The Oglethorpe University Museum of Art (OUMA) will reopen Aug. 25 with refreshed gallery spaces, a $5 general admission fee and a simplified membership structure. Admission for patrons 12 and younger will remain free.

“This modest fee goes a long way to support OUMA’s commitment to providing exhibitions and programs that inspire, inform and enrich our student experience,” said Elizabeth Peterson Jennings, director of the Oglethorpe University Museum of Art.

The new admission structure will support the museum’s ability to offer exhibitions, educational programming and community outreach while continuing to provide low- or no-cost opportunities for students and other audiences.

OUMA will also simplify its membership program by consolidating nine membership tiers into five. All tiers include free museum admission, while higher tiers offer benefits such as free access to events, special previews, and enrollment in the Reciprocal Membership Program. Through the program, members can receive free general admission at participating institutions throughout the Southeast.

To create a more convenient membership experience, OUMA will issue digital membership cards through MembershipAnywhere, a platform used by institutions around the world.

The updates come as the museum completes several enhancements to its gallery spaces. Each of the three main galleries received lighting upgrades designed to elevate the visitor experience and better protect the art on display. The gallery walls have also been repainted and refreshed.

“With this complete refresh and reset of the museum, OUMA has created signature spaces that offer distinct environments for visitors to experience the art,” said Peterson Jennings.

Several exhibitions will be on view when the museum reopens. In the airy Skylight Gallery, “Realism Revisited” explores a range of realist traditions through paintings and works on paper spanning European, American, Hyper and Social Realism.

In Center Gallery, Audubon prints and works produced by Oglethorpe students through the university’s Core program adorn newly refreshed blue-gray walls.

On continuous view in the Shelley and Donald Rubin Gallery, “Conversations with Collections” juxtaposes works from OUMA’s permanent collection to challenge assumptions and inspire dialogue. The exhibition features more than 30 works representing a wide range of media, styles and periods.

OUMA’s fall season will feature a variety of public programs and events. Community Days on Sept. 5 and Nov. 7 will offer free admission, food, live music and family-friendly activities. The Museum Lab lecture series, held on select Thursdays at 1 p.m., will connect students and visitors with professionals from across the museum and arts sectors. The Skylight Gallery Concert Series will return with performances by cellist Jesús Castro-Balbi on Oct. 4 and vocalist Lilly Anayeh on Nov. 22.

OUMA reopens Aug. 25 with refreshed galleries, new exhibitions and a full season of programs and events. Learn more about upcoming exhibitions, events and museum membership at museum.oglethorpe.edu.