Hammer Museum declares that art will be free

The corner of Westwood Boulevard and Lindbrook drive in Westwood Village. LA Observed file photo.

UCLA Hammer Museum director Ann Philbin announced at her annual Saturday night gala that the the Westwood galleries will switch to free admission in February. Hammer donors Erika Glazer and Brenda Potter are making the change possible. The Hammer currently charges as much as ten dollars for admission, though lectures and many events are free. The move to fully free is part of a local almost-trend, writes Christoper Knight in the LA Times. Eli Broad previously announced that his new Bunker Hill museum will have free admission most of the time, and LACMA is looking at dropping its general admission fee as part of an experimental program.