Museums for All Initiative
The Children’s Hands-On Museum of Northwest Illinois (CHOM) has joined Museums for All, a signature access program of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), administered by the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM), to encourage people of all backgrounds to visit museums regularly and build lifelong museum-going habits. The program supports those receiving food assistance (SNAP) benefits visiting CHOM for a minimal fee of $3 per person with the presentation of a SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card. Similar free and reduced admission is available to eligible members of the public at more than 300 museums across the country. Museums for All is part of CHOM’s broad commitment to seek, include, and welcome all audiences. Museums for All helps expand access to museums and also raise public awareness about how museums in the U.S. are reaching their entire communities. More than 300 institutions participate in the initiative, including art museums, children’s museums, science centers, botanical gardens, zoos, history museums, and more. Participating museums are located nationwide, representing more than 40 states.
Museums for All – Admission FAQ’s
Do I need to register for anything?
No. Visitors do not need to register for anything. You can just go to a participating museum, show your SNAP EBT card and a photo ID, and you will receive the Museums for All admission rate. You can go back as many times as you wish—there’s no limit.
Do I pay with my SNAP EBT card?
No, your SNAP EBT card is only for identification purposes, showing that you meet the criteria. Any admission costs must be paid for with alternate methods (cash, credit cards, etc.).
I have one SNAP EBT card. How many people can get the Museums for All rate with that card?
Each SNAP EBT card allows up to four people to get the Museums for All rate. This is up to the discretion of each museum.
Can I use WIC or something other than SNAP to get the Museums for All rate?
Many of the participating museums will accept WIC or some other form of identification, but they are not required to do so by the Museums for All guidelines. Please check with the museum you wish to visit ahead of time, as we cannot guarantee that they will honor anything besides the SNAP EBT card. CHOM will accept WIC with picture ID.
Can I use my SNAP EBT card in another state?
Yes! Museums participating in Museums for All will accept SNAP EBT cards from any state. If you live in one state, but want to visit a participating museum in a different state, you can!
