RAD Pass adds new destinations, goes year-round

The Allegheny Regional Asset District is using public money to expand the offerings at local cultural groups.

The Allegheny Regional Asset District (RAD) announced Wednesday during a press conference at the Senator John Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh about the year-round expansion of its legacy RAD Pass program.

The “RAD Pass: Year-Round Fun for Everyone,” program is a free online ticketing platform that gives Allegheny County library cardholders access to free and discounted admission to many of Pittsburgh’s most iconic cultural destinations.

Since April 2024, more than 100,000 attendees have enjoyed an experience booked through a RAD Pass. There were initiatives like RAD Days, 3 for Free and RAD Summer Staycation before for Allegheny County library cardholders.

RAD Board Chair Dusty Elias Kirk said Wednesday was an important day for the county as the RAD pass is accessible throughout the year thanks to the people of the county who have supported regional assets.

“This is something we have been working on for a long time, a lot of years, and our executive director of our staff worked with our assets to make this happen,” Kirk said. “We are here to thank the taxpayers of Allegheny County, where without them, we wouldn’t have this year round fun for everyone that we are calling RAD Pass.”

Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato said when the county invests in cultural institutions, they support a “robust creative economy” that provides jobs and economic opportunities.

“RAD is no longer just about a day or a season. It’s about 365 days of fun,” Innamorato said. “It’s about year-round fun for everyone, which is super exciting. That means you can find time to go to these places.”

The expansion of RAD Pass builds on years of RAD’s legacy of increasing access to arts and culture. RAD Pass is open to all Allegheny County residents with a valid library card, though most destinations require users to be 18 or older to make a reservation. Passes can be used for outings of all kinds.

Unlike past RAD programs, the new RAD Pass is not limited to seasonal access. Now, Allegheny County library card-holders can attend free or lower-cost shows and exhibits by two dozen groups and museums on selected dates all year, including the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Pittsburgh Opera, Pittsburgh Public Theater, Pittsburgh Zoo and National Aviary, the Carnegie Museums, Phipps Conservatory, and more.

Members of the Pittsburgh Opera gave a performance Wednesday to demonstrate what residents can participate in with the pass – which is open to way more than just opera.

This opportunity gives residents of the county opportunities to explore, it is less of a hassle and there is access to live performances and handson workshops like at the Pittsburgh Glass Center and Contemporary Craft.

This also gives cultural access for everyone, is backed by community investment and promotes literacy, the release states.

“We are blessed to have so many world class institutions here in Pittsburgh,” Heinz History Center President Andrew Masich said. “In working in partnership with RAD, we’ve all been concerned about accessibility. Something big is in the wind. Something big is going to make our region even more special.”

The effort is made possible in partnership with Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, which, along with other Allegheny County Library Association libraries, plays a key role in both managing the platform and ensuring residents have access to the library cards they need to participate.

Innamorato and Pittsburgh Mayor Edward Gainey praised libraries and how important they are to communities.

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh President and Director Andrew Medlar said this RAD pass is a way to improve the way libraries make connections. He said that libraries are not just about books, but access, opportunity and culture.

“This is truly one of the most inspiring examples of how a library card can create an open door to so much more than anyone can ever expect,” Medlar added.

Funded primarily by Allegheny County’s 1% sales tax, RAD Pass is a “thankyou to taxpayers” and a celebration of what’s possible when public investment brings people, access and culture together, according to a RAD press release. Kirk said the support has totaled over $2.5 billion over the decades.

“We want everyone in Allegheny County to be able to visit our arts groups, our music groups or other cultural attractions that they may have not had the opportunity to experience before,” Kirk added. “We heard loud and clear from the people, and this is a better way to enjoy a free day.”

“It is also a place where we can make sure that investment and economic growth is accessible to everyone, and that’s really what the RAD Pass is about,” Innamorato added. “It’s about making sure that these experiences are not reserved for the few, but they are available to the many.”

Gainey thanked RAD for all they do and that there is more access for those who may not have the means to attend some of these events. He said he hopes to inform all school districts in the area about these opportunities.

“As we talk about RAD Days, to open up our cultural institutions to families that don’t even know where they are at, families that don’t usually get an opportunity to do anything like this, I think it’s a great day,” Gainey said. “Now we get to have this 365 days a year, every single year, and that allows our communities to know they can have a family filled day.”

It’s free to sign up for a library card in Allegheny County. Cardholders can now visit radpass.org to reserve tickets or coupons.