNAP) benefits can now visit the Santa Monica History Museum for free as part of a nationwide program to attract low-income visitors.

As a participant in the Museums for All program, the museum will offer free admission to those who present a SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, with a limit of four admissions per card.

The program aims "to encourage people of all backgrounds to visit museums regularly and build lifelong museum-going habits," museum officials said.

“We’re thrilled to be part of this program to make museums accessible to the communities they serve,” said Rob Schwenker, the Santa Monica History Museum's executive director.

The museum -- which offers permanent and temporary exhibitions and a research library -- has an extensive historical photograph collection of more than 600,000 prints, negatives and slides, many of them unique or rare.

It also contains documents of historical significance, including letters from the city's founder, John P. Jones; coins; rare tract maps and objects from businesses that helped shape Santa Monica.

According to Museums for All, "the cost of museum admission can be a barrier for many low-income families."

By providing reduced admission that can range from free to $3 for visitors presenting their EBT card, participating museums "invite low-income visitors to feel welcome at cultural institutions."

Formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, SNAP provides nutritional support for low-income seniors, people with disabilities living on fixed incomes, and other individuals and families with low incomes.

Museums for All is a national, branded access program of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), administered by the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM).

Participating museums include art, history, natural history/anthropology, and general museums, children’s museums, science centers, planetariums, nature centers, historic houses/sites, zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens and arboretums.

Since it was launched in 2014/2015, Museums for All has served more than 5 million visitors nationwide at more than 1,000 museums.

For more information on tthe Santa Monica History Museum click here