Extended Another Year! MELSA smARTpass Program – An Arts Access Program for Metro Public Library Users

The MELSA Libraries (Anoka County, Carver County, Dakota County, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Saint Paul, Scott County, Washington County), that the smARTpass Program will be extended another year, beginning September 1, 2017. Library patrons will continue to have this option for free or reduced-price tickets to arts activities and museums. Like the Museum Adventure Pass that went before it, this program is not guaranteed to be around forever. We recommend taking advantage of it but also thanking the venues for their support. It would be sad to lose this resource.

smARTpass Participating Programs

The generous program partners do change from year to year, so be sure to check HERE for a current list. As you can see from the many directory links on the list below, quite a few of our favorite family venues are participating. On last update the list included:

• American Swedish Museum
• Bloomington Symphony Orchestra
• Classical Actors Ensemble
• Firefighters Hall & Museum
• Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies
• Hennepin History Museum
• Hennepin Theatre Trust
• Illusion Theater
• Minneapolis Institute of Art
• Minnesota Children’s Museum
• Minnesota Orchestra
• Mu Performing Arts
• Northrop 
• The O’Shaugnessy
• Park Square Theatre
• Pillsbury House and Theatre
• PRIME Productions
• The Rose Ensemble
• Sandbox Theatre
• Stages Theatre Company
• SteppingStone Theatre
• The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
• The Schubert Club
• The Singers
• The Southern Theater
• Theatre Coup d’Etat
• Theatre Pro Rata
• TU Dance
• Walking Shadow Theatre Company

How To Participate in the smARTpass Program:

1. Log In With Your Library card and accept the terms of use;
2. Find An Event you are interested in;
3. Click on Reserve;
4. You will receive an email reservation with a link to a pass;
5. Follow the instructions on your pass.

I reserved a pass to the MIA’s State of the Art exhibit. This pass required that it be printed and recommended calling ahead for a reservation. It’s important to read over the pass and follow its instructions as each of the venues have their own procedures.

I was a little sad when the Museum Adventure Pass program ended a few years ago.  This program is similar with a few differences.

1. You have to find and check out your passes online.
2. For the pilot program, only one pass per card per venue.
3. Passes are for specific times, which means this program can include performances.
4. Once a reservation is made, there is no way to cancel or change/transfer it, and no way to restore that offer if a user is unable to attend for any reason.
5. Additional free offers may be posted by partners at any time.
6. Partners also have the option of offering discount offers.

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