The Milwaukee Art Museum reached its third-highest attendance record during 2011-2012 with more than 395,000 visitors, according to an announcement the museum made Monday.
“We are pleased to see that the community and the region recognize what an extraordinary art museum and gathering place we have right here in Milwaukee,” said Daniel Keegan, director of the museum. “And it’s thrilling to know that visitors from all fifty states and more than a dozen countries around the world travel to our Midwestern city to experience the beauty and splendor of this great museum, its architecture and its art.”
Keegan attributes the museum’s success in attendance to its world-class exhibitions, such as the 2012 summer Posters of Paris gallery, which drew 150,000 patrons alone.
He gives additional credit to museum programs like the Target Free First Thursday program, which grants complimentary admission to visitors the first Thursday of each month to provide better access to the museum for the public.
Keegan also recognized the museum’s partnership with Kohl’s and the creation of the Kohl’s Education Center in the museum in helping grow its attendance rates.
“Since our partnership with Kohl’s began, the museum has doubled its number of visiting young art enthusiasts, from 15,000 in 2008 to 30,000 kids age 12 and younger visiting the museum this past year,” Keegan said.
The museum will celebrate its 125th anniversary in 2013.
