NASHVILLE, Tenn. (September 14, 2026)—The Frist Art Museum is excited to announce an expansion of its free Explorer Membership to eligible undergraduate college students. Students attending a college or university in Davidson, Cheatham, Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson, or Wilson County, or students enrolled elsewhere but who maintain residence in those counties, may now join Explorer at no cost with a valid student ID. No income qualification is required for eligible college students.
“College is a formative time for developing lifelong interests, and we want the Frist to be a place that students across our region feel belongs to them,” says Seth Feman, Frist Art Museum executive director and CEO. “By expanding the Explorer Membership, we hope to remove one more barrier to visiting often, bringing friends, and making art part of their lives.”
Launched in 2025, Explorer Membership was created to increase accessibility to the Frist for residents throughout Middle Tennessee. The program is also available to residents of the seven-county area with household incomes of $40,000 or less for individuals or $80,000 or less for households with two adults.
Explorer Membership benefits begin immediately upon enrollment, giving members free access to the Frist’s galleries and Martin ArtQuest, the museum’s interactive art-making space.
Additional benefits include:
- Discounted parking during museum visits for up to three hours per visit (valid only during the Frist’s operating hours; space is limited)
- A personalized digital membership card
- Invitations to members-only events, previews, and tours
- A digital Frist Art Museum Member Magazine subscription
Online registration is available at FristArtMuseum.org/explorer-membership. Students will be asked to verify eligibility with a valid student ID and, when applicable, proof of residence.
Support for the Explorer membership is provided by the Dettwiller Foundation and the Marlene and Spencer Hays Foundation.
The Frist Art Museum is supported in part by The Frist Foundation, Metro Arts, and the Tennessee Arts Commission, which receives funding in part from the National Endowment for the Arts.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Buddy Kite: 615.744.3351 | bkite@FristArtMuseum.org
Connect with us @FristArtMuseum
About the Frist Art Museum
Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the Frist Art Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit art exhibition center dedicated to presenting and originating high-quality exhibitions with related educational programs and community outreach activities. Located at 919 Broadway in downtown Nashville, Tenn., the Frist Art Museum offers the finest visual art from local, regional, national, and international sources in exhibitions that inspire people through art to look at their world in new ways. Information on accessibility can be found at FristArtMuseum.org/accessibility. Gallery admission is free for guests ages 18 and younger and for members, and $20 for adults. For current hours and additional information, visit FristArtMuseum.org or call 615.244.3340.
