Key West The Newspaper

Transcend the typical retail experience during Key West Art & Historical Society’s participation in “Museum Store Sunday,” set for Sunday, November 26 from 9:30am – 4:30pm at their three museum stores located at the Custom House, Key West Lighthouse and Keeper’s Quarters, and Fort East Martello Museums. The international shop-for-a-cause campaign and event organized by the Museum Store Association aims to be the global annual day to “Be a Patron,” where consumers can shop conscientiously and support museum stores and their missions. More than 300 museums—from three continents, ten countries, and 49 states—are slated to partake, with special events and promotions.

“Key West Art & Historical Society is proud to join our fellow Museum Store Association colleagues, worldwide, in participating in this inaugural event to raise awareness about the arts & cultural community and how museum stores help to support those missions,” says Dan Ayers-Price, The Society’s Director of Retail Operations and the Florida Chapter President of the Museum Store Association. “If the world can get excited about Shop Small Saturday or Cyber Monday, then why can’t we all contribute by shopping at a museum store on Museum Store Sunday?”

The Society’s museum stores offer shoppers a wide selection of fun, functional, and fabulous wonders carefully curated to reflect the essence and history of Key West. Each store’s merchandise compliment or are in conjunction with the museum’s various exhibits, artifacts and art. Ayers-Price points out that museum gift stores tend to carry high-end, unique, culturally significant, or handmade items merchandised so they “continue the story of the museum exhibits.”  Items like the Custom House Museum’s Guy Harvey exhibit companion coffee table book and Flagler Overseas Railroad exhibit-related items are popular, as are the Depression era style watercolor prints that “have become increasingly popular as our W.P.A. Gallery has expanded,” he says.  Products featuring the iconic architecture of the Key West Lighthouse and the Custom House are also a draw, and Fort East Martello’s famed resident Robert the Doll items are popular, too.

“We carry a broad range of items to fit every budget and are proud to have local artists and authors represented,” says Ayers-Price.  “We strive for items that are either made locally, regionally, or USA made.  Handcrafted, recycled materials and fair trade items are also becoming more and more popular.”

All purchases throughout the year directly support Key West Art & Historical Society exhibitions and educational programming. On Museum Store Sunday, Society members will receive a 30% discount perk while a 10% discount will be offered to non-members. Anyone signing up for membership, that day, will receive the 30% as well.  The Society encourages shoppers to “Be A Patron” of their and other Museum Stores all year round to help support their missions.

“Our members, as well as our visitors, know that our selection is unique, curated to fit our mission and offers a creative alternative to regular retail,” says Ayers-Price. “Giving back, by way of shopping, is an easy way to help support the Arts.”

For more information, visit kwahs.org or contact Director of Retail Operations Dan Ayers-Price at [email protected] or 305.295.6616 x 104. Your Museums.  Your Community.  It takes an Island.