Jul 28, 20232 min read

Getting the most of a membership: 4 reasons why I paid to join a free museum in Los Angeles

Updated: Apr 23

Where your focus goes, your energy flows.

Tithing, giving back, replenishing for future generations, whatever one’s perspective, institutions that exist for the greater public good, where we can assemble without commercial interest, are becoming rare in this post pandemic world. Either because I moved to a new city without a commute to bring me outside my residential environment and into the cultural centers of SoCal, or because I’m in a new phase of being, I now spend charitable funds (tagged “altruism and karma in my Gmail acct) on cultural institutions with whom I have personal ties or interest in learning more from.

In 2022 I set out to determine which sites would be the recipient of my funds, and therefore attention in 2023. Three physical (the Hammer, LACMA, and New Museum) and one ephemeral (KCRW, my local NPR station) institution were chosen. The result has been a deepening exploration of how I enjoy spending my time, and what captures my attention.

Reason #1: Food and Fun

Recently, I decided to “get my money’s worth” from my Hammer membership having missed a special members-only DC set by DJ Pee. Wee (Anderson Paak’s disc jockeying moniker) celebrating the reopening following a renovation and took in “Coffee with a Curator.”

While I had wondered who exactly can make a 10 am weekday appointment to have snacks, drinks and conversation with art lovers and fellow museum members, I quickly wished I’d made a point of taking more Thursdays off to explore the Hammer Museum accompanied by the individuals who put their labor into the very shows and displays I may love or hate.

Reason #2: It’s fun to be in a museum before opening hours.

To every museum worker out there: thank you. I know it's not enchanting and exiting to open early to the general public. Particularly patrons. Truly.

In future posts, I’ll write about my experience going to LACMA after dark as a member. But for now, I can say that nothing beats fresh fruit and freshly opened galleries.

Reason #3: But for the membership, the money would be wasted on more frivolous activities

Beach is not available year round. Where else can one go to spend time that doesn’t involve screens (unless those screens are displaying video art or in depth interviews of an artist)?

What else could I spend money on?