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FAQs for Families
What is the Cool Culture Family Pass?
The Cool Culture Family Pass is a card that allows participating families free and unlimited general admission to 90 participating cultural institutions in New York City for one year!
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.
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.
How can I get a Family Pass?
Families must sign up through their school or childcare programs, not through Cool Culture. Your family is eligible for a Family Pass if you have a child attending an early childcare program or in pre-K or kindergarten at a school that is currently enrolled with Cool Culture. The school or center applies to Cool Culture from May to November, then families at those enrolled schools and centers fill out a Family Registration form from October 3, 2022 through February 3, 2023. Please ask your school or child care center’s Cultural Liaison (sometimes known as a parent coordinator) about whether they offer Cool Culture’s Family Pass.
How can my child’s program participate?
Cool Culture works exclusively with early childhood programs in underserved communities: Child Care, Head Start, and Universal Pre-Kindergarten programs and in select Title I public elementary schools. Please ask your program’s parent coordinator, director, or principal to check out enrollment eligibility for DOE Schools here and for early child care centers here.
I have a Family Pass! How do I use it? Where do I use it?
Families present their Family Pass to the admissions desk of a participating museum, botanical garden, zoo or science center. At least one adult present must have the last name printed on the card. Institutions may request to see photo identification of the pass holder to match the name on the Family Pass. Some museums require advance registration online or extra fees for special exhibits. Browse our list of Cultural Partners for links to the museums’ websites and look up their most updated admissions information. Also, check out the Cool Culture Family Guide for tips on using the Family Pass!
How many people can I bring?
The Pass allows up to 5 people (including the Pass holder) free general admission. More than 5? Please be prepared to pay admission for the remaining guests. Only guardians with their name printed on the Family Pass may present it on visits.
How long is the Family Pass good for?
You can use the Family Pass from the time you receive it until its expiration on October 31st of the current year.
I’ve lost my Family Pass. How do I replace it?
Please contact the Cultural Liaison at your child’s school or childcare program. Depending on the time of the year, your Cultural Liaison may submit replacement requests during one of our Family Pass Registration periods, which for this program year is from October 3, 2022 through February 3, 2023. In the meantime, the Cultural Liaison may give you a Loaner Pass until you receive your new customized Family Pass.
Where can I find out more about cultural institutions, events and activities?
Check out Cool Culture’s resources, including our Cultural Partners Visitation Portal, our family newsletter “Artventure” and our social media @coolculture on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter!
Are your Family Festivals free? May I bring friends and family who are not enrolled in the Family Pass?
Yes! Our Bring The Cool Family Festivals and other citywide events are free for all to attend.
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 5 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 reservation per cultural institution per calendar year.
Additional Questions?
Please email us at info@coolculture.org
