"Walmart Heir Alice Walton Funds Art Museums with Generous Grants"
Alice Walton's foundation, Art Bridges, is providing $40 million in grants to 64 museums across the United States as part of the "Access for All" initiative. The grants aim to fund programs that attract new audiences, such as extending free hours or offering free meals. The initiative was prompted by the pandemic's impact on museums and the public, with many museums reporting a decrease in attendance. Walton believes all museums should be free, but some recipients of the grants, like the Museo de Arte in Puerto Rico, face financial constraints that prevent them from offering free admission. The grants also aim to support long-term sustainability and encourage communities to contribute to funding free access.