AUGUSTA, GA.- Change is in the air at Augusta’s Morris Museum of Art—everything from admission fees to a refreshed look in the galleries. It all begins this month, and will continue well into 2010.

“Change is in the nature of good public institutions, but it often happens in such small increments that it’s almost not perceptible. Most of what’s happening here at the Morris will be readily noticeable to all. These changes represent significant improvement in the way we see to the needs of our guests, as well as to the display and interpretation of the art. These changes will provide fresh and visually exciting ways to see the Morris’s wonderful collections,” said Kevin Grogan, director of the Morris Museum of Art. “Our ambition is to make the museum easily accessible in every way to as many people as we can.”

First, the museum recently changed admission fees to increase accessibility. Now, children age 12 and younger are free. (Previously, only children under the age of 6 got that free admission.) Admission for visitors between the ages of 13 to 18, seniors, military personnel, and students with IDs are $3; adults are $5; museum members always get in for free; and all visitors are free on Sundays.

Second, cell phones, once banned, are now allowed in the galleries. Visitors can text or take photographs; however, phone ringers must be silenced and phone conversations are discouraged in the galleries (but allowed anywhere outside).

Third, still photography is permitted in the museum’s permanent galleries for private, noncommercial use only—photos cannot be published, sold, reproduced, transferred, or distributed (through publication or via the internet). In addition, flash photography and tripods are not permitted. There will be signs designating some galleries as “No Photograph Areas.”

Finally, the Morris is launching a new web site in the Fall and will be reinstalling the entire permanent collection from mid-December of 2009 through early March of 2010.