ONLY New Partners should Enroll using the Enrollment button.
Cultural Access Program
Cultural Access Program
- Problem
"50% of New Yorkers find NYC's cultural costs high."
- Strengthening Families
Who We Are
Cool Culture is a BIPOC-led social justice organization that uses arts and culture to strengthen family and community wellbeing.
We collaborate with families, educators, artists, government officials, and cultural workers from 90 museums, historical societies, botanical gardens and science centers — to build cross- cultural understanding and advocate for social change.
The Cultural Access Pass Experience
Free General Admission to Museums
Family Guide and Online Museum Database
Our multilingual Family Guide will get you inspired and ready to visit museums, with such features as How to Use the Family Pass and Family Spotlights.
Bring the Cool Family Festivals
A series of family festivals are hosted around the city in partnership with museums, gardens and zoos.
Curators for Educators: Seminars & Dialogues
A series of workshops and dialogues help enhance Family Pass usage, design art- making experiences and nurture civic engagement.
Enhanced Resources
Throughout the year we distribute toolkits with “Do It Yourself” activities, resources, and other information useful to families and educators.
Cool Culture Prices and Plans
Early Childhood Center Enrollment Slots | 2024-2025 Fee |
|---|---|
1-124 Children | $900 |
125-300 Children | $1,300 |
301-500 Children | $3,500 |
501- 1000 Children | $4,000 |
1001+ Children | *Please Inquire with staff |
Family Child Care Network Providers (FCCNPs) | 2024-2025 Fee |
|---|---|
1001 Children | $3,500 |
1001+ Children | $4,000 |
District Centers | 2024-2025 Fee |
|---|---|
Any amount of Children | $4,000 |
Schools | 2024-2025 Fee |
|---|---|
Any amount of Children | $3,500 |
Simple Steps to Partner with Us
Select a staff member to be your school/center's Cultural Liaison for your school/center (see above)
Complete enrollment application and wait for enrollment decision to be communicated via email within 2 weeks.
After receiving enrollment confirmation, electronically sign the partnership agreement.
Submit Program Fee.
Attend Cool Culture's Cultural Access Pass Virtual Orientation.
Upon receiving your family registration link, circulate the link to eligible families and approve their registration in your admin Portal.
frequently asked questions
1. What is the Cool Culture Family Pass? How does it work?
The Cool Culture Family Pass is a card that offers eligible families free and unlimited general admission for up to 5 individuals (children and adults) to 90 partner cultural institutions. Families present their current Family Pass upon entry. The specific museum, botanical garden, or zoo may ask for a photo ID of the pass holder that matches the name on the Family Pass; the Passes are non-transferable.
The Family Pass covers general admission for regular exhibits. There may be extra fees for special exhibits and activities. Please call the museum if you’re unsure about any ticketing questions.
Families must sign up through their school or childcare programs who are enrolled with Cool Culture. We do not offer individual Family Pass sign up.
2. We want Cool Culture! How can our program apply?
Cool Culture partners with early education programs for a one year period. Enrollment is open from July to November. Find the enrollment form for DOE schools here and for child care centers here.
We work exclusively with early childhood programs in underserved communities: child care, Head Start, Universal Pre-K programs, and select Title I public schools. Please review program eligibility for DOE schools here and for early child care centers here.
3. Which museums and cultural spaces are part of the Family Pass network? How do you choose which ones to partner with?
Visit our Cultural Partners Visitation Portal to browse nearly 90 museums, botanical gardens, zoos and more by borough! You’ll also find admissions tips and links to their websites to get their most updated safety guidelines and ticketing information.
Museums and other cultural partners sign an agreement with Cool Culture to offer our families free and unlimited general admission to their regular exhibits. (Special events or exhibitions might have fees – always check with the specific cultural partner first!) The network is offered to early childhood audiences, as this has historically been one of the most under-represented groups when it comes to diversity, access, and inclusion at cultural institutions.
Unfortunately, not all cultural spaces in NYC agree to partner with Cool Culture. You may want to try booking free admission through your library card’s Culture Pass to access places that are not in our network. Some museums and cultural spaces also offer free admission on certain days/times or may offer free admission for EBT card holders.
4. My school currently participates in Cool Culture. How do my families register for the Family Pass?
Your center or school’s appointed Cultural Liaison (often the parent coordinator in a school) will hold Family Pass registration periods from September 9, 2024 through January 31st, 2025 with guidance from Cool Culture. Participating programs are provided registration materials for families. See the specific timelines for family pass registration for centers here and for schools here.
5. How can parents replace a lost Family Pass?
Depending on the time of the year, replacement requests may be submitted during one of Cool Culture’s Family Pass Registration periods from October through February. In the meantime, a Loaner Pass may be provided until a customized Family Pass can be printed.
6. We want Cool Culture! How can our program apply?
Cool Culture partners with early education programs for a one year period. Early enrollment is open from July to November. Find the enrollment form for DOE schools here and for child care centers here.
We work exclusively with early childhood programs in underserved communities: child care, Head Start, Universal Pre-K programs, and select Title I public schools. Please review program eligibility for DOE schools here and for early child care centers here.
7. What is the Curators for Educators program?
Year-round Seminars and Dialogues for and with educators whose schools and centers are enrolled in the Family Pass Program help them to harness arts and culture to support the wellbeing of families. Art viewing, art making, and discussions guide you in cultivating family engagement in the arts and at your school. We partner with colleagues from partner museums, art galleries, and arts education organizations in each session. Activity sheets and other resources are shared with all enrolled educators.
8. I couldn’t attend a Curators for Educators seminar or dialogue. Where can I find resources from the sessions?
Resources from our Curators for Educators sessions are available to enrolled educators in an online folder. They include presentations, session recordings, and museum activity sheets. Please email family@coolculture.org for the link!
9. How is Cool Culture’s Family Pass different from NYC’s Culture Pass?
Cool Culture’s Family Pass is offered through our partner early childcare centers and public schools. It offers one year of free, unlimited general admission to participating cultural institutions. The Family Pass also allows up to five family members per visit.
The NYC Culture Pass is offered through the public library system for card holders age 13 and older. Card holders are limited to one admissions pass reservation per cultural institution per calendar year. |
Our mission is to amplify the voices of families and to strengthen the power of historically marginalized communities through art and culture, both within cultural institutions and beyond.
© 2024 Cool Culture
Contact Information
For Partnerships:
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