NEW ORLEANS -- The New Orleans Museum of Art -- already free to Louisiana residents -- is also offering free admission to out-of-state visitors through Jan. 18.

The dates coincide with the citywide international art show called Prospect.1 New Orleans, and the museum's exhibit of 108 pieces by jeweler Peter Carl FabergDe from the Hodges Family Collection.

NOMA is participating in Prospect.1, showing work by nine of the 81 artists featured. The citywide exhibit's organizers wanted every bit of it free.

"This free admission offer is not underwritten by any grants the way the Louisiana visitors are by The Helis Foundation. So yes, we're taking a hit on admission revenue, but it's one that we didn't hesitate with because it's part of supporting Prospect.1's commitment to being entirely free," said James J. Mulvihill, spokesman for the museum.

Director John Bullard said the holidays are the perfect time to check out both exhibitions and revisit the permanent collection, and free admission means people can visit repeatedly and really get to know the art.

A grant from The Helis Foundation has let the museum admit all Louisiana residents free since it reopened after Hurricane Katrina.

After Jan. 18, the museum will return to free admission for state residents, and an $8 charge for adults visiting from out of state. The out-of-state charges for seniors will be $7, and $4 for children ages 3 to 17.

"Without an admission fee we are already seeing more repeat visitors who come back with friends, or who just take advantage of the opportunity to revisit a favorite work over and over," Mulvihill said. "In a perfect world this is how all museums would be, like libraries, where the public has access to this art whenever they want and as often as they'd like."

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)