While I believe strongly in supporting the arts (I have a membership to several museums), not everyone has the dough to fork over every time they want to experience some culture, especially if there is only one specific exhibit you want to see.
NYC is an incredibly expensive town, but it also has so many opportunities for free culture and entertainment.
Below are a few separate lists: Free hours to visit museums (almost every museum offers a few hours a week or month with free entrance), museums that are always free, museums with suggested donations, and evening parties to cocktail with your art (don’t miss this section)! Everything is hyperlinked to take you straight to the website. All special hours and events can change, so always check before going.
MUSEUMS THAT ARE ALWAYS FREE
UNDERAGE GETS IN FREE!
Admission is always free for children under 16 years old
*One of the coolest programs in NYC is the SlideLuck PotShow. A few times a year they put on an amazing party in different spaces (they have events all over the world now). They have been in spaces like the Chelsea Museum of Art in the winter and in the open air old Tobacco Warehouse under the Brooklyn Bridge during the summer. You meet, mingle and potluck (bring a favorite dish and a bottle of wine) and then sit to watch a slideshow of amazing local talent. Mostly photography is shared, but they also show photographs of other art forms. Artists can submit work to the provided theme and are given an alotted amount of time. Sign-up to receive e-mails when the new events are posted.
During the summer, tons of museums (like the Whitney, The Cooper-Hewitt and MoMA) host a series of live music, cocktails and entertainment with art.
Enjoy!
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| The Frick Collection |
MUSEUMS THAT FEATURE FREE ADMISSION AT CERTAIN HOURS
*American Folk Art Museum: Fridays 5:30-7:30pm with Live Music
*Asia Society and Museum: Free on Fridays 6-9pm
*The Bronx Museum of the Arts: Free All day on Fridays
*The Bronx Museum of the Arts: Free All day on Fridays
*The Brooklyn Botanic Garden: Free all day on Tuesdays and 10am-Noon on Saturdays. Also weekdays from November 9-March 13
*The Brooklyn Museum of Art: First Saturdays of every month, free admission 5-11pm
*Children's Museum of the Arts: Pay what you wish 4-6pm on Thursdays
*Children's Museum of Manhattan: Target First Fridays - free admission 5-8pm
*China Institute: Free on Tuesdays and Thursdays 6-8pm
*Children's Museum of Manhattan: Target First Fridays - free admission 5-8pm
*China Institute: Free on Tuesdays and Thursdays 6-8pm
*The Frick Collection: Pay what you wish 11am-1pm on Sundays
*The Guggenheim Museum: Pay what you wish 5:45-7:45pm on Saturdays
*International Center of Photography: Pay what you wish Fridays 5-8pm
*The Jewish Museum: Free on Saturdays
*The Guggenheim Museum: Pay what you wish 5:45-7:45pm on Saturdays
*International Center of Photography: Pay what you wish Fridays 5-8pm
*The Jewish Museum: Free on Saturdays
*The Morgan Library & Museum: Fridays 7-9pm
*El Museo del Barrio New York: Free Wednesdays 6-9pm and every 3rd Saturday
*Museum of American Finance: Free Tuesdays and on Saturdays 10-11am
*Museum of Arts & Design: Pay what you wish 6-9pm on Thursdays
*Museum of Chinese in America: Target Free Thursdays 11am-9pm
*Museum of Jewish Heritage: A Living Memorial to the Holocaust: Wednesdays 4-8pm
*The Museum of Modern Art: Target Free Friday Nights 4-8pm
*Museum of American Finance: Free Tuesdays and on Saturdays 10-11am
*Museum of Arts & Design: Pay what you wish 6-9pm on Thursdays
*Museum of Chinese in America: Target Free Thursdays 11am-9pm
*Museum of Jewish Heritage: A Living Memorial to the Holocaust: Wednesdays 4-8pm
*The Museum of Modern Art: Target Free Friday Nights 4-8pm
*The Museum of the Moving Image: Free on Fridays 4-8pm
*Neue Galerie: First Fridays, they extend their hours, free to the public 6-8pm
*The New Museum of Contemporary Art: Free 7-9pm on Thursdays
*The New Museum of Contemporary Art: Free 7-9pm on Thursdays
*New York Botanical Garden: Free all day on Wednesdays and on Saturdays 10am-Noon
*New York Hall of Science: Free 2-5pm on Fridays (September-June) and Sundays 10-11am (September-June)
*New York Hall of Science: Free 2-5pm on Fridays (September-June) and Sundays 10-11am (September-June)
*The Noguchi Museum: First Friday of the month is pay-what-you-wish
*NY Hall of Science: September through June, Fridays 2-5pm; Sundays 10-11am
*Queens Botanical Garden: Free all day November through March; On Wednesdays April-October 3-6pm and Sunday 4-6pm
*Rubin Museum of Art: Fridays 6-10pm Fridays, featuring live music
*Staten Island Children’s Museum: Free on school holidays and Wednesdays 5-8pm
*Rubin Museum of Art: Fridays 6-10pm Fridays, featuring live music
*Staten Island Children’s Museum: Free on school holidays and Wednesdays 5-8pm
*The Staten Island Zoo: Free on Wednesdays after 2pm
*Studio Museum of Harlem: Target Free Sundays
*Van Cortlandt House Museum: Free on Wednesdays
*Studio Museum of Harlem: Target Free Sundays
*Van Cortlandt House Museum: Free on Wednesdays
*Wave Hill: Tuesdays are free all day during off-peak months (November-April, July & August). Tuesdays are free 9am-noon during peak months (May, June, September, October). Saturdays are free 9am-noon year-round.
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| Noguchi Museum |
MUSEUMS THAT ARE ALWAYS FREE
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| The New Museum of Contemporary Art |
UNDERAGE GETS IN FREE!
Admission is always free for children under 6 years old
China Institute
Folk Art Museum
The Guggenheim Museum
International Center of Photography
The Morgan Library & Museum
Folk Art Museum
The Guggenheim Museum
International Center of Photography
The Morgan Library & Museum
Admission is always free for children under 16 years old
Museum of Arts & Design High school students with ID and Children 12 and under (excluding groups): FREE
The Noguchi Museum NYC public high school students with a valid ID: FREE
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| The Guggenheim Museum |
MUSEUMS THAT HAVE “SUGGESTED DONATIONS”
If you can afford to support the arts, please do, but I have gone to the Met to only see one exhibit and said I would like to donate $10 (instead of the suggested donation of $20). You still get the cute little colored M clip that gives you access to the museum!
Bronx Museum - Suggested adult admission $5
Brooklyn Museum - Suggested adult admission $10
The Bronx Zoo - Wednesdays are Suggested Donation Days $16
The Cloisters - Suggested adult admission $20
Children’s Museum of the Arts - Pay-what-you-wish Thursdays 4-6pm
Grey Art Gallery NYU - Suggested adult admission $3
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum - Pay-what-you-wish Saturdays 5:45-7:45pm
International Center of Photography - Voluntary contribution Fridays 5-8pm
King Manor Museum - Suggested adult admission $5
The Metropolitan Museum of Art - Suggested adult donation $20
Museum of Arts & Design - Pay-what-you-wish Thursdays 6-9pm
Museum of Biblical Art - Suggested adult admission $7
Museum of the City of New York - Suggested adult admission $10; if you live or work in East Harlem, visit the Museum free of charge
Museum of the Moving Image - Suggested adult admission $7
el Museo del Barrio - Suggested adult admission $9
Newark Museum - Suggested adult admission $10
New York City Fire Museum - Suggested adult admission $5
New-York Historical Society - Pay-what-you-wish Fridays 6-8pm
The Noguchi Museum - Pay-what-you-wish on the first Friday of every month
P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center - Suggested adult admission $10
Queens Museum of Art - Suggested adult admission $5
Sculpture Center - Suggested adult admission $5
Staten Island Museum - Suggested adult admission $3
Studio Museum in Harlem - Suggested adult admission $7
Whitney Museum of American Art - Pay-what-you-wish Fridays 6-9pm
Brooklyn Museum - Suggested adult admission $10
The Bronx Zoo - Wednesdays are Suggested Donation Days $16
The Cloisters - Suggested adult admission $20
Children’s Museum of the Arts - Pay-what-you-wish Thursdays 4-6pm
Grey Art Gallery NYU - Suggested adult admission $3
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum - Pay-what-you-wish Saturdays 5:45-7:45pm
International Center of Photography - Voluntary contribution Fridays 5-8pm
King Manor Museum - Suggested adult admission $5
The Metropolitan Museum of Art - Suggested adult donation $20
Museum of Arts & Design - Pay-what-you-wish Thursdays 6-9pm
Museum of Biblical Art - Suggested adult admission $7
Museum of the City of New York - Suggested adult admission $10; if you live or work in East Harlem, visit the Museum free of charge
Museum of the Moving Image - Suggested adult admission $7
el Museo del Barrio - Suggested adult admission $9
Newark Museum - Suggested adult admission $10
New York City Fire Museum - Suggested adult admission $5
New-York Historical Society - Pay-what-you-wish Fridays 6-8pm
The Noguchi Museum - Pay-what-you-wish on the first Friday of every month
P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center - Suggested adult admission $10
Queens Museum of Art - Suggested adult admission $5
Sculpture Center - Suggested adult admission $5
Staten Island Museum - Suggested adult admission $3
Studio Museum in Harlem - Suggested adult admission $7
Whitney Museum of American Art - Pay-what-you-wish Fridays 6-9pm
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| American Museum of Natural History |
A NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM – PARTY WITH ART!
* MoMA Nights - Open until 8:45 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month, and every Thursday in July and August. Free with admission, this extended hours evening includes live music or a DJ and a cash bar, as well as gallery talkbacks.
* Target First Saturday’s at Brooklyn Museum of Art - There is always a full line-up of activities for all ages, including the free admission to the museum, but then from 8-11pm there is a dance party. During the summer they are outdoors and feel like the sickest block party with amazing music. They move indoors in the winter, but the DJs are still fabulous.
* K2 Lounge at the Rubin Museum of Art on Friday evenings - Admission to the galleries is free from 6-10pm, there are Pan Asian tapas and drink specials, along with live music, open galleries and films.
* PS1 Warm Up Saturdays - Warm Up is MoMA PS1's exciting music, art and entertainment series during the summer. On Warm Up Saturdays, from2-9pm, admission to MoMA PS1 and to Warm Up is $15.00.
* Art after Dark at The Guggenheim - First Tuesday night of the month from 9pm-midnight. $15 at the door gets you in to see the exhibits, fun music and a cash bar.
* First Fridays at the Bronx Museum of Arts - First Friday of every month, the museum offers free admission to a night of film, art, performance, music and other special programming.
* First Fridays at the Bronx Museum of Arts - First Friday of every month, the museum offers free admission to a night of film, art, performance, music and other special programming.
LAST, BUT NOT LEAST....
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| Dance Party at The Brooklyn Museum of Art's First Saturdays |
LAST, BUT NOT LEAST....
*One of the coolest programs in NYC is the SlideLuck PotShow. A few times a year they put on an amazing party in different spaces (they have events all over the world now). They have been in spaces like the Chelsea Museum of Art in the winter and in the open air old Tobacco Warehouse under the Brooklyn Bridge during the summer. You meet, mingle and potluck (bring a favorite dish and a bottle of wine) and then sit to watch a slideshow of amazing local talent. Mostly photography is shared, but they also show photographs of other art forms. Artists can submit work to the provided theme and are given an alotted amount of time. Sign-up to receive e-mails when the new events are posted.*Don’t forget the Museum Mile Festival! Each year, the strip known as Museum Mile (Fifth Avenue from 82nd to 105th Streets), is blocked off from traffic. There is live music all along Fifth Avenue and free admission to almost all of the museums and galleries along the way. I recommend starting at the northern point or going to some lesser known museums, to avoid the crazy lines and heavy crowds. This year the Museum Mile Festival is on June 14th from 6pm – 9pm!
During the summer, tons of museums (like the Whitney, The Cooper-Hewitt and MoMA) host a series of live music, cocktails and entertainment with art.
Enjoy!
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