(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) —
The "Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs" exhibition, sponsored by Northern Trust, has become the most popular exhibit in the history of the Museum of Art/Fort Lauderdale (MoA/FL), with a record-breaking 380,000 tickets sold or reserved since they went on sale on October 18.
Outselling two of the most recent blockbuster exhibits combined ("Diana, A Celebration" and "Saint Peter and the Vatican: The Legacy of the Popes"), the Tutankhamun exhibition opened its doors on December 15. Organized by National Geographic, AEG Exhibitions, and Arts and Exhibitions International, with cooperation from the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities, and locally sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, the exhibition runs through April 23.
"We knew Floridians were excited for the arrival of Tut, but the positive response has been truly overwhelming, and unlike any other exhibit, tickets already are selling for February, March and even April," said Irvin M. Lippman, president and executive director for MoA/FL. "It is always a pleasure to watch an exhibition attract a new audience to the museum, and the people that come to see this exhibit have an undeniable passion for the boy king and his treasures."
"With almost one third of the Museum of Art/Fort Lauderdale attendees visiting from out of the state, the King Tut exhibition is having a positive impact on area hotels," 'said Nicki E. Grossman, president of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. "The downtown Riverwalk Arts and Entertainment district and Las Olas shops and restaurants are buzzing with new energy. This hugely important historic exhibition has elevated Greater Fort Lauderdale to an important level as a credible home for major cultural events. From Tutinis and chocolate pyramids to golden cuff bracelets, the Original King of Bling has turned this town into Tut Lauderdale." –Bob Grossweiner and Jane Cohen
