VMFA grants free admission for ‘GIANTS’ exhibit to state employees, K-12 teachers

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) has announced that state employees and pre-school through grade 12 teachers will receive free admission to the GIANTS exhibit.

The announcement came Monday, Jan. 12, and will allow teachers of private and public schools from pre-school and K-12 as well as Commonwealth of Virginia employees, free access to the exhibit.

The exhibit features art from the "Dean Collection" of Grammy-winning producer Swizz Beats and Grammy-award winning artist Alicia Keys. The collection features over 130 works completed by 40 black artists from Africa, Europe, the United States and the Caribbean.

VMFA Director and CEO Alex Nyerges stated that the museum serves as an educational institution for all Virginians, and adds that, "we are delighted to share works from the Deans’ powerful art collection with our Commonwealth colleagues and school teachers."

According to the press release, the exhibit is titled "GIANTS" to refer to the "renowned artists included in the exhibition, their impact on the art landscape and, in some cases, the monumental scale of featured works."

The exhibit also seeks to celebrate the beauty, resilience, distinctiveness and connection within communities across the world, according to the release. "GIANTS, conveys the deep imprint that Black artists have made and continue to make on contemporary art."

To pick up your free ticket to see GIANTS: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beats and Alicia Keys, both commonwealth employees and school teachers must show an employee ID or badge at the museum's visitor services desk.

One free ticket is available per badge, according to the release, and reservations for the for first-available tickets to the exhibition can also be made in person at the visitor services desk.

The exhibit will remain at the VMFA from Nov. 22 to March 1, with tickets available here.