First established in 1924 as the Tucson Fine Arts Association, the Tucson Museum of Art originally made its home in the Kingan House on Franklin Street in the El Presidio Historic District.
Now in its 97th year, the Tucson Museum of Art is located on a 72,000 square foot property in the heart of downtown Tucson with a beautiful collection of exhibits by local and international artists.
As a private, non-profit organization, it "operates exclusively for the visual, aesthetic, literary, and educational promotion of the arts." In addition to the main galleries, the Museum cares for five on-site historic properties - La Casa Cordova, The J. Knox Corbett House, The Edward Nye Fish House, The Romero House, and The Stevens/Duffield House.
Children under age 12 are always free and there are special discounts for active military, college students, veterans, and seniors.
The Tucson Museum of Art is in Downtown Tucson. The address is: 140 N. Main Avenue, Tucson 85701.
The Museum is closed on Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.
There are three waves of exhibitions per year - summer, fall, and spring. Exhibits change every four to five months.
Admission is $12/adults, $10/seniors (ages 65+), and $7 for college students (with ID) and teens (ages 13-17). Admission is free for youth (ages 12 and under), active military, veterans, and museum members.
The first Thursday of the month is FREE for everyone, 2:00pm-5:00pm. 50 free tickets are available to reserve online only the day prior.
The second Sunday of the month is free for residents of Arizona and Sonora, Mexico. 50 free tickets are available to reserve online only the day prior.
Yes. There are a number of different membership types available, including student/teacher/artist ($35/year), individual ($50/year), family ($60/year), sustaining ($120/year), and patron ($250/year).
Membership benefits include unlimited free admission to the galleries and the Historic Block properties, invitations to exhibitions and special events, and discounts on classes.
The Museum has a free lot for visitors on the north end of the historic block off Washington Street. Metered street parking is also available as well as a number of pay parking garages/lots around the Museum.
The Tucson Museum of Art has air-conditioning and heating, depending on the season.
Water bottles and a camera are recommended. Note that flash photography is not permitted inside the museum.
Yes.
The least crowded times are in the summer in the afternoons.
Food is not allowed in the galleries, but you can certainly have a picnic in the courtyard.
Cafe a la C'Art is a beautiful on-property eatery with both indoor and outdoor seating. The food is delicious and the setting is inspired.
Current cafe hours are as follows:
Menu options for lunch include sandwiches ($11.50-$13.50) and salads ($12.50-$14.50). Soups and desserts are also available. There is no children's menu, but the cook will prepare grilled cheese sandwiches for children for $4.
We strongly recommend dining at Cafe a la C'Art when visiting the museum. Lovely outdoor seating paired with chef-created dishes!
That said, there are a plethora of outstanding dining options within walking distance:
Because the museum does not offer any "children's zones" or "touch-and-feel" exhibits, toddlers may not be the best audience for the museum. Kids (ages 5+) will enjoy meandering the grounds and perusing the artwork.
The Museum offers extensive children's programming including a Summer Arts Program, school tours, and in-school programs. Kids, ages 12 and under, always attend the Museum for free.
The museum is stroller-accessible and wheelchair-accessible.
No. That said, there are benches outside in the courtyard.
Yes.
Yes. There is a sliding price scale depending on time of the year, week, and day. For more information, contact Marianna at Rentals@TucsonMuseumofArt.org.
Yes! You can follow Tucson Museum of Art on Facebook and on Twitter.
That just about covers it. Have a great time!
