What To Know Before You Go
Like anything free in New York, Culture Pass has certain restrictions albeit fewer than other free exploits. The program, which launched last year, is available to anyone with a NYPL, Brooklyn Library, or Queens Library card. The good news is signing up for a card is absolutely free! Each cardholder can reserve up to one pass per institution each year. This condition is fairly reasonable given that most people rarely go to the same museum several times a year. While, most passes offer complimentary admission for two people, some museums offer family passes that provide entry for up to four.
The first step to accessing Culture Pass is to make a reservation online using your library card details. Bookings can be made up to three months in advance with new passes released at the start of every month. As a fixed number of passes are available each day, advance reservation is required.
When the program first launched, I knew I wanted to use it for the Intrepid, the maritime, air, and space museum that has a hefty $33 general admission fee. My first attempt to reserve a Culture Pass was unsuccessful as there were absolutely no passes available at the time- nothing for the Intrepid as well as nothing for any other museum. I continued to check back for new passes every month only to find that they were always fully reserved within a few days. Rather than leaving another attempt up to chance, I decided to wait at my computer on the 31st of the month for the clock to strike midnight and easily managed to nab a weekend pass for the Intrepid.
Using Your Pass
On the day of your reservation, simply print your pass and exchange it at the museum for your free admission.
At the Intrepid, I was directed to the advance reservation and members line to claim my complimentary admission. Ironically, this line was longer than the one for general admission. A photo ID and the printed pass were requested and I was given complimentary general admission tickets to the museum. My pass did not afford me any of the museum’s add-ons like the simulators and special experiences. Thankfully, the permanent collection at the Intrepid was more than enough for the day!
Enjoying Your Pass
Your experience at your selected cultural institution is dependent on you! With free admission, there is no pressure to unearth every nook and cranny of every museum. You can simply spend a few hours becoming acquainted with the exhibits and choose to come back (hopefully for free) to see more.
The Intrepid is a gold mine for anyone interested in military history. The museum is gigantic and occupies an entire pier on the west side of Manhattan. It houses many impressive historical artefacts including a sizeable collection of international fighter jets, a space station (Enterprise), and an aircraft carrier (USS Intrepid) and submarine (Growler) that you can tour. The majority of the exhibits are located inside the USS Intrepid and are incredibly detailed and interactive. They provide a glimpse into life aboard these war vessels, insight into the management of daily operations, and a technical look at the engines, weapons, and infrastructure needed to power these military machines.
The Pros and Cons
Objectively, Culture Pass saves you money. If you use it for more expensive museums like the Intrepid, MOMA, Whitney, Guggenheim, etc., you can get great value. The list of participating organizations includes many iconic institutions and continues to grow. The program presents a great alternative to the chaos that is “Pay What You Want,” which generally requires you to queue early or end up spending half of the free entry time admiring the museum’s exterior. With Culture Pass, you can choose what day you want to go to the museum and can avoid high traffic dates and times.
Nonetheless, reservations can be difficult to get due to high demand. After the first day of the month, newly released passes are usually fully claimed. Because reservations are best made at least three months in advance, this requires you to plan which museums you want to go to and when. Committing to a Culture Pass so far in advance is less than ideal as plans can change, weather may be abysmal, etc. Although the program offers free cancellations (as long as you have not printed your pass), this can be frustrating and nigh impossible to reschedule. Lastly, many participating museums are already “Pay What You Want” year-round for New York residents, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art. If you are not that short on cash, it can be easier to just opt to go to these museums normally and forfeit some pocket change.
It is also important to note that nothing is truly “free.” Culture Pass is a strategic initiative for the city’s economy. By providing an affordable way to spend the day, the program does effectively get people out of their homes and thus, spending money. While you may not pay a cent to enter the museum, your subway ride and that lunch at the nearby café do cost money. Obviously, injecting what you save from admission into other spending is still a win-win. Just be sure to keep the big picture in mind.
Ultimately, Culture Pass is perfect for those who are interested in visiting a few select museums a year and are willing to plan ahead to get the best deal possible.