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Inquiring Minds:
The Many Faces of Membership at Carnegie
Museums of Pittsburgh
By Kimberly M. Riel
Helene
Prince is a native Pittsburgher who is proud to call herself a member of
Carnegie Museums. She purchased a combined individual membership in 2001,
yet, at the time, she says, “I never intended to participate in any of the
events or openings that take place at the museums. I joined simply because
I’m proud of the system of museums we have in Pittsburgh and I wanted to
support them so others could reap the benefits of having world-class museums
in their backyard.”
However,
this summer, something about the invitation to Members’ Night with the
Paparazzi at The Andy Warhol Museum struck Prince. “It was the first museum
event I ever attended, and I admit that I went simply because I thought it
would open some social doors for me, but it did a whole lot more,” says
Prince. “That night was so much fun, and the people were so kind and
enthusiastic about their work at The Warhol, that it brought a whole host
of new experiences and an even greater appreciation for the arts into my
life. As a result, I definitely plan to attend more events in the
future.”
Membership Has its Privileges
Carnegie
Museums of Pittsburgh began offering memberships to the public in 1947. At
the time, the membership was called the Carnegie Institute Society, and
benefits included free admission to the Travel Adventure Film Series,
invitations to exhibition openings, and discounts on classes held at the
museums. In the beginning, only a few thousand Pittsburghers belonged to
the society. Today, approximately 100,000 people—1 in 25
Pittsburghers—enjoy membership at Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, and the
reasons people choose to become members are as varied as the benefits they
enjoy.
“Our
members are a large, diverse group of smart, creative people who are
looking for good value, educational opportunities, and some quality time
with their families,” says Ellsworth Brown, president of Carnegie Museums
of Pittsburgh. “Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh offers members all of these
things and more.”
Depending
on the level of membership purchased, members can gain access to all four
Carnegie Museums and the programs, events, and exhibitions they offer with
one membership card. “For less than it costs to spend the day at Kennywood,
families can get a year’s worth of entertainment plus educational
opportunities at some of the best cultural venues in the city,” says Karen
Poirier, director of Membership. “Our members also have access to exclusive
member programs and parties, an online calendar, email newsletters and
email reminders about important museum events.”
Member
Cynde Frederick knows a good value when she sees one, yet her reasons for
joining Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh were not purely economical. She and
her husband joined because they wanted the museums to be a cornerstone of
their daughter’s education. “When our daughter was two, we brought her down
to the Museum of Art to see the holiday trees and the Presepio,” says
Frederick. “At that time, we purchased a combined membership because we
decided that we wanted her to be able to take advantage of all that the
museums offer.”
The
Fredericks now bring their daughter to the museums at least once a month
because their membership allows them the flexibility to drop in for just an
hour or two without feeling like they need to spend a whole day to get
their money’s worth out of their visit. However, the main reason they come
as often as they do is because there is always something new and
interesting to see or do.
“One of
the best things about being members is that we receive advance notice of
all the new exhibit openings, classes, and special events through CARNEGIE
magazine,” says Ms. Frederick. “I don’t have to spend time flipping through
the newspaper looking for enriching educational opportunities for our
daughter because they’re delivered right to our door. All we need to do is
sign up. And we haven’t been disappointed yet. Every class, every opening,
every special event has been engaging and truly enjoyable.”
The Arts and Education
Dr.
Denes de Torok and his wife, Maria, share the Fredericks’ enthusiasm for
the events and classes offered at the museums. “My wife and I have always
appreciated the arts,” says Dr. de Torok. “We have an extensive art
collection of our own, and we frequently visited Carnegie Museum of Art.
So, when our granddaughter expressed an interest in developing her artistic
ability, we purchased a membership so she would have unlimited access to
the museums.”
Now,
the de Toroks have two grandchildren. While their granddaughter gravitates
to the Art Museum, their grandson loves the dinosaurs at the Museum of
Natural History. “With our combined membership, we can make them both
happy,” says Dr. de Torok.
Making
their grandchildren happy while simultaneously enhancing their education
and development are certainly reason enough to belong to Carnegie Museums,
yet Dr. de Torok and his wife also joined because they believe the museums
are an important part of Pittsburgh’s culture and they want to ensure the museums
will be around for their grandchildren to enjoy for years to come.
“Membership in the museums is important,” he says. “It makes a statement
that one appreciates the important role the arts and sciences have in our
lives.”
A Pittsburgh Treasure
Like
the de Toroks, John and Kate Powell also have very simple reasons for
purchasing their reciprocal membership to Carnegie Museums. Since they
moved to Pittsburgh five years ago, they have been avid supporters of the
museums.
“We
joined Carnegie Museums almost as soon as we arrived here because we
believe in the existence of museums and we feel they need to be supported,”
says John Powell. “And even though we don’t have children, we purchased a
higher level of membership because we wanted to be able to bring our nieces
and nephews when they visit.”
“The
museums give us a place to go to see things you can’t see anywhere else –
like the Dodo Bird and dinosaurs in the Natural History Museum – and to
learn things that you can’t learn anywhere else,” says Kate Powell. “They
provide us with incredible growth opportunities as well as with relaxing,
enriching entertainment.”
The
Powells consider the four Carnegie Museums one of Pittsburgh’s best
attributes, and, for them, it was one of the reasons they decided to call
Pittsburgh home. “The Carnegie Museums are a highpoint of culture and
education for everyone who lives in and around the city,” says John Powell.
“Together, they help make Pittsburgh a truly great place to live.”
Carnegie
Museums of Pittsburgh members come from all over western Pennsylvania and
from all walks of life. Some join as individuals; others with their
families; still others with their place of business. Some join for the
value and convenient access; others to take classes and participate in museum
events; and some simply to support the arts and a Pittsburgh legacy.
No
matter what their reason was for joining, most members stay with the
museums for the same reasons the Powells do: “We renew every year for two
reasons,” says John Powell. “The first is because we’ve developed personal
relationships with some of the museum staff, and the second is because
every time we visit the museums or attend an event, we are rewarded for our
investment far beyond our expectations with experiences that are educationally
sound, socially stimulating, and personally enriching.”
For
more information about the special benefits you enjoy as a member of
Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, please contact the Membership department at
membership@carnegiemusums.org.
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