Local museum gives gift of art

Students will receive free passes to the Laguna Art Museum in the second year of program.Laguna Beach students can expect an early holiday gift in the mail this month when the Laguna Art Museum begins to distribute academic membership cards to every student currently attending Laguna Beach public and private schools in kindergarten through 12th grades.

The membership cards, to be mailed the week of Dec. 12, will admit students to the museum free of charge, enabling students to see all exhibitions and attend programs for free. Academic members 14 years of age and younger will need to be accompanied by an adult. The program has been underwritten by the McBeth Family Foundation.

Artist Chad Carothers, designer for several well-known surf-wear companies, has created a free gift that the first 500 academic members will receive when visiting the museum. The gift is a portfolio decorated with brightly colored artwork by Carothers.

Special student gallery guides, docent tours and art treasure hunts will be offered during winter break

“By offering students their own membership, Laguna Art Museum seeks to reintroduce students to them useum, making them aware of this cultural resource in their own backyard,” curator of education Dana Solow said.

“We are looking to continue to expand this program throughout Orange County in order to reinforce the importance of the arts to education and learning,” she added.

Last year, the museum provided more than 2,700 academic memberships to the students of the Laguna Beach Unified School District. This year the program has been expanded to several additional schools located in the city, with the intention of bringing this opportunity to all private schools, depending on funding.

Kicking off the second year of the program, parents accompanying an academic member will be offered a free one-time admission. A coupon for entry will be mailed with the cards.

For information, contact Dana Solow at (949) 494-8971, ext. 207, or dsolow@lagunaartmuseum.org.

The museum, at 307 Cliff Drive, is open daily, including Monday holidays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is free to the public from 5 to 9 p.m. the first Thursday of every month.

Admission is $10 for adults and $8 for seniors, students and active-duty military and their families. Children under 12 are admitted free. Information: (949) 494.8971, ext. 0, or visit www.lagunaartmuseum.org.20051209ir77a1kn(LA)Chad Carrothers’ artwork will decorate portfolios given to the first 500 students who take advantage of a free pass to the Laguna Art Museum.