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October 31, 2018- (Key West, FL). Support the arts by shopping? Key West Art & Historical Society’s “Museum Store Sunday” is one way you can

Transcend the typical retail experience during Key West Art & Historical Society’s participation in  “Museum Store Sunday,” set this year for Sunday, November 25 from 9:30am – 4:30pm at their four museum stores located at Custom House, Key West Lighthouse and Keeper’s Quarters, Tennessee Williams and Fort East Martello Museums. The annual 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 shoppers can spend conscientiously and support museum stores and their missions. More than 700 museums—from three continents, ten countries, and all 50 US states—are slated to partake, with special events and promotions.

“Giving back, by way of shopping, is an easy way to help support the Arts,” says Dan Ayers-Price, the Society’s Director of Retail Operations and a past Florida Chapter President of the Museum Store Association.

That Sunday’s giving will be instantly reciprocated, as the Society’s museum stores will offer 25% off any purchase over $25 during the event.  Society members can show their membership cards to get 30% off any item, no minimum purchase required. All museum store purchases directly support Key West Art & Historical Society exhibitions and educational programming, that day and throughout the year.

Shoppers will find a wide selection of fun, functional, and fabulous wonders carefully curated to reflect the essence and history of Key West. 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,” says Ayers-Price.  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. Ayers-Price points out that museum stores tend to carry high-end, unique, culturally significant, or handmade items merchandised so they “continue the story of the museum exhibits.”

“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.”

While there is only one Museum Store Sunday each year, the Society encourages shoppers to “Be A Patron” of their and other museum stores all year round to help support their missions.

“If the world can get excited about Shop Small Saturday or Cyber Monday, then we can all contribute to the arts by patronizing a museum store on Museum Store Sunday,” says Ayers-Price.“Come and explore all the exciting new market finds for the season along with collections-related products and you’ll be supporting the mission of the Society.”

For more information, visit kwahs.org or contact Director of Retail Operations Dan Ayers-Price at dayers@kwahs.org or 305-295-6616 x 104. Your Museums.  Your Community.  It takes an Island.

KWAHS Museum Store Sunday 1:

Dan Ayers-Price (rt), Key West Art & Historical Society Director of Retail Operations, and Lynn Clark, Assistant Director of Retail Operations, assist Sonya Morris and Kenson Quash of Trinidad in selecting a Swarovski crystal and enameled figurine box in the museum store at the Custom House Museum. This year’s special Museum Store Sunday event takes place at all four Key West Art & Historical Society museum stores on Sunday, November 25 from 9:30am-4:30pm.