Museums open doors to students, community on July 20

July 17, 2006

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The University of Florida Student Government will host Museum Nights from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday, July 20, at the Florida Museum of Natural History and the Harn Museum of Art in the UF Cultural Plaza.

Visitors to the Florida Museum of Natural History will enjoy free refreshments provided by The Swamp. The Florida Museum is hosting the exhibit Quilting Natural Florida featuring contemporary quilts that portray Florida natural history themes.

At the Harn Museum, “American Matrix: Contemporary Directions for the Harn Museum Collection, Part II” showcases works of contemporary artists such as Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein in the new Mary Ann Harn Cofrin Pavilion. The Camellia Court Cafe will also be open late serving Starbucks coffee and other refreshments and offering free wireless Internet access.

Museum Nights strives to increase student and community visitation at the UF Cultural Plaza, located near the intersection of Southwest 34th Street and Hull Road. It serves as an entertainment alternative for Thursday nights in Gainesville and also supplies individuals who are too busy during the day with an opportunity to visit the museum in the evening.

Student Government has allotted more than $40,000 to increasing student awareness and appreciation of the arts and natural sciences through the Museum Nights program. Please see www.sg.ufl.edu for a complete summary of the schedule or call 352-392-1665, ext. 415.