The Shed, the Whitney, and the Apollo join IDNYC’s free membership program
Photo by Ajay Suresh via Wikimedia Commons
Beginning in 2020, the list of 50+ cultural institutions offering free membership through the city’s IDNYC program will grow to include the Apollo Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center, National Sawdust, The Shed, and the Whitney Museum. Started in 2015 as a way to provide identification cards to those who may not otherwise have access, such as the homeless and undocumented immigrants, IDNYC now has more than 1.3 million cardholders (it’s the country’s largest municipal ID program) who have saved over $55 million on memberships, discounts, and other fees.
When the program first launched, 33 cultural institutions, including the Museum of Natural History, the Public Theater, and Lincoln Center, offered free memberships. That list has since grown to include MoMA, the Guggenheim, the New Museum, the Central Park Zoo, and the Metropolitan Opera, among others. Entertainment discounts are available at locations such as Chelsea Piers, Entertainment Cruises, and various sporting events. The program also offers discounts for Zipcar and Citi Bike, on prescription drugs, and at the YMCA. In addition to all the perks, IDNYC serves as a borough-wide library card and can be used to open a bank or credit account.
Last year, the city announced that the minimum age to apply was lowered from 14 to 10, and students who live in local college housing are eligible to apply. This year marks the first time the IDs will begin to expire. With that in mind, the city has created an online portal where those whose IDNYC has been expired for less than six months or is expiring in less than 60 days can apply for renewal instead of having to visit an enrollment center.
To see the full list of new 2020 benefits, click here. And for more information on how to apply, click here.
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