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FAQ

Find answers to the most common questions about the museum.

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Visiting

Q: Your website encourages advance tickets, but can I just buy them in person?

A: Buying tickets in advance allows you to skip the queue for the admissions desk and go directly to the access point for the galleries. It also minimizes the amount of close congregation in our lobby spaces. We strongly recommend reserving tickets online, but if you are not able to do so, walk-up tickets are available. At the Rodin Museum, all tickets are walk-up only.

Q: Can I change the date or time on my tickets or get a refund?

A: General admission tickets are usually nonrefundable and nonexchangeable, but we understand conflicts occur. If you need to reschedule, email us at visitorservices@philamuseum.org with your confirmation number. In cases of illness or emergencies, we will process a refund; rebook your tickets online when you’d like.

Q: How do I reserve Pay What You Wish tickets online?

A: Admission is Pay What You Wish (PWYW) on the first Sunday of the month and every Friday night (5:00–8:45 p.m.). To purchase PWYW tickets, select the appropriate date, find the PWYW option in the menu, and click the blue button below (“10:00 a.m.” for first Sundays; “5:00 p.m.” for Friday nights) . Follow the prompts and enter your desired payment amount, and then select a time and the number of tickets.

Q: Do children need tickets?

A: While youth 18 and under can visit at no cost, everyone that enters the museum needs a ticket for their visit. Youth tickets can be reserved in advance online when purchasing an admission ticket of value or obtained in person at an admissions desk.

Q: Do I need to print my tickets at home?

A: No, if you use a mobile device, click the link in your receipt to access your mobile tickets; those will be scanned when you check-in. If you do want to print your tickets, click the link in your receipt from a desktop computer and select “Print Tickets Now.” We recommend you use black ink for easy scanning when you arrive at the museum.

Q: My organization offers free admission. How do I access my free tickets?

A: Please show your employee ID, business card, or other proof of employment at the admissions desk.

Q: How do I reserve admission using my Go City or Sightseeing pass?

A: Advance tickets cannot be reserved with a Go City or Sightseeing pass. Please bring your pass to the admissions desk to have your tickets printed.

Q: Can I get free admission with a military ID?

A: From Armed Forces Day to Labor Day, military members and anyone in their party receive free admission. All other times of the year, active duty military receive $4 off of up to two tickets. Bring your military ID to the admissions desk to redeem your tickets.

Q: ​​I have a membership at a reciprocal museum. How do I access my free admission?

A: Bring your membership card to the admissions desk, noting that your membership level is included in our reciprocal network, to receive free general admission for two. Tickets cannot be reserved in advance and do not apply to special exhibitions that require a timed ticket.

Q: Do you offer guided tours?

A: We offer a variety of free public tours throughout the day for visitors of all ages, from museum highlights to special exhibitions and more. Public tours are free with museum admission and do not require a reservation. For a schedule of daily tours, view our calendar.

For a more intimate experience, private and group tours can be booked in advance for a fee. These tours are subject to availability and attendance is limited. For more information, visit our Group Visits page.

Free FM assistive listening devices with neck loops are available for all tours; just ask your guide for one.

Q: How can I visit the Rocky statue?

A: Admission to the museum is not required for visiting the Rocky statue. See more information and a map to the statue from the Association for Public Art.

Q: Are you part of the North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Association or the Reciprocal Organization of Associated Museums (ROAM)?

A: The museum is not part of the NARM or ROAM networks of reciprocal museums.

Membership

Q: Where can I find your partner museum list for Keystone members and above ($250+)?

A: Members at the Keystone level and above receive free general admission for two people to partner museums (benefit does not apply to ticketed exhibitions). Simply present your current membership card to the admissions staff when you visit.

Q: Can I visit the museum without my membership cards?

A: Yes, you can always access the museum as a current member without your cards. Visit any Membership or Visitor Services desk in the museum to verify your current membership status. You will be issued a temporary member ticket during that visit. If you need a replacement card, contact the museum’s membership department at 215-684-7840 or memberservices@philamuseum.org and we can send you a digital card you can download.

Q: How do I receive the discounted admission for my guests?

A: You can use this benefit when you arrive at the museum with your guests, or in advance by contacting Member Services. You can have up to eight guests join you at the museum for the discounted rate for general admission—$15 adult guest, $14 senior guest, children 18 & under are free. Note that special exhibitions may have additional fees.

Q: Will I receive a membership card?

In our efforts to reduce waste and ensure an easier check-in, we are now distributing digital membership cards. All members will receive their membership card via email within five business days after purchasing a membership. If you’d like to visit the museum and don't have your digital membership card yet, check in at any Visitor Services desk and we can look you up by name.

Q: Are children included in my membership?

A: Yes, all membership categories include an exhibition ticket and unlimited free general admission for all children in your life (18 and younger).

Q: Can I pay for my membership with a check?

A: Yes. Print this form and mail it in with your check to activate your membership.

Q: How can I purchase an Artist membership?

A: If you’re an artist that works in a medium that’s represented in the museum’s collection (including painting, sculpture, drawing, prints, photography, film, video, craft, and digital media), you can present documentation of how you share your work with the public (a website, Instagram or Facebook account, Etsy page, postcard of a past or upcoming exhibition) to purchase an Artist membership.

Send an example of your work by email to memberservices@philamuseum.org. Member Services will then contact you with a promotional code that will allow you to complete the transaction online. If you sent your payment through the mail, your membership will be processed once proof of artwork is received.

Q: How can I purchase a Student membership?

A: A school email address is required as proof of enrollment in school. There will also be space to add your preferred email address for museum updates. Student membership will not be processed until proof is received.

Q: Do you offer discounts for teachers?

A: We offer a $30 educator discount on the membership of your choice (Member through Patron levels). This offer is valid in person at the museum or by calling Members Services at 215-684-7840. Teacher ID is required.

Q: Will I receive a tax receipt?

A: You will receive a tax receipt for your total giving each year in January via email. Members with a total annual contribution of $250.00 or more will also receive a tax receipt via physical mail.

Q: What should I do if I’ve lost or misplaced my membership cards?

A: Contact Member Services or visit any Membership or Visitor Services desk in the museum to request replacement digital membership cards.

Q: How can I make a change to my contact information?

A: Contact Member Services by emailing memberservices@philamuseum.org, or visit any Membership or Visitor Services desk in the museum to update your contact information.

Q: What is an Employee Matching Gift?

A: Many companies match the charitable gifts that their employees give to the museum. Increase your support today by getting an Employee Matching Gift Form from your employer and mailing it to:

Membership Matching Gifts Program

Philadelphia Museum of Art

PO Box 7646

Philadelphia, PA 19101-7646

For more information, please contact Member Services by phone at 215-684-7840 (Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.) or by email at memberservices@philamuseum.org.

Monthly Giving Payment Plan

Q: What levels of membership can be purchased with the Monthly Giving Payment Plan?

  • Artist: $40 annually, $3.33 per month
  • Member: $75 annually, $6.25 per month
  • Member Plus: $125 annually, $10.42 per month
  • Keystone: $250 annually, $20.83 per month
  • Sustainer: $500 annually, $41.67 per month
  • Sponsor: $1,000 annually, $83.33 per month
  • Patron: $1,500 annually, $125 per month

Friend Group benefits can be added to any membership level.

  • Young Friend Individual: $50 annually, $4.17 per month
  • Young Friend Dual: $100 annually, $8.33 per month
  • Collab: $125 annually, $10.42 per month
  • Collab Benefactor: $1,000 annually, $83.33 per month

Q: How do I sign up for Monthly Giving?

A: Sign up for Monthly Giving by choosing this payment method when signing up for or renewing your membership. If you need any assistance, please contact Member Services at memberservices@philamuseum.org.

Q: How do I know when my next monthly payment will be charged?

A: Your credit card will be charged each month on the same day of your initial payment. Log in to the Payment Portal to see the next scheduled payment. You will need the confirmation number and email associated with your initial purchase to log in. You can also access by using the link in the receipt from your initial purchase.

Q: What happens if I miss a payment?

A: We will contact you by email to alert you if a payment has not gone through with instructions on how to update your payment information. If no payment is received, membership will be deactivated thirty-five days from the failed payment date. If your membership is deactivated, all existing and/or future membership benefits will be terminated immediately.

Q: How do I reactivate a monthly giving account after deactivation?

A: Please contact Member Services for assistance by emailing memberservices@philamuseum.org. Once reactivated, the Initial Term (or first twelve months) will be reinstated.

Q: How do I cancel my membership?

A: To cancel your annual membership, please contact Member Services at 215-684-7840, Mon-Fri from 9a.m.-3p.m. Monthly Giving memberships may not be canceled during the Initial Term, which is the first twelve months. If you wish to cancel your membership after the Initial Term, you must give notice of cancellation to Member Services at least fifteen days prior to the date of the last membership payment you will make. Email memberservices@philamuseum.org. If you cancel, any membership benefits scheduled for after the date of your last membership payment will automatically be terminated.

Payment Portal

Q: How do I log in to my Payment Portal?

A: Log in to the Payment Portal using the confirmation number and email associated with your initial purchase. The confirmation number can be found on any museum communication and can also be accessed using the link found in your enrollment email.

Q: How do I update my payment information?

A: Log in to the Payment Portal using the confirmation number and email associated with your initial purchase. Select the green “Update Payment Info” button to make a change. Note: If you activated your account with PayPal using your bank account or any major credit card, you must update your payment information via PayPal.

Q: What forms of payment do you take?

A: All major credit cards (MasterCard, Visa, Discover, American Express) are accepted, or you can use your bank account via PayPal. If you activate your account using PayPal, you can later update your payment type to any major credit card. Please note that once you sign up with a credit card, you cannot transition your payment to PayPal. Update to a different form of payment through the Payment Portal.

Learning & Research

Q: Where can I find teacher resources?

A: We offer a variety of programs and resources for teachers of all subjects and grade levels, virtually, at the museum, and at schools. We are a PA Act 48 and NJ Continuing Education credit provider. For more information on current offerings, explore our Educator Programs.

Q: How do I book a guided lesson for my class?

A: We offer limited in-person and virtual lessons for school groups. Guided lessons are taught by PMA educators, and explore the museum’s collections through close looking, guided discussions, and interactive activities. Please fill out a request form for your desired program, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Q: How do I book a self-guided tour for my class?

A: We offer self-guided class visits at select times for a minimum of fifteen guests and a maximum of fifty guests per group. For more booking information, visit our Group Visits page.

Q: Do you have workshops for teachers?

A: We offer a limited number of teacher workshops at the museum, online, and at schools. To see upcoming workshops or to book a workshop for a group, explore our Educator Programs.

Q: Do you have summer camps for children?

A: We do not offer summer day camps. Summer camp groups looking to organize a field trip to the museum may fill out a request form.

Q: How can I use the museum’s library and archives?

A: Staff are providing remote reference services while the Perelman building is closed. We’ll do our best to fulfill your requests in a timely manner, but please let us know if you’re on a deadline. We arrange on-site appointments on a case-by-case basis. For more information, visit our Library & Archives page.

Q: I found inaccurate information about an object or language in an object record that I feel should be changed. How can I contact you?

A: We are always open to learning more about our collections and updating the website. Does the record contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? Contact us by using the link available on the individual object record.

Image Rights & Requests

Q: I love the museum’s logo. Can I use it on my website?

A: No, you may not use the Philadelphia Museum of Art logo or other trademarks without the museum’s prior written permission. Please write to library@philamuseum.org to make a request.

Q: Can I put museum content on my personal website, blog, or other social networking sites?

A: Yes, so long as you:

  • Include a citation whenever possible, or link to the appropriate reference on the museum’s website.
  • Identify the artist or author and source of the content.
  • Do not remove any necessary copyright, trademark, or other notices that are placed in or near the content.
  • Acquire appropriate licenses to use works in copyright.
  • Comply with any other terms or restrictions that may be applicable to the content, including these Terms of Use.

Q: Can I use Philadelphia Museum of Art content or images in my research, lectures, lesson plans, class work, publications?

A: Yes, so long as you:

  • Include a citation whenever possible.
  • Identify the artist or author and source of the content as you would material from any printed or online source.
  • Do not remove any necessary copyright, trademark, or other proprietary notices including attribution information, credits, or notices that are placed in or near the text, images, or data.
  • Acquire appropriate licenses to use any works in copyright.
  • Comply with any other terms or restrictions that may be applicable to the content, including these Terms of Use.

Q: What is your recommended citation format?

A: We ask that you include a citation when using an image of a work in our collection or our other content. Proper citation information for a collection work may be found on the object’s online collection page or archival catalog record.

A sample template for an object credit line is:

Philadelphia Museum of Art: [Credit Line info from object page], [accession number], [copyright notice, if applicable], [URL, if applicable].

A sample template for citing archival material is:

[Item caption/description], [date], [Series info], [record/paper name], Philadelphia Museum of Art, Library and Archives.

You may not suggest or imply the museum's endorsement of your publication or project, nor use the museum's trademarks, without express written permission from the museum.

Q: How do I obtain images not on www.philamuseum.org or images in a higher resolution other than those available on the site?

A: The museum supplies existing high-resolution images of works in our collection that we believe are in the public domain and/or are free of other restrictions, if available, without charge. To request an image of a work that is not currently online, is under copyright, or is desired in sizes or formats beyond those offered through the website, please contact library@philamuseum.org.

Q: What if there is no photography of my object or I want to order new photography?

A: The museum fulfills requests for new photography of works in its collection on a case-by-case basis as a service to patrons and the scholarly community. A one-time fee for photography is generally charged. Additional fees may be charged for objects that require special handling, or if any other extraordinary or special circumstance arises around the creation of the requested image(s). Some works may be unavailable for new photography due to their condition, location, exhibition, collection priorities, copyright, or other restrictions. Delivery in less than eight weeks is based on staff availability and may incur additional fees.

Please email library@philamuseum.org with your new photography requests, outlining the specific views you need, your requested delivery date, and your name, email, and address for invoicing. We will let you know if photography is possible, and our photography studio will provide you with an estimated schedule, potential charge(s), and payment information.

Q: Does the museum require gratis copies of publications?

A: While not required, the museum would very much appreciate receiving a gratis copy of your publication reproducing images from our collections. Links to online editions may be emailed to library@philamuseum.org. Print copies can be mailed to:

Philadelphia Museum of Art
ATTN: Library and Archives
P.O. Box 7646
Philadelphia, PA 19101-7646
United States

Giving to the Museum

Q: I own a piece of art I would like to learn more about. Can the museum help with that?

A: Unfortunately, the museum is not able to assist with private research. We suggest contacting an art appraiser who will be able to help with both research and an estimate of valuation.

Q: Can I donate an artwork to the museum?

A: For more information about the donation process, please contact our Planned Giving team at plannedgiving@philamuseum.org.

Q: Can I sell an artwork to the museum?

A: No, the museum is not purchasing artwork at this time.