LONDON.- Art Fund – the national charity for art – has today launched its innovative new platform Art Pass Unbooked. The new online tool brings together hundreds of museums and galleries from across the UK in one place for the first time, providing a one stop shop for culture. It uses the users’ location to show them museums and galleries near to them, provides ticket availability, and allows visitors to book there and then.

The smart new tool will help local museums and galleries attract visitors at a time when they need to most, and also allow culture seekers to get an art fix without the crowds. Due to social distancing measures and pent up demand, tickets to higher-profile museums are selling fast with many expected to be booked out ahead of time this summer.

But there is expected to be a lot of capacity for visitors at smaller museums and galleries across the UK. Indeed, new research* by Art Fund shows that people are planning 66m trips to museums and galleries this summer. But the vast majority (65%) will visit one of the top ten biggest museums in the UK, compared with just 39% who said they would visit one of the 2,000-plus smaller venues across the country.

Art Pass Unbooked offers the perfect solution, helping culture lovers find nearby galleries and museums that they can visit spontaneously without booking weeks in advance.

It will also help smaller museums and galleries get the support they need after lengthy closures due to the pandemic. Data from Art Fund shows that 55% of museums and galleries across the country – the vast majority of which are smaller operations - remain concerned about their long term survival.

Art Pass Unbooked can be used by anyone, whether they have a National Art Pass or not. But for those who do, entry to hundreds of museums is free or reduced-price, and many major exhibitions can also be enjoyed for half price.

A National Art Pass costs £73 per year, or £45 for those under 30, and is a great way to treat yourself – or makes a fantastic present for the culture-vultures in your life.

Art Pass Unbooked can be accessed here https://unbooked.artfund.org/. To buy a National Art Pass, or to find out more, head to: https://www.artfund.org/national-art-pass