From the Field
Museums Show Up During Government Shutdown
Many AAMD museums are offering free admission for furloughed federal employees during the U.S. government shutdown. We're proud of our members for supporting members of their communities during this difficult time.
Below is a list of art museums, most of which are AAMD members, offering free admission during the shutdown, as well as institutions that are free at all times. Please note that federal ID may be necessary to receive free or discounted admission; check with individual institutions for clarification or questions.
Alaska
Anchorage Museum is offering complimentary general admission to federal employees who are not receiving a paycheck during the partial government shutdown. Federal employees may present their federal ID when checking in at visitor services to receive free admission for themselves and their accompanying family members.
California
deYoung Museum Free admission to federal employees, plus one guest, during the government shutdown. Visitors may redeem admission by showing federal government ID.
Legion of Honor Museum Free admission to federal employees, plus one guest, during the government shutdown. Visitors may redeem admission by showing federal government ID.
Colorado
Aspen Art Museum always free to all
Denver Art Museum free general admission to all furloughed federal government employees plus one guest through Jan. 31, 2019
Connecticut
Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum
New Britain Museum of American Art
Yale Center for British Art always free to all
Yale University Art Gallery always free to all
District of Columbia
The Phillips Collection free for government employees throughout the shutdown
Georgia
The Columbus Museum always free to all
Georgia Museum of Art always free to all
Michael C. Carlos Museum, Emory University
Florida
The Bass free admission to all federal employees with government ID, along with their families
Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami
Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg
NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale free admission for all furloughed Federal employees and one guest during the government shutdown
Pérez Art Museum Miami free admission to guests with a valid federal employee ID as well as select part-time employment opportunities to help them bridge the gap as the shutdown continues. Click the link at left for more information.
Idaho
Boise Art Museum free admission to federal government employees during the shutdown
Illinois
The Block Museum, Northwestern University always free to all
Iowa
Des Moines Art Center always free to all
Maine
Portland Museum of Art free admission to all furloughed federal employees and their families with ID
Maryland
The Walters Art Museum always free to all
Massachusetts
List Center for the Visual Arts at MIT always free to all
Norman Rockwell Museum free admission to Federal employees plus one
The Smith College Museum of Art is pleased to offer free admission to recently furloughed federal government employees, plus one guest, until further notice. Visitors may redeem admission by showing federal government ID.
Michigan
Grand Rapids Art Museum free admission for federal employees during the shutdown
Missouri
Pulitzer Arts Foundation always free to all
Saint Louis Art Museum always free to all
Nebraska
Joslyn Art Museum always free general admission for all
New Jersey
Princeton University Art Museum always free to all
New Mexico
New Mexico Museum of Art free admission to furloughed Federal workers and their families
New York
Brooklyn Museum free general admission to federal government employees for its duration. To redeem, simply present a valid ID as proof of employment
Corning Museum of Glass free admission plus one guest
Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, Vassar College always free to all
George Eastman Museum Federal employees impacted by the shutdown and their families will receive free admission by presenting a federal employee ID at the Lipson Welcome Center and/or the Dryden Theatre box office.
The Jewish Museum free admission for furloughed employees plus one guest during the shutdown period
The Metropolitan Museum of Art free admission to all federal employees and one guest each for the duration of the federal government shutdown
Neuberger Museum of Art, Purchase College
The Rockwell Museum free admission plus one guest
North Carolina
Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University
Ohio
Cleveland Museum of Art always free to all
The Dayton Art Institute The DAI will waive its suggested general admission fee for furloughed federal employees and one guest when a valid federal ID is shown at the museum’s Guest Services Desk. Museum general admission is always free for college students (with valid ID) and youth ages 17 and under.
Taft Museum of Art free admission to furloughed federal employees and a guest during the government shutdown
Toledo Museum of Art always free to all
Oklahoma
Gilcrease Museum free admission for federal employees and their immediate family during shutdown
Philbrook Museum of Art free admission for federal employees and their immediate family during shutdown
Woolaroc Museum and Wildlife Preserve free admission to any federal employee and members of their immediate family during the government shutdown
Oregon
Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, University of Oregon
Portland Art Museum free admission for furloughed federal employees during the partial government shutdown. In addition, the Museum Grounds Café will offer free coffee to impacted employees.
Pennsylvania
Brandywine Museum of Art free tickets to federal employees who are currently furloughed (with ID)
Philadephia Museum of Art free admission plus one guest
University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology free general admission plus up to five immediate family members
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Columbia Museum of Art Free admission for federal workers (with ID) and their families during the government shutdown
Tennessee
Dixon Gallery and Gardens free admission to furloughed and recalled federal employees and their families. Will continue for one month after end of shutdown.
Frist Art Museum Through January 31, 2019, the Frist Art Museum will offer free gallery admission to furloughed government workers (plus one adult guest) when a valid U.S. government ID is presented at Visitor Services. Visitors 18 and younger are always free.
Texas
McNay Art Museum We're joining our friends at the San Antonio Museum of Art and museums across the country to offer FREE admission to federal employees and a guest with a photo ID until the end of the government shutdown. We hope this small gesture will help to inspire and recharge those affected during this time. Reminder, admission is always free for children and teens under the age of 19.
The Menil Collection always free to all
The San Antonio Museum of Art is offering free general admission to federal employees and a guest until the end of the government shutdown. Just show federal ID at the front desk and enjoy. Children under 12 are always free.
Utah
Washington
Wisconsin
Madison Museum of Contemporary Art always free to all
Milwaukee Art Museum Two adults plus any children 17 and under get free Museum admission with proof of Federal employment.
Photo: the Corning Museum of Glass is one of many institutions offering free admission to furloughed employees during the government shutdown. Photo courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, NY