The Art Institute of Chicago is committed to creating a welcoming environment for all to experience the art in our galleries, for our dedicated staff to carry out their thoughtful work, and for the artwork itself to be preserved for generations to come.
The following guidelines were created to support this environment, and the Art Institute requires that all visitors, staff, and students comply with our policies within the museum as well in our gardens, entrance areas, and steps.
Visitor Conduct
The Art Institute does not tolerate any behaviors or actions that endanger the museum’s artwork, property, staff, or other visitors, including verbally abusive, harassing, discriminatory, or threatening statements or behavior, or actions that disrupt others’ experience of the museum. Any person who does not adhere to these policies may be asked to leave the premises.
Prohibited Activities
- Conduct that poses any risk to visitors, staff, or to the museum’s collections
- Profanity, derogatory slurs, or other language that is disrespectful or discourteous
- Playing music or video, staging unauthorized performances, using sound amplification devices (excluding assistive-listening devices), blocking pathways, and interfering with the free flow of pedestrian traffic in and around the museum
- Soliciting, leafleting, signature gathering, demonstrating, picketing, and littering
- Running, rough play, and disruptive behavior
- Smoking, including smokeless devices, inside the museum or in an outdoor area within 20 feet of the building
- Refunding, reselling, exchanging, or transferring museum tickets or membership benefits. General admission tickets and membership benefits may not be used for group visits or for commercial purposes.
Prohibited Items
- Weapons, firearms, and hazardous materials, including pepper spray, mace, flammable liquids, adhesives, aerosols, fuels, fireworks, toxic chemicals, and explosives
- Food and drinks other than water in a bottle with a closeable lid
- Bags, backpacks (including backpack baby carriers), camera bags, shopping bags, and purses larger than 13 x 17 x 4 inches
- Art materials other than pencils and sketchbooks
- Bicycles, sports equipment, recreational equipment such as scooters, skateboards, shoes with wheels, and roller blades
- Large objects, such as flags, banners, signs, frames, and artwork
- Tripods, flash attachments, and selfie sticks
- Flowers, balloons, toys, and wrapped packages
- Umbrellas that are too large to be stowed in bags
- Pets or other animals (except service animals which must be leashed and attached at all times)
- Any other item that could put the art, staff, or visitors at risk, to be determined at the sole discretion of the museum
General Policies
Museum access is through admission or membership.
The Art Institute can be visited during open hours with an admission ticket—general admission, Fast Pass, or CityPass—or through a museum membership.
Security scanners are used at all entrances.
When entering the museum, visitors will pass through security scanners. These devices use low-frequency (ELF) radio waves—in the range used by the anti-theft systems many retail stores employ—to detect weapons and other harmful devices not permitted in the museum. The system meets international and national safety certifications and is safe for the general public, including pregnant women and children. Learn more about this technology.
We’re here to help.
Our professional staff is trained to keep both the artwork and our visitors safe and help everyone have an enjoyable experience. Please listen to their instructions and don’t hesitate to ask for their guidance.
Refrain from touching the art.
This includes frames, platforms, labels, display cases, or anything that is used to project the art. Occasionally lines on the floor or wires indicate the distance from which artwork can be viewed safely.
Checkrooms are available.
Our checkrooms—located at both the Michigan Avenue and Modern Wing entrances—are free for all visitors. Bags and backpacks larger than 13 x 17 x 4 inches are not allowed in the galleries and must be checked. Smaller backpacks should be carried on the front of the body or in your hand.
Except for large umbrellas, prohibited items cannot be accepted in the checkrooms.
Visitors are able to carry water bottles, but they must be stowed safely in a bag when visitors are in any space that houses art. If you do not have a bag for your water bottle or other items you need to carry, the museum will provide one.
All articles left in checkrooms must be claimed before the museum closes each day. The Art Institute is not responsible for items that are left overnight. A corresponding check tag is required for the return of items. Please place the numbered tag in a secure place while visiting the museum.
Valuable items should not be checked at the museum. The Art Institute’s total liability for items left in a checkroom is equal to half the purchase price of the item up to a limit of $250.
Photography is encouraged.
We encourage you to take pictures of the collection and special exhibitions for personal, nondistributional, noncommercial 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.
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.
For inquiries regarding private wedding/engagement photo shoots and associated pricing, please contact eventrentals@artic.edu.
For all other photo and video shoot requests, please contact publicaffairs@artic.edu.
Keep pathways clear.
Please keep doorways, stairs, and hallways accessible to other visitors. We ask that you don’t sit on the floor. Benches and other accessibility areas are available throughout the museum—please ask a staff member if you need assistance.
Accompany kids under 12.
The museum is a wonderful place for children to explore, but it is required that children under 12 be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Sketching is welcome.
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.
Tours and talks are available, free of charge.
Guided tours are offered daily and do not require registration.
Most auditorium programs are also free, but advance registration is recommended. Priority access will be provided to registered members and visitors. There may be occasions when programs are sold out and a seat is unavailable. Standing room may be enabled where appropriate.
