A Chance to Learn on Museum Sunday
Museum Sunday offers a chance to see some unique exhibits. Photo by Bettina Meier, KUT News.Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
This Sunday museums in Austin open their doors to show special exhibitions, offer activities and give free tours. Organizers say there are more museums participating this year than ever before, including some exhibits you might not expect at a museum.
For example, there’s an EC 145 helicopter policemen used while chasing drug smugglers at the Mexican border. The vehicle will be on public display for the 1st time as part of this year’s museum day.
“The EC -145 is the largest helicopter in the DPS fleet,” DPS spokesman Tom Vinger said. “They fly in support of law enforcement: Manhunts, searching for missing children, suspects. They have infrared and night-vision capabilities. They operate along the border, and so that helicopter will be here and you have a chance to talk to the pilots.”
And of course take pictures. This year, 37 museums in Austin are opening their doors to show new exhibits, says Alex Freeman, who is with the Austin Museum Partnership.
“It’s an opportunity for museums to offer free admission and extend their hours,” Freeman said. “It’s a day for Austinites and visitors to get a sense of what Austin has to offer.”
At the Blanton Museum of Art, for example, visitors can watch live theater performances or make their own marionette. The AMOA Arthouse at Laguna Glory will be asking people to contribute to a massive collaborative collage. The children’s museum will have storytelling every hour and the Capitols Visitors Center will show an exhibit about restoring the Governor’s mansion. Freeman says some places have focused on education for this year’s event.
“Go to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, where you’ll actually get to meet a scientist there,” Freeman said. “So it’s integrating the outdoors and science and encouraging youngsters to get involved with the sciences.”
The Austin Museum Partnership has created a mobile guide for Museum Sunday. The Guide can be downloaded for free on smartphones and shows exhibits, activities and the different opening hours.
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