New York libraries team up with local museums for a virtual ‘Culture Pass’

Two summers ago, Brooklyn Public Library, the New York Public Library, and Queens Public Library launched Culture Pass, a program that provided free access to more than 30 museums and cultural institutions for library card holders. With all of these locations closed or operating at limited capacity during the pandemic, the three libraries have teamed up to take Culture Pass digital this summer, launching a new series of more than 70 original online programs, which will be free for children and adults through August 20.

As a press release explains, “Culture Pass will provide digital programs on subjects ranging from Native American history to music classes to understanding the census and more.” There are 75 participating institutions, which include the American Museum of Natural History, Bronx Museum of the Arts, Brooklyn Children’s Museum, the Met, MoMA, Museum of the Moving Image, Museum of the City of New York, New York Botanical Garden, New York Transit Museum, The Shed, and Second Stage Theater.

The initiative kicked off yesterday with a children’s program from the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. Some upcoming offerings are a workshop on colonial toys and games from the Queens Historical Society; a behind-the-scenes look at the Covid-19 collecting initiatives of Brooklyn Historical Society, Queens Public Library and Brooklyn Public Library; and a teen class on cartoon illustration from the Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning.

As New York City begins to reopen, the libraries will work with their partner institutions on resuming some regular programming.

RELATED:

• Your NYC library card will now get you free admission to 30+ museums
• NYC museums, events, performances: What’s reopening and what’s cancelled this year
• New York reopening guide: What’s open and what you need to know