DOYLESTOWN, PA.- The James A. Michener Art Museum set new attendance and membership records at both the Doylestown and New Hope locations in the first four months of 2006. The Michener had more than 50,000 visitors from January to April, the highest for any consecutive four month period in the Museum’s 18 year history. Doylestown had 15,500 visitors in April, an increase of 33 percent from 2005. April attendance in New Hope nearly hit 3,000, a 175 percent increase from last year. The Museum’s combined attendance for both locations in 2005 was 131,000.

Combined April attendance was at an all-time high for the Museum with 18,417 visitors. Doylestown attendance in April was 15,529, which was higher than the Museum’s total attendance during its first year of operation in 1988. The record breaking visitor numbers are credited to a number of factors including the success of Ansel Adams: Celebration of Genius in Doylestown, and Fashioning Art: Handbags by Judith Leiber in New Hope. Doylestown also featured a number of other immensely popular exhibitions including An Enduring Gift: the Marguerite and Gerry Lenfest Collection, Byers Bucks Fever Art Exhibition: Bucks County Collects Bucks, Heart of Haiti and Radical Vision: The Revolution in American Photography.

The Michener’s membership program is also off to an exceedingly strong start in 2006. New memberships are at an all time high for any four month period in the history of the Museum. Memberships were up significantly from last year with a 41 percent, in January, 192 percent in February, 432 percent in March and 143 percent in April. The Museum attributes this success to strong public interest in our exhibitions and programs. The Michener now has close to 12,000 members, a strong demonstration of the community’s support and commitment to the Museum.

In April, the Michener hosted free general admission in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Byers Bucks Fever art exhibition from April 7th through April 24th. Marguerite and Gerry Lenfest and the Lomax Family Foundation sponsored the free admission program. The Intelligencer and the Bucks County Courier Times were the media partners for the exhibition. The free admission did not include the $4 special fee for the Ansel Adams exhibition.

“We are proud of our consistent offering of quality exhibitions and programming that balance broad popular appeal and serious artistic merit,” said Bruce Katsiff, Director/CEO of the James A. Michener Art Museum. “The Michener’s growing attendance is a powerful indicator of strong community support for this museum.”

The New Hope location enjoyed great success for the first four months of 2006 with record numbers. On April 19th, the Michener in New Hope held a luncheon and Museum fundraiser featuring special guest Judith Leiber, which was sponsored by U.S. Trust. The luncheon was sold out with more than 250 guests.

The Michener Museum must acknowledge the generosity and support of all of the exhibition sponsors who contributed to the Museum’s success over the past four months including Andrew and Mary Lou Abruzzese of the Pineville Tavern, Anthony & Sylvan Pools, First Federal of Bucks County, Heath’s Service, Inc., Intrigue Fine Apparel for Women, Marriott ExecuStay, Thomas L. Newman, Sylvan Properties, Inc., U.S. Trust, Wachovia Securities and Wetherill Opticians Inc.