L.A. museums to offer free admission Oct. 4 and 5

Just in time for our nation's financial meltdown, 24 local art and cultural institutions are offering free admission for the weekend of Oct. 4 and 5.  This means you can save that unemployment check for another day; this tab is on the house.

Participating museums:

(Black = free admission both days; Green = Saturday, Oct. 4 only; Blue = Sunday, Oct. 5 only)

Armory Center for the Arts, Autry National Center, Bowers Museum, California African American Museum, California Heritage Museum, California Science Center, Craft and Folk Art Museum, Fowler Museum, Getty Center, Getty Villa, Hammer Museum, Japanese National American Museum, Los Angeles Fire Harbor Museum, Los Angeles Fire Museum & Memorial, MOCA, Museum of Latin American Art, Museum of Tolerance, Natural History Museum, Norton Simon Museum, Paley Center for Media, Petersen Automotive Museum, Santa Monica Museum of Art, Skirball Cultural Center, Southwest Museum of the American Indian.

The astute museum-goer will notice that the Getty Center and Getty Villa already offer free admission. Culture Monster was hoping these institutions would waive parking fees for the weekend. Alas, the normal rate of $10 per vehicle still applies.

Visitors should also note that free admission may not apply to special ticketed exhibitions.

— David Ng

Photo: Part of the permanent collection at MOCA. Credit: Brian Forrest / MOCA