The North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) program is an affiliation of arts, historical, and cultural institutions in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and El Salvador which offer reciprocal benefits to qualifying members of other participating NARM institutions. As of June 2022, NARM has 1,231 participating institutions.[1][2][3]

Institutions in the association offer a range of membership benefits to qualified members of participating museums, that typically includes free admission and/or museum shop discounts.[4][5] Individuals interested in getting these benefits should check with their local museum to see if they participate in the NARM program, and the levels of membership required to qualify.

Museums and other institutions may join NARM if they meet certain requirements for reciprocal offerings to visiting members of other NARM institutions.[6] Institutional membership is not exclusive, in that an organization may also join other similar associations, such as the Museum Alliance Reciprocal Program (MARP), Time Travelers Reciprocal Membership Program,[7] Reciprocal Organization of Associated Museums (ROAM),[8] or Art Museum Reciprocal Network (AMRN). There are also regional alliances such as the Southeastern Reciprocal Membership Program (SERM), Western Museum Reciprocal Program, or Empire State Museums Reciprocal Program.[9] A given institution may choose to participate in none of these associations, or in any combination of them.[10] For example, as of 2021, the Birmingham Museum of Art offers reciprocal benefits through international and regional programs.[11]

Art museums associated with colleges or universities have organized a College and University Art Museums Reciprocal Program (CUAMRP, previously called the Academic Art Museum Reciprocal Membership program).[12][13][14]

A participating museum may receive benefits that can outweigh a potential reduction in direct admissions fees. Access to reciprocal membership privileges is usually reserved for membership levels higher than a basic membership, and participating museums have found that membership revenues may increase after announcement of a reciprocal program. More visitors can be attracted from out of town, and often they spend money on parking, food, and museum shop purchases far in excess of any waived admission fees. Reciprocal programs may also offer training, conferences, and professional development for museum staff.[15]

The NARM website highlights selected member institutions and their offerings, with a focus on special exhibitions.[16] NARM also publishes a quarterly magazine which announces new institutional members, features selected programs including online or virtual offerings, and describes any changes to the association.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Home | North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Association". North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Association. Retrieved 2017-03-24.
  2. ↑ "NARM Reciprocal Museum Membership". SPG Family Adventure Network. Retrieved 2021-08-13.
  3. ↑ "Vacation Confidential: The Secret to Free Museum Admissions". Daily Finance. Archived from the original on April 23, 2013. Retrieved Apr 24, 2013.
  4. ↑ "FAQs". North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Association. Retrieved 2021-08-13.
  5. ↑ "Resolve for an artful 2011". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on January 5, 2011. Retrieved Jan 2, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Resources For Institutions". North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Association. Retrieved 2021-08-13.
  7. ↑ "Time Travelers | A membership network for 300 plus historical museums, sites, and societies throughout the United States". timetravelers.mohistory.org. Missouri Historical Society. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
  8. ↑ "Reciprocal Organization of Associated Museums (ROAM)". sites.google.com. Reciprocal Organization of Associated Museums. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
  9. ↑ "Empire State Museums Reciprocal Program" (PDF). Albany Institute. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
  10. ↑ "The Best Money Saving Reciprocal Memberships". Fulltime Families. 24 September 2018. Retrieved 2021-08-13.
  11. ↑ "Membership". Birmingham Museum of Art. Retrieved 2021-09-22.
  12. ↑ "Reciprocal Membership". Yale University Art Gallery. The Yale University Art Gallery. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
  13. ↑ "Academic Art Museum Reciprocal Membership List" (PDF). Kemper Art Museum. Washington University in St Louis. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
  14. ↑ "College and University Art Museums Reciprocal Program Participants" (PDF). Yale University Art Gallery. The Yale University Art Gallery. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
  15. ↑ "How Your Museum Can Benefit From Reciprocal Membership Programs". Cuseum. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
  16. ↑ "Daily Features". North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Association. Retrieved 2021-08-13.


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