12 reasons to get a National Art Pass
Art Fund turns 120 this month. As we celebrate 12 decades of supporting museums, there's never been a better time to get a National Art Pass.
Do you love discovering incredible art and culture? If so, a National Art Pass is the perfect gift to give yourself.
Beyond the amazing savings that the pass offers – including 50% off major exhibitions, free entry at over 250 venues, plus exclusive discounts at museum shops and cafés – there are many other ways that becoming a pass holder could enrich your life, from improving your wellbeing to knowing that your membership will help make art and culture more accessible to everyone in the UK.
Keep reading to discover 12 reasons why you should get a National Art Pass.
1) To make great savings
A National Art Pass will get you free entry at over 250 venues and 50% off major
exhibitions, plus exclusive offers at museum shops and cafés. You'll also get some other incredible benefits — keep reading to discover more.
2) To make a difference to heritage and culture
By purchasing a National Art Pass, we are able to raise crucial funds to support the UK's museum and heritage sector, which allows us to give grants to museums, to help them do more — from acquiring important artworks, to staging new exhibitions, to creating career opportunities for younger generations within the arts — ensuring that more people can engage with more art more of the time.
3) To never miss out on the biggest exhibitions across the UK
National Art Pass members can subscribe to our exclusive members-only version of our newsletter, Art in your inbox, giving you the best tips and inspiration for how to use your Pass, carefully selected by our editorial team.
4) To enhance your wellbeing
There are many different ways that the arts can improve your mental health, by sparking your creativity and imagination, or by teaching you more about the world around you. Museums and galleries also offer quiet and meditative spaces, where you can contemplate the artworks and objects on display or discuss what you find interesting with friends or family.
5) To discover more incredible venues across the UK
With over 850 venues in the National Art Pass network, you will be spoiled for choice with places to visit. Within our roster of museums, galleries and historic places, not only can you find the biggest cultural institutions across the UK — including Tate Modern, V&A, Yorkshire Sculpture Park and the National Galleries of Scotland — but you can also find former artists' studios, palaces, castles, libraries, living history museums, and much more.
6) To make art accessible to everyone
Because of the incredible support from National Art Pass members, we are able to help museums and galleries improve and enhance how they engage audiences, making art more accessible to everyone. Getting a pass means you're sharing your love of art, helping make more opportunities for people across the UK to experience, enjoy and be inspired by great art.
7) To find new places to explore with friends and family
Why not switch-up the places you choose to meet friends and family. Experiencing art together is fun and offers new ways for us to communicate and be open with one another. You can add Plus One and Plus Kids to your membership so you can discover more together.
8) To learn about new ideas
Museums can be educational spaces as art and culture has the power to challenge us and teach us about new ideas. They are also important spaces to educate future generations about culture and history.
9) To receive exclusive members' magazine, Art Quarterly
National Art Pass members exclusively receive Art Quarterly magazine every (you guessed it!) quarter. Its pages are filled with fascinating in-depth articles, artist interviews, exhibition recommendations and round-ups of all the incredible cultural opportunities to see art that our members have made possible. Alongside the magazine, members will also receive a comprehensive guidebook listing every venue in our network and a dedicated newsletter, packed with tailored suggestions of how to use your National Art Pass.
10) To be a part of a community
By having a National Art Pass, you will be part of a community of 135,000 members, who share a passion for art and culture.
11) To learn from the past and discover hidden histories
Museums can be a great space to learn more about things we weren't taught in school. They are doing increasingly more work to explore stories and cultures that have been historically hidden and to explore complex issues that can sometimes be challenging to think about. They are also doing more work to improve accessibility to create spaces which are welcoming and accessible to everyone.
12) To increase your creativity and get inspired
Whether seeing a work of art makes you want to pick up a paintbrush, snap a quick pic, or call up your friends to offer them your cutting cultural critique, engaging with art and ideas can spark your inner creative in so many ways. Plus, if you have children, you never know: that trip to a local gallery could ignite a future passion.
The more you see, the more we do.
The National Art Pass lets you enjoy free entry to hundreds of museums, galleries and historic places across the UK, while raising money to support them.