The Walters Art Museum Debuts Season Two of “Free Admissions” Podcast

New episodes pose thought-provoking questions, feature local artists

Baltimore, MD—The Walters Art Museum debuts season two of its podcast, Free Admissions, today with its February episode, “Can books kill?” This season features over 20 guests across six episodes that release every other month and poses a thought-provoking question answered by the episode’s guests. Guests include Walters curators, art handlers, volunteers, and conservators, as well as many local contemporary artists, such as Jessy DeSantis, Chris Jay, and Jackie Milad. Free Admissions is available to listen for free on the Walters website and anywhere you get your podcasts.

“When Free Admissions launched in January 2024, it joined the Journal of the Walters Art Museum, the Walters magazine, its websites, and its social media accounts as yet another robust resource through which the broad public can meaningfully learn about the distinguished artworks in our collection for free,” said Connie McAllister, Director of Marketing and Communications. “Season one of the podcast was enjoyed by thousands of art lovers in their homes, on their commutes, and right here in our galleries. Now, season two provides the same thoughtfulness our listeners have come to expect from the Walters’ exhibitions and programs and draws them in even further through six probing and engaging questions.”

The podcast’s title, Free Admissions, refers to the frank, insightful, and fun conversations with guests that lift the veil on museum operations, allowing listeners to gain an understanding of the inner workings of both the Walters and museums in general. The Walters Art Museum first offered free admission in 2006, and then dropped its ticketing system for special exhibitions in 2015.

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.

The podcast is hosted by the museum’s Digital Marketing Associate, Karena Ingram.

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

SEASON TWO EPISODE GUIDE

Episode 1: Can books kill?
Released February 5, 2025
Books provide us with so much, from comfort and connection to education and entertainment. At times, however, danger can lurk between the pages—at least, that was the case when a team at the Walters discovered that several rare books and manuscripts in the museum’s collection contained highly toxic materials such as arsenic, lead, and mercury. This episode highlights the curation, conservation, and science behind If Books Could Kill, on view through August 3, 2025 at the Walters.

Episode 2: Do April showers really bring May flowers?
Releasing April 2, 2025
We all know the saying: April showers bring May flowers. Some live by it, while others don’t find value in the optimistic phrase. On this episode, Baltimore-based podcaster, photographer, and drag performer Chris Jay weighs in on the merits of weathering the storm using a painting in the Walters collection by Andreas Achenbach (German, 1815-1910), one of Düsseldorf’s most influential painters in the mid-19th century. Then, Jo Briggs, Jennie Walters Delano Curator of 18th- and 19th-Century Art, hypothesizes why visitors are so drawn to Claude Monet’s (1840-1926) impressionist painting Springtime (1872).

Episode 3: What defines Latin American art?
Releasing June 4, 2025
On May 17, the Walters debuts Latin American Art / Arte Latinoamericano. This exhibition is the first-ever opportunity for Walters’ visitors to explore its expansive collection of art from the Americas. Curators Ellen Hoobler and Patricia Legarde walk us through the process of putting together the installation and dissect what defines art and objects from this region of the world. Then, Jessy DeSantis discusses their artistic practice and the creation of Cintli, Corn, Maíz (2020), on view in the installation.

Episode 4: What does the future hold?
Releasing August 6, 2025
In this episode, we introduce you to Kate Burgin. The museum’s former Deputy Director (2016-22) and its now Andrea B. and John H. Laporte Director re-joined the Walters team in January after two years in the technology industry. Here, she gives listeners a peek at what’s in store for the Walters in the coming weeks, months, and even years. We also speak with three contemporary artists who have new work on view at the museum this year: Katherine Mann, Stephanie Mercedes, and Jackie Milad.

Episode 5: Are ghosts real?
Releasing October 1, 2025
October is all about the ghoulish, the seemingly scary, and the creepy-crawly. Mike McKee, Head of Installation and Production, delves into just a few of the ghost encounters he’s had during the three decades he’s worked at the museum. Then, Dany Chan, Associate Curator of Asian Art, explores the deeper meanings behind works in the collection that seem scary at first glance. Finally, Preventive Conservator Sarah Freshnock explains how she keeps creepy crawly creatures at bay to protect the museum’s priceless art objects.

Episode 6: Where do you find comfort?
Releasing December 3, 2025
For many, the holiday season brings about feelings of nostalgia and hope. During this time of year, we nourish ourselves with tradition, spend time with loved ones, and seek comfort in its many forms. Art offers opportunities through which we can do each of these things, allowing us to experience and navigate this season with greater depth, warmth, and grace. In this episode, members of the Walters community delve into the ways art has made a meaningful impact on their lives.

About Free Admissions

Each episode of the Walters Art Museum’s podcast Free Admissions is an all-access guide to the Walters, featuring the latest museum news, guest interviews, and in-depth explorations of the Walters collection through conversations with the people who make the work of the Walters happen. 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.