The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art Announces Free Fun Friday on July 18
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Amherst, MA (July 14, 2014)—The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is pleased to offer a Free Fun Friday on July 18, 2014 from 10 am to 4 pm, sponsored by the Highland Street Foundation. Free admission to the Museum will include films, storytimes, and activities celebrating the picture books of Louise Fitzhugh, Simms Taback, and Eric Carle. Free Fun Fridays is an annual 10-week summer program that opens the doors to some of the best cultural institutions in Massachusetts at no cost to visitors.
In conjunction with The Carle’s current exhibitions, Harriet the Spy Turns Fifty, Simms Taback: Art by Design and The Art of Eric Carle & Friends: What’s Your Favorite Animal?, families will be invited to tour the galleries, make Eye Spy journals in the Art Studio, and enjoy screenings of picture book films in the Auditorium. Guests can enjoy performances by children’s musician Nick Bayard and special storytimes and book signings with local artists/authors David Hyde Costello and Jeff Mack. There will be a Very Hungry Caterpillar mini-parade, as well as scavenger hunts, a temporary tattoo station, and outdoor fun with hula hoops, beach balls, bubbles, and more. Food from Foley’s Franks will be available throughout the day.
“We are delighted to offer this free day at The Museum with support from the Highland Street Foundation,” said Director of Development Rebecca Goggins. “It’s a great opportunity to give back to our regular visitors, and we also hope to see many new faces from around Massachusetts.”
For more information about Free Fun Friday and a full schedule of events, please visit www.carlemuseum.org.
About the Highland Street Foundation
The Highland Street Foundation, established in 1989, enriches the lives of children and families by donating more than $135 million to numerous non-profit organizations in Massachusetts. This is the fifth anniversary of their Free Fun Fridays Program, which provides free admission to 60 museums and cultural venues. Over the past four years, the Program has attracted more than 50,000 visitors to museums, theaters, festivals, and more.
About the Museum
The mission of The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, a non-profit organization in Amherst, MA, is to inspire a love of art and reading through picture books. The only full-scale museum of its kind in the United States, The Carle collects, preserves, presents, and celebrates picture books and picture book illustrations from around the world. In addition to underscoring the cultural, historical, and artistic significance of picture books and their art form, The Carle offers educational programs that provide a foundation for arts integration and literacy.
Eric and Barbara Carle founded the Museum in November 2002. Eric Carle is the renowned author and illustrator of more than 70 books, including the 1969 classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Since opening, the 40,000-square foot facility has served more than half a million visitors, including 30,000 schoolchildren. Its extensive resources include a collection of more than 10,000 picture book illustrations, three art galleries, an art studio, a theater, picture book and scholarly libraries, and educational programs for families, scholars, educators, and schoolchildren. Educational offerings include professional training for educators around the country. Museum hours are Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 12 noon to 5 p.m. Open Mondays in July and August and during MA school vacation weeks. Admission is $9 for adults, $6 for children under 18, and $22.50 for a family of four. For further information and directions, call 413-658-1100 or visit the Museum’s website at www.carlemuseum.org.
IMAGES ARE AVAILABLE FOR REPRODUCTION For additional press information and/or images, please contact Sandy Soderberg, Marketing Manager (413) 658–1105 / sandys@carlemuseum.org
