FAQs

What are the Art Institute’s hours?
The museum is open to the public Monday 11 a.m.–6 p.m. and Thursday–Sunday 11 a.m.–6 p.m.

The first hour of every day, 10–11 a.m., is reserved for member-only viewing.

We are closed Tuesday and Wednesday.

Is the Museum Shop open?
The Museum Shop and Modern Shop are open during all member and public hours: Monday 10 a.m.–6 p.m. and Thursday–Sunday 10 a.m.–6 p.m. 

Is the museum open on holidays?
The museum is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. It is open on all other holidays.

When are your free hours?
Admission was free for Illinois residents July 30–August 3, 2020 and future dates will be announced soon. Learn more about other ongoing free access to the museum, including for the following groups:

• Kids under 14
• Chicago teens under 18
• Students who attend one of our University Partner schools
• LINK and WIC cardholders
• Illinois educators
• Active-duty military and their families (Memorial Day–Labor Day)

How much does it cost to go to the Art Institute?
The cost of your general admission ticket depends on if you live in Chicago, someplace else in Illinois, or elsewhere, and if you’re a student or a senior. Please refer to our ticketing chart. And remember, admission is always free for members and children under 14.

Does a general admission ticket include access to special exhibitions?
A general admission ticket allows you to see all of the museum’s nonticketed special exhibitions. Occasionally exhibitions require an additional charge.

Do members need tickets?
No, members never need tickets and never have to wait in admission lines. Simply show your member card and photo ID to the ticket collectors.

Do I need to purchase tickets in advance of my visit?
Yes. For touchless entry, please purchase tickets in advance at sales.artic.edu.

What about free tickets? Can I get those online in advance?
To redeem some free ticket types—for Illinois educators, WIC/LINK cardholders, University Partners, Corporate Partners, members of the military and their families—visitors should visit the admission counter upon arrival.

Do I have to pay for tickets for my kids?
Admission for children under 14 and Chicago teens under 18 is always free. Please reserve free tickets in advance online.

When does the Art Institute offer free admission?
Admission was free for Illinois residents July 30–August 3, 2020 and future dates will be announced soon. Learn more about other ongoing free access to the museum, including for the following groups:

• Kids under 14
• Chicago teens under 18
• Students who attend one of our University Partner schools
• LINK and WIC cardholders
• Illinois educators
• Active-duty military and their families (Memorial Day–Labor Day)

Do I need to wear a face covering?
Yes. All guests over the age of 2 are required to wear face coverings over both their nose and mouth for the entirety of their visit.

Beyond physical distancing and face coverings, what safety measures has the Art Institute taken to decrease the risk of exposure to COVID-19?
The museum has taken many steps to protect our staff and visitors, including increasing the frequency and depth of cleaning and disinfecting of high-traffic areas such as entries and restrooms. We’ve also installed plexiglass shields at admission counters and ticket-collecting stations and made hand sanitizer available for both visitors and staff throughout the museum. To enable physical distancing, we’ve limited capacity in several spaces, and closed those areas where physical distancing is not possible. We’ve also removed or disabled touchscreen interactives and have replaced all water fountains with water-bottle filling stations.

How many people will be at the museum when I’m there?
The museum will be operating at 25% capacity to ensure physical distancing requirements can be met.

Are temperatures being taken for visitors or staff?
Visitors will not have their temperatures taken but are being asked to postpone their visit if they are feeling unwell in any way. Staff will have their temperatures checked and answer health screening questions upon arriving at work every morning. 

Are there other restrictions to visiting?
Visitors should abide by the City of Chicago travel order if they have recently traveled to another state.

Additionally, any visitors who are disrespectful or discourteous to other guests, staff, or volunteers—or engage in behaviors that are disruptive of others’ enjoyment of the museum, such as playing music or video, staging unauthorized performances, using sound amplification devices (excluding assistive-listening devices), blocking pathways, soliciting, leafleting, signature gathering, or picketing—may also be asked to leave. 

Can I get to the museum on public transportation?
Yes, CTA buses, EL trains, and the Metra commuter rail are all great options to get you to the museum.

What’s the best route when driving?
Get driving directions from various city locations.

Where can I park?
There are many underground lots only a block away, including parking found via SpotHero. Members at the Member Plus and above levels receive a discount on parking.

Is there a bike-sharing program I could use?
Divvy is Chicago’s bike-sharing program, and several stations are located near the Art Institute. Learn more.

Please reference our member FAQs.

Is accessible parking available?
Accessible parking is located in several garages near the Art Institute. Please note that they no longer accept oversized vans.

Millennium Park Garage
Entrance at Columbus Drive and Monroe Street, with 6’ 8’ clearance in some sections and an elevator at the exit

East Monroe Street Garage
Entrance at Columbus Drive and Monroe Street, with 6’ 8” clearance and exit ramps at Monroe Street

Grant Park North Garage
Entrance at Michigan Avenue between Madison and Randolph, with 6’ 6” clearance for vans and an elevator at the exit

Do you have wheelchairs?
Yes, wheelchairs are free and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Are audio guides available?
Audio guide rental is temporarily unavailable. Our free downloadable app offers the same audio guide content direct to your phone. Download it via the App Store or Google Play, and just remember to bring your headphones.

Do you have a map of the museum?
View and download a floor plan here.

Do you welcome service animals?
Yes, service animals are welcome at the museum. For inquiries regarding emotional support animals, please contact access@artic.edu.

Are your checkrooms open?
No, currently our checkrooms are closed as part of our efforts to protect the health and safety of our visitors and staff.

What items are not allowed in the galleries?

• Bags, camera bags, and purses larger than 13 x 17 x 4 inches
• Backpacks and backpack baby carriers
• Art materials other than pencils (including ink pens)
• Shopping bags
• Flowers and balloons
• Food and drinks other than water bottles
• Toys
• Tripods, flash attachments, video cameras, and “selfie sticks”
• Umbrellas (small umbrellas can be stowed in bags)
• Wrapped packages (gifts)

If your checkrooms are closed, what am I supposed to do with my stuff?
We ask that visitors bring as few items to the museum as possible. Courtesy bags are available so that valuable items can be kept and carried during your visit.

Can I bring a water bottle into the galleries?
Water bottles are allowed in the museum and can be filled at the water bottle–filling stations that have replaced all water fountains. Bottles must be stowed safely in a bag when visitors are in any space that houses art. If you do not have a bag, the museum will provide one.

Can I go on a tour?
All on-site events and tours are suspended, but virtual events continue per our event calendar.

The museum’s free downloadable app also offers a variety of self-guided tours, and our online highlights provide another way of enjoying the collection.

Which exhibitions will be on view during my visit?
See a list of current and future exhibitions.

How will I know what artworks I can see during my visit?
The Art Institute is an active lending institution. For the most up-to-date information about gallery closures and significant works of art that may not be on view, please check our Collection Updates page.

Can I take pictures in the galleries?
We encourage you to take pictures of the collection and special exhibitions for personal use. Non-flash photography is permitted in all permanent galleries. Signs indicate the few works that are not allowed to be photographed due to a lender requirement.

Are there restrictions on the type of equipment that is permitted?

• Equipment must not exceed the size of a SLR camera designed for personal use.
• Flash, tripods, monopods, handheld microphones, selfie sticks, and other extraneous equipment are not allowed anywhere in the museum, its gardens, or public spaces.
• All imaging documentation must be for personal, nondistributional, noncommercial use only.

Are selfie sticks permitted in the galleries?
No, for the safety of the artwork and other patrons, selfie sticks are not allowed.

How do I arrange a photo shoot or filming at the museum?
Members of the media should contact our Department of Public Affairs at (312) 443-3363 or aic.publicaffairs@artic.edu to arrange shoots for still photography and film.

Is sketching allowed in the museum?
Sketching with pencils only is allowed in all galleries, including special exhibitions, provided there are no restrictions by lenders. Please check with a security officer in your gallery to confirm that sketching in that space is permitted; officers have the discretion to disallow sketching if the galleries are crowded or if sketching is creating a disturbance. If a work of art is not framed or protected by a vitrine or case, sketchers are asked to remain at least five feet away from the art. Paper and pads must be no larger than 13 x 17 inches. Easels, stools, or anything that interferes with movement in the gallery are not permitted.

Can I take my wedding or engagement photos at the museum?
Unobtrusive wedding and engagement photography in the museum’s galleries, gardens, and public spaces does not require a special permit or fee. To ensure the safety of our visitors and our works of art, the maximum number of participants, including the photographer and any assistants, may not exceed six visitors. The museum’s photography restrictions and general visitation guidelines (listed above) also apply.

How can I get a job at the Art Institute?
See a list of job opportunities available at the museum and the School of the Art Institute.

Do I have to have an art degree to get a job at the museum?
There are many different types of jobs at the museum—curatorial, teaching, marketing, accounting, security, human resources, facilities management, library sciences, and retail, just to name a few. Different positions require different skills and abilities, and for many positions, a major in art history or fine art is not required. To explore the variety of positions currently available at the Art Institute, please visit our employment page.

Can you tell me the value of my artwork?
The Art Institute is not permitted to conduct appraisals or authentications of artwork. Here is a list of a few organizations that do.

Can you give me information about an artist or a work of art?
The Ryerson and Burnham Libraries have numerous resources for conducting your art research.

I have a work of art that I want to sell/give to the Art Institute.
Give us a call at (312) 443-3600, and we’ll help direct you to the appropriate curatorial department.

Can I buy a print of a certain work of art?
The Museum Shop offers many posters and prints.

Can I hold a party at the Art Institute?
Currently we are not accepting external bookings for our various facilities.

Can we exchange links?
The Art Institute welcomes you to provide a link to its site, providing you adhere to the link-exchange policy.

I have a question that isn’t answered here. How can I contact the museum?
We’re happy to answer your questions by phone or email.

How do I find a staff member’s contact information?
Call our general information number, (312) 443-3600, and we’ll be happy to direct you to the appropriate department.