Sarasota Art Museum is a Blue Star Museum

Free admission for military personnel and their families from May 16 through September 7, 2026

Sarasota, Fla — Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College of Art and Design (SAM) is pleased to participate in Blue Star Museums, a program that provides free admission to currently serving U.S. military personnel and their families during the summer. The 2026 program will begin on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 16, 2026, and end on Labor Day, Monday, September 7, 2026. Learn more and find the list of participating museums at arts.gov/BlueStarMuseums.

Blue Star Museums is a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families, in collaboration with the Department of Defense and participating museums across America.

This year, Sarasota Art Museum’s participation will allow military personnel and their families to enjoy free entry to three Sarasota Art Museum gallery exhibitions this summer: Something Borrowed, Something New; Maria A. Guzmán Capron: Penumbra; and Beautiful Ideas: The Prints of Sol LeWitt.

“It’s especially fitting that our exhibition, Beautiful Ideas: The Prints of Sol LeWitt, coincides with this year’s Blue Star Museums program,” shared Virginia Shearer, executive director of Sarasota Art Museum. “Sol LeWitt, himself, was a Veteran. He served in the U.S. Army for two years—from 1951to1953—during the Korean War, working primarily as a graphic artist and designing recruitment posters. This connection makes the program all the more personal and meaningful.”

“The National Endowment for the Arts is honored to help connect military service members and their families with their communities through the Blue Star Museums program,” said Mary Anne Carter, Senior Advisor for the National Endowment for the Arts. “Institutions like Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College of Art and Design offer opportunities for military members to create special memories and connect with our country’s heritage and culture.”

“For 15 years, Blue Star Museums has opened doors for military families to explore, connect, and feel at home in their communities,” said Kathy Roth-Douquet, CEO of Blue Star Families. “Thanks to our continued partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and participating museums nationwide, we’re proud to continue this tradition of belonging and enrichment. Museums are more than cultural spaces—they’re places where military families feel seen, welcomed, and celebrated.”

In addition to Sarasota Art Museum, participants include history, art and children’s museums, historical sites, botanical gardens, zoos, aquariums and more, and can be found in all 50 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam. The current list of participating museums will continue to grow as organizations can register to be a Blue Star Museum throughout the summer.

About Sarasota Art Museum

Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College of Art and Design (SAM) is the city’s only Museum dedicated to modern and contemporary art. Founded in 2019, SAM features an ever-rotating lineup of world-class exhibitions, dynamic programs, and enriching educational offerings, and serves as a creative gathering place for curious minds from across the Gulf Coast, Southeast United States, and beyond. Housed in the historic former Sarasota High School, the Museum has revitalized and reimagined the towering landmark and architectural treasure, connecting Sarasota’s past with its present. Today, SAM is home to 15,000 square feet of gallery exhibition space, where nationally touring shows, as well as curated and commissioned exhibits by both renowned and emerging artists, deepen visitors’ appreciation for 20th and 21st century art. More at SarasotaArtMuseum.org.