FAQs

The Brooklyn Museum is dedicated to providing excellence in collections, exhibitions, programs, and visitor experience. The Public Safety and Visitor Experience teams are here to help you and others enjoy their visit.

Visitors putting themselves, other visitors, or the art at risk may be asked to leave the Museum. Verbal or physical harassment, discrimination, threats, or other disruptive behavior is not permitted. To keep visitors, staff, and the art safe, all must listen to any instructions or guidance given by staff.

The Museum does not permit solicitations unless pre-authorized by Museum personnel. For health and safety reasons, shirts and shoes are required to enter.

Bag and item policy: All bags are subject to inspection upon entering the building. Any items larger than 11 × 17 × 5 in. (28 × 43 × 13 cm) or as deemed necessary by Public Safety must be checked at Coat Check. The Brooklyn Museum is not responsible for lost or stolen property.

The Museum reserves the right to refuse entry to any visitor carrying large or harmful objects, such as flags, banners, frames, artwork, shopping carts, sporting goods, marking materials, paint, adhesives, epoxies, glues, and recreational equipment. Strollers, with the exception of oversize and jogging strollers, are permitted in most galleries; ask a Public Safety Officer for specific gallery access. Visible baby carriers are welcome.

Coat Check: Items that are not accepted in Coat Check include food and drink, plants and flowers, balloons, (e)bicycles, folding bicycles, (e)scooters, wagons, strollers, and oversize items. Staff will advise on where strollers can be parked. Any other items may be inspected and refused at the discretion of the Public Safety team.

Eating and drinking is not permitted in the galleries. Outside food and drink is not permitted with the exception of water in a clear bottle. All opaque bottles must be checked at Coat Check. Water bottles must remain sealed outside designated eating areas.

Proof of vaccination is no longer required, in accordance with state and local guidelines. Masks are optional during your visit.

Certain events and programs may still require masks and/or proof of vaccination, however. Review your tickets closely for up-to-date requirements. Masks are required for all summer camp groups and events in the Auditorium.

Find more information on health and safety.

Museum hours are Wednesday–Sunday, 11 am–6 pm. It’s closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.

See the tickets page for more information on admission and ticket types. Members are entitled to a number of complimentary tickets per visit based on Membership level:

• Individual: 1 adult ticket per visit

• Dual: 2 adult tickets and 4 child tickets per visit

• Enthusiast: 4 adult tickets and 4 child tickets per visit

• Advocate: 4 adult tickets and 4 child tickets per visit

• Groundbreaker: 6 adult tickets and 4 child tickets per visit

• Director’s Circle: 6 adult tickets and 4 child tickets per visit

Complimentary tickets can be used for general Museum admission or ticketed exhibitions. If you’d like to bring more guests than your Membership level allows, you can purchase additional tickets at a 30% discount when reserving, or upgrade your Membership to a level that includes additional complimentary tickets. Note that additional guest tickets cannot be purchased for Member hours or events.

General admission prices are a suggested contribution; pay what you can! Ticketed exhibitions require a separate ticket at a set price (includes general admission). See the tickets page for more information on admission and ticket types.

Members enjoy free, untimed entry to the Museum, including ticketed exhibitions. Not a Member? Join today!

University Members, reciprocal members, and staff from other cultural institutions receive free general admission only. Corporate Members receive varying levels of free admission based on the company’s level of support. For more information about Corporate Membership benefits or to find out if your company is a Corporate Member, email corporate.relations@brooklynmuseum.org. All Corporate Member tickets must be reserved in advance.

For ticketed exhibitions, reciprocal Members must purchase full-price tickets in advance online.

Same-day, discounted tickets for ticketed exhibitions are available for purchase on-site for employees of institutions that belong to the Museums Council of the City of New York and current members of AAM or ICOM (must show staff I.D./membership card). Same-day tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and we cannot guarantee availability.

We strongly recommend booking tickets online ahead of time. A limited number of same-day tickets are available for purchase on-site, on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you’re buying tickets on-site, head to a kiosk to expedite your transaction and get straight to the art.

We strongly encourage Members to reserve tickets in advance and skip the line at the Member Services Desk. A limited number of same-day tickets are available at Member Services on a first-come, first-served basis.

Contact tickets@brooklynmuseum.org or 718.501.6484.

If you’re a Member and experiencing an issue with your ticketing account, contact membership@brooklynmuseum.org or 718.501.6326 (Monday–Friday, 9 am–5 pm). When the Membership office is closed, contact tickets@brooklynmuseum.org or 718.501.6484.

Yes. Everyone ages 4 and up must have a ticket.

All Members at the Dual level and above are entitled to 4 complimentary children’s tickets per visit. Not a Member? Join today!

No. You can show a staff member the QR code on your mobile device. All tickets purchased in a single transaction will be included in one QR code for us to scan.

For general admission, you may enter anytime during regular Museum hours on the day indicated on your ticket.

For ticketed exhibitions, the time on your ticket reflects the time to be at the exhibition entrance. Please arrive at the Museum at least 15 minutes prior to the time on your ticket. For all Member tickets, you may enter anytime during regular Museum hours on the day indicated on your ticket. A staff member will scan your ticket at the exhibition entrance.

General admission tickets are untimed. Ticketed exhibitions have timed tickets to help control traffic flow. If you’re late for your ticket time, entry will be permitted if space allows.

Members enjoy free, untimed entry to the Museum, including ticketed exhibitions. For more information, visit the Member Hub.

Tickets are nonrefundable but can be exchanged once with no fees, up to 72 hours prior to the date, by emailing tickets@brooklynmuseum.org with your name and new requested date. Exchange is based on availability.

Tickets are transferable, so feel free to give your unused ticket to someone else.

For Members, however, benefits are nontransferable, so if you’re unable to attend, a friend or family member won’t be able to use your complimentary tickets. If you cannot use your reserved tickets, contact membership@brooklynmuseum.org or 718.501.6326 to cancel your order.

We’ll have a limited number of same-day tickets available at the Member Services Desk on a first-come, first-served basis but can’t guarantee availability during peak times. Check out Member Mornings for additional spots on Saturday mornings!

Your Membership must be current on the date of your visit in order to book advance tickets.

As a Member, you’re welcome to visit any exhibition, including ticketed ones, as many times as you’d like, for free!

The Shop is open during Museum hours (Wednesday–Sunday, 11 am–6 pm). It’s closed along with the Museum on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. The online shop is always open at shop.brooklynmuseum.org.

Yes! You may enter the Shop directly from the lobby, no ticket required.

The Libraries and Archives are not currently available for public appointments. You can still peruse the Libraries Online Catalogue and Archives Collections. If you have questions about these resources, reach out:

Libraries collections: library@brooklynmuseum.org

Archives collections: archives.research@brooklynmuseum.org

No—but from spring through fall, you can purchase a Museum & Garden Pass online or at the Museum and present your receipt for same-day admission to the Garden. The pass does not include admission to special exhibitions or First Saturdays.

In other months, you’ll need to pay a separate admission fee for the Garden.

Brooklyn Bridge; continue straight from the bridge about a half mile; left onto Atlantic Avenue for about 1.5 miles; right onto Washington Avenue for about a half mile to Eastern Parkway. The Museum is at the intersection of Eastern Parkway and Washington Avenue. For the parking lot, cross Eastern Parkway to the parking entrance on the right (behind the Museum).

Robert F. Kennedy Bridge (Triborough) to Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE); Manhattan Bridge exit to Tillary Street; left onto Flatbush Avenue for about 1.5 miles to Grand Army Plaza; about 2/3 around Plaza; right on Eastern Parkway. The Museum is at the first intersection (Eastern Parkway and Washington Avenue).

Verrazano-Narrows Bridge to Gowanus Expressway (Route 278 towards Manhattan); exit to 38th Street; left on Fourth Avenue for about 2 miles; right on Union Street; 5 blocks to Grand Army Plaza; go 1/2 around Plaza; right on Eastern Parkway. The Museum is at the first intersection (Eastern Parkway and Washington Avenue).

George Washington Bridge/Holland or Lincoln Tunnel to Manhattan; follow directions from Manhattan.

Grand Central Parkway to Jackie Robinson Parkway; exit at Bushwick Avenue; left at third traffic light to Eastern Parkway; about 3 miles to Washington Avenue. The Museum is across the intersection at left.

Yes. On-site parking is available in the lot behind the Museum, off Washington Avenue. Hourly rates generally apply. Consult GGMC Parking, a third-party vendor, for up-to-date prices.

No, the Museum doesn’t validate parking.

There’s street parking in the neighborhood along Eastern Parkway, Washington Avenue, and other side streets. There’s no street parking directly in front of the Museum.

Yes. Bike racks are located on the sidewalk in front of the Museum and in the parking lot behind the Museum. There’s also a Citi Bike station in front of the Museum.

Yes. Coat Check is available on the first floor. Bags, umbrellas, and any items larger than 11 × 17 × 5 in. (28 × 43 × 13 cm) must be checked. The Museum cannot be responsible for lost or stolen property.

Items that are not accepted in Coat Check include food and drink, plants and flowers, balloons, (e)bicycles, folding bicycles, (e)scooters, wagons, strollers, and oversize items. Staff will advise on where strollers can be parked. Any other items may be inspected and refused at the discretion of the Public Safety team.

Strollers, with the exception of oversize and jogging strollers, are permitted in most galleries; ask a Public Safety Officer for specific gallery access. Front-facing baby carriers are welcome. To ensure easy navigation, visitors with strollers may want to attend during off-peak hours, such as mornings, or on Stroller Tours.

Indoor dining is available in the Café on the first floor. The Museum’s food truck seasonally offers fresh food and drinks to enjoy outside, in the shaded Sculpture Garden or landscaped plaza.

Eating and drinking is not permitted in the galleries. Outside food and drink is not permitted with the exception of water in a clear bottle. All opaque bottles must be checked at Coat Check. Water bottles must remain sealed outside of the designated eating areas.

There are many lovely restaurants nearby, some within walking distance.

To manage your Membership and reserve tickets, log into your account by visiting secure.brooklynmuseum.org/account/login. Choose “Login” if you know the email address and password associated with your Membership. To set up your account and password for the first time, select the “Forgot Your Password” prompt to receive an email confirming your account details.

To update the name, email address, or mailing address associated with your Membership or to add a second login, contact membership@brooklynmuseum.org or 718.501.6326 (Monday–Friday, 9 am–5 pm). Any changes to your login will take effect after one full business day.

You may have unsubscribed. To resubscribe, log into your account and select “Update Your Interests” from the Account drop-down. You can also update your email preferences from this section at any time.

A digital Membership card will be emailed to you within 5–7 business days. If you opted into receiving printed materials, they will be mailed to you within 3 weeks of purchase. If you’d like to visit before then, log into your account to reserve tickets in advance or visit the Member Services Desk when you arrive. Remember, you can start using your benefits the very day you purchase your Membership!

Yes. Starting at the Dual level, Members can designate a secondary cardholder and receive a second printed card in that person’s name upon request.

Absolutely! Memberships make great birthday, graduation, wedding, anniversary, or holiday gifts for family, friends, and/or business associates. Gift Membership today. You will receive a confirmation email right away, and your giftee will receive their printed materials and digital Membership card within 3 weeks of purchase.

The purchase confirmation email includes a printable card for you to fill out and give to your giftee.

We are unable to send Membership cards to the gift giver.

• Members received a 40% discount on tickets to programs. Select the “Member ticket” option when reserving.

• Members receive a 30% discount on tickets for additional guests. Select the “Member guest” option when reserving.

• Members receive a 20% discount on their first Shop purchase and a 10% discount on every purchase after that. To use your discount in the online shop, enter your Member ID number (located on your Membership card) in the designated discount code field at checkout. To use your discount at the in-person Shop, present your Membership card at checkout.

• Members receive a 10% discount at the Brooklyn Museum Café. Simply present your Membership card upon payment.

No. Memberships, and Membership benefits, are nontransferable. Guests must be accompanied by a named cardholder.

Thank you for supporting the Brooklyn Museum! You’re welcome to make a secure, fully tax-deductible donation online; by calling the Development department at 718.501.6327 and using your Visa, MasterCard, or American Express card; or by mailing a check made payable to the Brooklyn Museum.

No. We are unable to offer Members any non-tax-deductible benefits in return for contributions from DAFs or IRAs. Gifts made through these vehicles for Memberships will still be accepted, but any tax-deductible benefits will automatically be waived. This policy was put in place to ensure that the Museum is in line with current IRS guidelines.

Visit your company’s Human Resources department and request a matching gift form, which will provide details on eligibility.

Yes. If you make a gift in any amount to honor someone special, that person will be informed of your thoughtfulness. Their family members can also be notified per your specifications. Call 718.501.6237 for further information.

Feel free to contact membership@brooklynmuseum.org or donate@brooklynmuseum.org.

If you’d like to present a performance, film, or adult workshop at the Museum, you’re welcome to submit a proposal online or by email at public.programs@brooklynmuseum.org.

Currently, the Museum is not accepting requests. If you recently reached out about volunteering, thank you! Your request will be kept on file.

You can find the latest internship opportunities on the careers page. Check back often for new internships. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to internships@brooklynmuseum.org. (Also, check out ongoing opportunities for teens.)

You can find the latest opportunities on the careers page.

For the latest exhibitions and events, check the calendar.

The Museum offers a variety of programs for children of all ages. Check the calendar for current listings.

Some exhibitions are for adult audiences. Parents, guardians, and teachers are encouraged to preview exhibitions.

On the first Saturday evening of select months, the Museum opens its doors to the community free of charge from 5 to 11 pm. The galleries, Café, and Shop are available. Visitors of all ages can partake in an exciting lineup of free programming, such as family art-making activities; gallery talks; live music, dance, and theater performances; and film screenings. See more details on First Saturdays.

Yes. The building and grounds, including the parking lot, are wheelchair accessible, as is the Eastern Parkway–Brooklyn Museum subway station (2/3). Manually operated wheelchairs and folding stools are available for free at Coat Check in the first floor lobby. Visitors are invited to use these resources while in the Museum. There is seating in most galleries.

The MTA also offers Access-A-Ride drop-off and pick-up service from the Brooklyn Museum, in the small traffic circle entered from the stoplight on Eastern Parkway.

The Brooklyn Museum is proud to present a variety of accessible programs, including Brooklyn Afternoons and Brooklyn Mornings for adults with memory loss, ASL Tours for adults who are d/Deaf, Brooklyn Talks that include ASL interpretation, and Verbal Description Tours for adults who are blind or have low vision. See upcoming accessible programs.

Leashed or harnessed service animals are welcome in the Museum. Service animals are defined by the American Disabilities Act as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Animals that are not trained service animals, including but not limited to emotional support animals and pets, are not allowed in the building.

Large-print guides are offered via QR codes at the entrance of every special exhibition.

Captioning is included on most in-gallery media presented throughout the building. If captioning is not included, printed transcripts are available.

Assistive listening devices are available for free at the Admissions Desk in the front lobby. Identification is required to borrow a device.

Visit the accessibility page or email access@brooklynmuseum.org.

Yes! Individuals may sketch with dry, bound, or contained media (pencils, color pencils, crayons, oil sticks, ballpoint pens, felt-tip pens/markers) in the collection galleries during Museum hours. Sketching may be restricted in some circumstances, such as when galleries are crowded.

Sketching isn’t allowed in special exhibitions, and groups aren’t allowed to sketch unless they’re part of a Museum art class.

Wet media such as paint or watercolor are allowed only if you are participating in a Museum art class or if you have secured a permit to copy a work of art. To request a permit, email information@brooklynmuseum.org.

Yes. Photography and videography are allowed in the Museum so long as the images are taken using existing light only (no flash) and are for personal, noncommercial use. Photography and videography are often restricted in special exhibition galleries; ask for details at the Admissions Desk when you arrive. Tripods and selfie sticks are not permitted.

Wedding photography is not permitted in the Museum during public hours. You’re welcome to shoot outside on the plaza and steps as long as your group does not impede other visitors or programming. There’s no fee for exterior photography, but please notify the Museum in advance by emailing filmshoots@brooklynmuseum.org. Interior photography can be arranged in conjunction with a wedding booked on the premises.

Commercial photography and filming projects are welcome at the Museum if planned and approved in advance. Check the film and photo shoots page for more information, and contact filmshoots@brooklynmuseum.org or 718.501.6166 with your proposal. All commercial projects must be approved by the Museum in writing.

You may use and share images from this website for noncommercial purposes with attribution to the Brooklyn Museum in accordance with the copyright policy.

If you need higher resolution images for publication, personal use, or study purposes, submit a request. A staff member will follow up with a quote based on the information you provide.

You can also order images for teaching purposes at Davis Art Slides.

Yes, so long as the downloaded image is of a work in the public domain, is reproduced digitally or in print at no larger than 1/4 page, and is sufficient for nonprofit publications / independent scholar publications.

The work’s rights status can be found under “Rights” on the object page, which can be found by searching the collection online. Please use the credit as it appears after the word “Caption” on the object page.

Copyright status is displayed on the object page under “Rights.” If you have further questions, contact copyright@brooklynmuseum.org.

Send information about the work, such as the title, artist’s name, and/or accession number, to reproductions@brooklynmuseum.org. If you don’t have such information, send a reference image. Be advised that an image search may take significantly more time due to the large number of objects in the Museum’s holdings.

Not all images used in Brooklyn Museum publications belong to the Museum. Check the image’s credit information to confirm that the Museum provided it. If so, submit a request with all necessary information. If you don’t have an accession number for the work, provide the publication information along with the figure number and page number.

Visit the exhibitions page to find installation images of current and past exhibitions. Alternatively, you can search for exhibitions by title and year. For use of those images, contact reproductions@brooklynmuseum.org. Contact archives.research@brooklynmuseum.org if no images are available for a past exhibition.

Contact press@brooklynmuseum.org.

The Brooklyn Museum is a private, nonprofit institution governed by a Board of Trustees, operating in a building owned by New York City.

The Brooklyn Museum is one of the largest art museums in the United States and one of the premier art institutions in the world. The collection includes a wide range of objects, from ancient Egyptian masterpieces to contemporary art, representing almost every culture in the world. Its home is a 560,000-square-foot Beaux-Arts building.

The collection is made up of the works of art that the Museum actually owns. (It does not include works in special exhibitions or works temporarily on loan to the Museum.) The collection ranges from Egyptian sarcophagi to period rooms, with only a fraction of these works on display at any given time. Artworks are rotated (that is, some objects are put away so that others can be shown) in the galleries, and there are always many works in the storerooms.

The world-renowned collections range from ancient Egyptian masterpieces to contemporary art and represent a wide range of cultures. Explore the collection online.

The collection is very large, which is why only a fraction can be on public view at any given time. Sometimes, works are lent to other museums for special exhibitions; sometimes, they are in the Conservation Lab for study or maintenance. Certain types of objects, such as watercolors, textiles, and photographs, are sensitive to light and begin to fade if they are exposed for too long, so their exhibition time is limited. Finally, as large as the Museum is, there is not enough room to display everything in the collection. In order to present the best works, artworks are rotated periodically.

The Museum does not disclose the monetary value of objects in the collections. These works are not for sale, and the Museum does not have or keep values for them.

The Brooklyn Museum is unable to accept or review artist submissions.

Since its founding, the Brooklyn Museum has benefited from the public’s generosity in building the collection, and it continues to welcome gifts. However, not every object is right for the Museum. If the collection already includes an identical work, or if a work would not be exhibited, the Museum prefers not to add it to the collection. A careful process is thus in place for reviewing all gift offers.

If you wish to offer an artwork to the Museum, send images, object information (such as the artist, title, dimensions, medium, history, and provenance), and a letter outlining your intentions to bkm.collections@brooklynmuseum.org. Your generosity is appreciated!

As a nonprofit institution, the Brooklyn Museum does not provide authentications or appraisals to third parties. Instead, contact one of the following professional organizations. They can assist with questions about value, provenance, or attribution of works of art. Foundations and catalogue raisonné committees focusing on specific artists may also offer authentications.

International Foundation for Art Research
(IFAR)
500 Fifth Avenue, Suite 935
New York, NY 10110212.391.6234

American Society of Appraisers
2121 Cooperative Way, Suite 210
Herndon, VA 20171
800.ASA.VALU

Appraisers Association of America, Inc.
212 West 35th Street, 11th Floor South
New York, NY 10001
212.889.5404 x14
referrals@appraisersassociation.org

Art Dealers Association of America
205 Lexington Avenue, Suite 901
New York, NY 10016
212.488.5550

The American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works, which can be reached at 202.452.9545, helps collectors find and choose qualified conservators in their particular area of the country.