The Walters Art Museum Debuts “Free Admissions” Podcast Today

Episodes go behind the scenes of the Walters exhibitions, conservation lab, programs, and more

Baltimore, MD (May 13, 2024)—Today, May 13, the Walters Art Museum debuts its first-ever podcast, Free Admissions, presenting behind-the-scenes conversations about the museum’s latest exhibitions, programs, conservation projects, and more. Engaging conversations among the people who make the work of the Walters happen, the episodes are available for free on the Walters website and anywhere you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Soundcloud.

“Free Admissions is not just an opportunity for our community to gain a deeper understanding of the Walters through a popular medium, it also underscores our continued dedication to the people we serve through open access, a concept that the museum was founded on 90 years ago,” said Julia Marciari-Alexander, Andrea B. and John H. Laporte Director. “In 1934, the museum opened its doors ‘for the benefit of the public.’ In 2006, we were able to offer free admission, leading to a 38% increase in attendance, and in 2014 all admission fees for special exhibitions were dropped. And in 2011, the museum removed copyright restrictions from more than 10,000 object images, allowing images of the works in the museum’s permanent collection to be used by the public for any purpose free of charge. This commitment to free access to the Walters is the cornerstone of our work.”

Each Free Admissions episode is an all-access guide to the Walters, featuring the latest news, guest interviews, and in-depth explorations of the Walters collection. Through the podcast, listeners can forge a connection with seven millennia of art at one of America’s most distinctive museums—where admission is always free. “Free Admissions” also refers to the frank, insightful, and fun conversations with guests that lift the veil on museum operations, allowing listeners to gain an understanding of both the Walters and museums in general.

New episodes premiere the first Wednesday of every other month and feature guests from every corner of the museum’s operations, from curatorial and visitor experience to conservation and community engagement. Guests delve into their work on exhibitions, programs and events, museum milestones, current events, tools of the trade, collection objects, and more. The podcast is hosted by Karena Ingram, the museum’s Digital Marketing Associate.

The new episode out today features Visitor Experience Associate Aric Dietrich, Executive Director Marciari-Alexander, Robert and Nancy Hall Curator of Rare Books and Manuscripts Lynley Anne Herbert, and Deborah and Philip English Curator of Decorative Arts, Design, and Material Culture Earl Martin. In this episode, they discuss the Walters’ newest exhibition, Reflect & Remix: Art Inspiring Artists, hidden gems you can see on your next visit, and favorite artworks in the collection. Two additional episodes are also available today for listeners to enjoy.

Free Admissions adds to the robust list of free publications the museum proudly offers to its community, including the Journal of the Walters Art Museum, the Walters magazine, and the museum’s websites. The Journal, first published in 1938, is the oldest continuously published scholarly art museum journal in the United States and seeks to disseminate knowledge about the museum’s history and its collections. The Walters magazine, published three times a year, informs museum supporters about exclusive events, new exhibitions, and upcoming initiatives. Finally, each day, the museum’s award-winning main website, its newly redesigned art site, and its manuscripts site publish new content. Combined, the sites serve an average of over 47,000 art lovers globally each month.

To learn more about Free Admissions, visit thewalters.org/podcast.

Episode 1: Ethiopia at the Crossroads with Christine Sciaccia
Description: In the first episode of Free Admissions, we chat with the exhibition’s curator Christine Sciaccia about Ethiopia at the Crossroads, the first major art exhibition in America to examine an array of Ethiopian cultural and artistic traditions from their origins to the present day. Conservation Scientist Annette Ortiz introduces us to her unique officemates (aka, her go-to conservation equipment). Released January 5, 2024.

Episode 2: The Creative Power of Women with Julie Lauffenburger
Description: In this episode of Free Admissions, we celebrate Women’s History Month. Discover the history of nearly 75 years of women leadership in the Walters Conservation Department from its director, Julie Lauffenburger. Learn about New on the Bookshelf: The Creative Power of Women from the exhibition’s curator, Lynley Anne Herbert. Released March 15, 2024.

Episode 3: Reflect and Remix with Julia Marciari-Alexander
Description: In this episode of Free Admissions, Julia Marciari-Alexander, Andrea B. and John H. Laporte Director, details her favorite object in the collection. Meanwhile, curators Lynley Anne Herbert and Earl Martin walk us through the museum’s newest exhibition, Reflect and Remix: Art Inspiring Artists. Released May 8, 2024.

About Free Admissions

The Walters Art Museum’s podcast Free Admissions goes behind the scenes of the museum’s latest exhibitions, programs, conservation projects, and more through conversations with the people who make the work of the Walters happen.

Each Free Admissions episode is an all-access guide to the Walters, featuring the latest news, guest interviews, and in-depth explorations of the Walters collection. Forge a connection with seven millennia of art at one of America’s most distinctive museums—where admission is always free. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, including Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube, and Apple, or use RSS.

About the Walters Art Museum

The Walters Art Museum is a cultural hub in the heart of Baltimore, located in the city’s Mount Vernon neighborhood. The museum’s collection spans more than seven millennia, from 5,000 BCE to the 21st century, and encompasses 36,000 objects from around the world. Walking through the museum’s historic buildings, visitors encounter a stunning panorama of thousands of years of art, from romantic 19th-century images of French gardens to mesmerizing Ethiopian icons, richly illuminated Qur’ans and Gospel books, ancient roman sarcophagi, and serene images of the Buddha. Since its founding, the Walters’ mission has been to bring art and people together to create a place where people of every background can be touched by art. As part of this commitment, admission to the museum and special exhibitions is always free.

Visitor Information

Admission to the museum is free. The Walters Art Museum is located at 600 N. Charles St., north of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. For general museum information, call 410-547-9000 or visit thewalters.org.

Free admission to the Walters Art Museum is made possible through the combined generosity of individual supporters, foundations, corporations, and grants from the City of Baltimore, Maryland State Arts Council, Citizens of Baltimore County, and Howard County Government and Howard County Arts Council.