Met Museum Announces Free Memberships for NY SNAP Recipients
Millions of residents across New York State are now eligible for the "Explorer" program, which offers perks like streamlined entry and special previews.
As of today, June 2, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has expanded to include cultural nourishment for participating New York residents through the Metropolitan Museum of Art. In collaboration with the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) and the Department of Social Services (DSS), The Met has debuted a new, free membership tier for SNAP recipients across the state.
The museum has provided pay-what-you-wish admission to state residents since 1970 and, in 2024, became a Museums for All member by offering free or heavily discounted admission to any United States visitor who showed their SNAP card. However, the new “Explorer” membership program for NY's SNAP recipients offers additional museum benefits, including free general admission for the registered member and one guest, as well as any children 17 and under; streamlined entry through a digital membership card; access to select member preview dates for new exhibitions; event and program invitations; and additional onsite support for new and returning visitors.
Of the nearly 3 million New York state residents on SNAP benefits, approximately 1.7 million of them live in NYC. Visitors pursuing the Explorer membership program will be able to enroll through the membership desks onsite at both The Met on Fifth Avenue and the Met Cloisters in Fort Tryon Park.
“Access to art and culture is an essential part of an equitable city,” DSS Commissioner Erin Dalton said in a press release. By removing financial barriers, Dalton continued, the institution can “create opportunities for learning, belonging and inspiration that extend beyond individual beneficiaries to the whole community.”
The rollout of the Explorer membership tier comes shortly after the annual Met Gala benefit for the museum's Costume Institute was lambasted for its association with Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sánchez Bezos, who were appointed honorary co-chairs for funding this year's event. In a citywide boycott campaign, organizers laid into Bezos for his skyrocketing net worth as the wealth gap widens and for cutting a third of the Washington Post staff, and called out Amazon for its exploitative labor conditions for warehouse staff and delivery drivers, as well as its profits from the Trump administration's brutal crackdown on undocumented immigrants.
In addition to digital advertising, The Met will distribute information about the new Explorer membership at libraries and community centers, New York City Housing Authority developments, faith-based institutions, and in partnership with tenant associations and local grassroots organizations.
“This institution belongs to all New Yorkers, and this free membership is a reminder to residents that art is not a luxury but a powerful source of connection and curiosity open to us all,” said Diya Vij, DCLA's recently appointed commissioner, in a press statement.
