Have you been to Seattle’s Henry Art Gallery at the University of Washington? If not, now is the best time to check it out because the museum has permanently waived its admission fee. Admission to Henry Art Gallery is now free for all.
Read on for all the details!
Despite the name, Henry Art Gallery is in fact a public contemporary art museum rather than an art gallery. Opened in 1927, Henry Art Gallery was the first public art museum in the state of Washington. It has since gone through several renovations. The museum now spans 40,000 square feet and includes larger galleries, a cafe, a 154-seat auditorium, and the James Turrell Skyspace (a permanent art installation that invites visitors to gaze at a slice of sky from inside a rotunda).
In the past, visitors would pay between $6 and $10 for tickets to Henry Art Gallery. Free admission was offered on the first Thursday of the month as well as to certain groups such as students, children, and military personnel. Now everyone can visit the museum for free at any time.
In the press release announcing the change, the museum cited their belief that “art is for everyone” as a reason for the waived admission fee. They also hope that free admission to Henry Art Gallery will support the museum’s “long-standing commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access” and its goal to “lower barriers.” You can read the full announcement here.
Henry Art Gallery also cited “generous support” from 4Culture as a catalyst for the switch to free admission. 4Culture is a cultural funding agency in King County that works to provide access to art. The museum will also continue to rely on donations and memberships. See the Henry Art Gallery membership page for details about what you get out of a membership.
Ready for your free visit? Henry Art Gallery is open Thursday through Sunday and is located on the University of Washington campus in Seattle’s University District. There is usually street parking nearby and on Saturday afternoons and Sundays, you can park for free in the UW Central Parking Garage.
Henry Art Gallery
Address: 15th Ave NE & University of Washington, NE 41st St, Seattle, WA 98195
Hours: 10:00 to 7:00 Thurs; 10:00 to 5:00 Fri-Sun; closed Mon-Wed
Cost: Free!