Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions we receive. If you don't see your question answered here, please contact us at 716 270 8292 or [email protected], and we will respond to you as soon as we can.
Where is the museum located?
The Buffalo AKG Art Museum is located adjacent to Frederick Law Olmsted’s Delaware Park at:
1285 Elmwood Avenue
Buffalo, New York 14222-1096
Directions & Parking
What is the closest airport to the museum?
The Buffalo metropolitan area is serviced by the Buffalo Niagara International Airport, which is about nine miles away from the museum. Niagara Falls International Airport is about 19 miles away from the museum.
Is the museum accessible via public transportation?
Yes, there are a few different ways to get to the museum via public transportation.
What hotels or lodging options are available close to the museum?
Buffalo offers a wealth of lodging choices for all budgets and tastes. Whether you prefer to be downtown, in a shopping and dining district, or close to the museum, there is an ideal hotel for you. Learn More about Visiting Buffalo Niagara
Does the museum offer parking?
Yes, parking is available at the museum during the following times and at the following rates:
Hours
Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays, 9 am–6 pm
Thursdays and Fridays, 9 am–9 pm
Please know that our Parking Garage hours may differ from our museum operating hours.
Rates
Public Parking, $12 for 3 hours
AKG Members, $8 for 3 hours
$2 for each additional hour
If you are a Buffalo AKG member visiting the museum, please be sure to receive a QR code for your parking discount at a Visitor Services desk, the Shop, or Cornelia. When returning to the Parking Garage following your visit, please scan your parking ticket and QR code at one of the parking stations and pay before exiting the garage.
Public parking can be found along Elmwood Avenue, Forest Avenue, and Lincoln Parkway. Please obey all marked signs and pay applicable parking fees to avoid getting a parking ticket. If parking at the Burchfield Penney Art Center, please know a parking fee applies. If dropping off or picking up a museum visitor, please enter our driveway from Elmwood Avenue and pull up to the Knox Building West entrance for drop-off.
Is there a place to park my bicycle at the museum?
There is a bike rack adjacent to the main entrance to the Gundlach Building near Elmwood Avenue.
Where can I drop off or pick up visitors?
If dropping off or picking up a museum visitor, please enter our driveway from Elmwood Avenue and pull up to our Seymour H. Knox Building Elmwood Entrance. Accessible parking spaces are clearly marked and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Can I purchase tickets at the museum?
Yes, we offer tickets onsite at the museum as well as in advance. Buffalo AKG members receive access to advance general admission ticketing two weeks ahead of the public. If you would like to visit on a date beyond what's currently available on our website, please return two weeks ahead of the visit date.
Do I have to wait in line if I have a pre-purchased timed ticket?
At peak times, there may be a line for check-in upon entering the museum. Having tickets in advance expedites this process. Once scanned by a Visitor Experience Associate, advance ticket holders may proceed into the museum galleries.
How can I visit for free or reduced cost?
With the Town Square at its center, our Seymour H. Knox Building is always free and accessible to the public during museum operating hours. We invite the community to learn through play in Creative Commons, gather under Olafur Eliasson and Sebastian Behmann’s Common Sky or visit the M&T Bank Gallery. The Knox Building is also home to the Shop, Cornelia, the Stanford and Judith Lipsey Auditorium, and our art Studios, including our Digital Media Studio and Family Room.
We offer free admission to Arts Access pass holders, active-duty U.S. military personnel and their families, and members of participating Reciprocal Museum networks.
Learn more about reduced Admission opportunities
Do you offer gift cards to the museum?
We offer gift admission tickets that are valid for one year from date of purchase. They can be purchased onsite only.
Does the museum provide donations?
Yes, representatives of community-based organizations should submit a request for consideration for donated admission passes using our online request form.
How long is an average visit?
Our campus recently expanded, nearly doubling the amount of art we’re able to display. We recommend setting aside at least two hours to tour our collection galleries and special exhibitions on view.
Is there a time limit for visits?
You are welcome to stay in the museum as long as you like, up until the museum closes.
Is there a place to eat at the museum?
Cornelia offers casual dining with a thoughtfully and carefully crafted menu using locally sourced ingredients. Seating overlooks the Wilson Town Square with a stunning view of Common Sky.
The Sculpture Bar is located on the second-floor Sculpture Terrace of the Gundlach Building and serves snacks prepared in-house, as well as coffee, tea, wine, and beer.
Does the museum have a shop?
The Shop is open during regular museum hours. It features a variety of books, home decor, stationery, prints, exhibition merchandise, local artisans, one-of-a-kind jewelry, and children’s items. We welcome inquiries and offer personalized shopping assistance if needed. Please contact 716.270.8231 or [email protected].
Can I check my coat or baggage/luggage?
Small backpack-style purses and crossbody bags can be worn facing front, but please leave all backpacks, purses, and bags larger than 10 x 10 x 4 inches in your vehicle or in the complimentary lockers and coat room located in our Knox and Gundlach Buildings.
Are strollers allowed in the museum?
Children of all ages are welcome; please ensure they are always attended to by an adult. Strollers and soft, front-facing carriers are permitted. Adults may not carry children on their shoulders. The museum has a limited number of strollers, which can be found in the Coat Rooms of the Knox and Gundlach Buildings.
Does the museum offer free Wi-Fi?
The museum offers free Wi-Fi, which is accessible by joining the “AKG_Guest” network.
Does the museum offer an audio tour?
The AKGo! audio app is free to download on your iPhone or Android mobile device. For the best experience, we recommend downloading the AKGo! app from the App Store or Google Play Store. When using the app, journeys and content will automatically surface based on your location. You can also access AKGo! content through QR codes available near artwork labels in the galleries.
Please use headphones when using the app or QR codes in the galleries. Headphones are available for purchase at the Museum Shop or Visitor Services desks.
Is seating offered in the museum?
In addition to benches and chairs, look for portable gallery stools in the Wilmers and Gundlach Buildings. Free wheelchairs, walkers, and strollers are also available in the Coat Rooms of the Knox and Gundlach Buildings.
Does the museum have single-family and accessible restrooms?
The campus has many new, fully accessible restrooms. Each building also contains a family restroom equipped with a sink and changing table.
Does the museum have a nursing room?
There is a private nursing room on the ground floor of the Wilmers Building with a sink, chair, table, and power outlet.
What accommodations does the museum offer for people with disabilities?
The Buffalo AKG Art Museum welcomes all visitors and is committed to making its programs and services accessible to everyone. Click here to learn more about accessible services and programs.
What guidelines must I follow to help the Buffalo AKG create a safe and respectful community?
In order to ensure the safety of the artworks and people in the museum, we ask you to observe the following:
Please look, discuss, and enjoy the art from a safe distance, refraining from touching unless invited to do so.
When sketching or taking notes, please use pencil. We can provide them if needed.
Capture the moment! Photography without flash for personal use is encouraged unless otherwise noted, but please leave selfie sticks and tripods at home. If you’d like, share your images with us @buffaloakg.
Our campus is large and bags get heavy. Please leave all backpacks, purses, and bags larger than 10 x 10 x 4 inches in our complimentary lockers located in the Knox and Gundlach Buildings.
Need a seat? In addition to benches and chairs, look for portable gallery stools in the Wilmers and Gundlach buildings. Free wheelchairs, walkers, and strollers are also available in the coatroom areas of the Knox and Gundlach Buildings.
Getting hungry or thirsty? Please consume food and drink in areas outside the galleries where it is safe to do so, such as the Sculpture Bar, Cornelia, or Wilson Town Square.
Please review our Code of Conduct prior to visiting.
Can I write or sketch in the museum?
Yes, but with pencil only. The use of pens is not permitted in the museum. Pencils are available at the Visitor Services Desks. Please note that easels and tripods are not permitted.
Can I take photographs at the museum?
Yes—in most cases, non-flash photography for personal use is allowed. In fact, we encourage you to take photos of our buildings and artworks on view, both inside and on our grounds, and share them with #buffaloakg on social media. However, we sometimes ask you not to take photos of artworks on view that we do not own. Keep an eye out for signs that ask you not to take photos of certain artworks or exhibitions and, when in doubt, check with a Visitor Experience team member or a Preservation & Safety Officer. We do not allow video cameras, tripods, or selfie sticks in the museum, but you are welcome to use them outside on our grounds. In order to ensure a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable experience for all visitors, the Buffalo AKG requests that no drones be flown above the museum’s campus.
While personal photography is encouraged, it must be conducted without disruption to museum operations or visitors and with the safety of the art in mind. The Buffalo AKG reserves the right to withhold or withdraw permission to photograph in its buildings and on its campus.
Can I take commercial or portrait photographs at the museum?
You are welcome to take portrait photographs (including with your prom party or wedding party) outside on our Great Lawn, on our Elmwood Stairs and John R. Oishei Foundation Portico, and on our Lincoln Stairs facing Hoyt Lake. We do not take reservations; availability is on a first-come, first-served basis and may be limited by special events on our grounds. Please check our Events Calendar before your arrival. Commercial photography, portrait photography, and private photo shoots are not permitted inside the museum. We wish you a memorable day!
How do I find information about works of art in the AKG’s collection?
Our Search the Collection page provides information about every work in our collection, with descriptions, images, and exhibition histories for select works. Search by artist or artwork title, browse by object type or date range, see collection highlights or works currently on view, and more.
How do I request even more information about art or objects within the AKG's Collections from museum staff?
Please complete this form to request any of the following:
- Images of artworks from the museum’s Fine Art Collection
- Images of our buildings, programs, exhibitions, leaders, and historical materials
- Further information regarding artworks from the Fine Art Collection
- Further information regarding our institutional history
We kindly ask that you allow two to four weeks for a response to your request from a member of the Curatorial Department.
Is the Mirrored Room on view right now?
Unfortunately, no. Lucas Samaras’s Mirrored Room, 1966, was recently on view in the M&T Bank Gallery of the Seymour H. Knox Building.
How can I check if a particular work is on view?
Installation information is subject to change. If you are planning to visit the museum to see a specific work of art, please call 716.882.8700 first to confirm that it will be on view. You can also see a list of works currently on view on our website, but please note that this is subject to change at any time.
Can I see a work of art that is not currently on view?
For security reasons, access to artworks is determined on a case-by-case basis and granted for research and scholarly purposes only. If you would like to make arrangements to see a particular work of art that is not on view, please call 716.270.8270.
How do I get permission to reproduce images from the AKG’s collection?
Permission for such use is granted at the sole discretion of the Buffalo AKG through its contracted distributors. For full details, please visit our Obtaining and Using Images page.
Where can I find AKG public art?
In addition to the outdoor sculpture on our campus, the Buffalo AKG has placed public art around Western New York through its Public Art Initiative.
View Buffalo AKG Public Art Projects
Can the AKG give monetary appraisals for work of art?
No, we are not able to provide appraisals for works of art. If you are interested in having a work appraised, please contact the American Society of Appraisers at 1.800.272.8258 or [email protected].
How can I register or purchase tickets for an event, program, or tour?
Each event, program, and tour page on our website has information about how to register or purchase tickets. You can also call 716.270.8292 or inquire at the Visitor Services Desks during your next visit.
Do you offer public tours?
We offer a variety of weekly public tours for all ages at the Buffalo AKG. Tours are free with museum admission.
Do you offer group tours?
Yes, you can schedule a group tour of the Buffalo AKG for K–12 students, adults, college students, community youth groups, and visitors with disabilities. We also offer specialized group tours for visitors who are blind or have low vision.
What is M&T FIRST FRIDAYS at the museum?
M&T FIRST FRIDAYS is a program that takes place on the first Friday of every month, from 10 am–8 pm. While the Knox Building is always free, admission to the Wilmers and Gundlach Buildings on these days is Pay-What-You-Wish with a robust programming schedule offering free and paid artmaking activities and events. M&T FIRST FRIDAYS is generously presented by M&T Bank.
Does the museum offer activities for children and teens?
We offer a variety of programs for children and teens, Studio Art Classes for ages 6–11 and a Family Room for parents and caregivers with young children. AKG Teens Council offers a variety of opportunities for high school students to get involved in the development and planning of programming for their peers. We also have weekly Drop-In Art activities and monthly Drop-In Drawing for the whole family. View our calendar of upcoming events, which can be filtered by audience.
How do I become a member?
You can purchase a membership online, by phone at 716.270.8247, or in person at the Visitor Services Desks or Shop during your next visit. Join as a member and enjoy unlimited free admission, exclusive invitations to members’ previews and events, and more.
Learn more about membership at the AKG
Is my membership at another cultural institution reciprocal with the Buffalo AKG?
Reciprocal members from participating institutions who present a membership card validated with any of the following indicators are entitled to reciprocal admission at the Buffalo AKG (some restrictions may apply):
North American Reciprocal Museum Association (NARM) gold sticker or mark; Modern and Contemporary Reciprocal Membership Program (Mod/Co) silver sticker or mark; Museum Alliance Reciprocal Program (MARP) sticker or mark; and Empire State Museums Reciprocal Program (ESMRP) sticker or mark.
View reciprocal museums affiliated with the AKG
Can I give membership as a gift?
Yes, you can purchase a gift membership online, by phone at 716.270.8247, or in person at the Visitor Services Desks or Shop during your next visit. When purchasing online, simply check the box that reads “This membership is a gift” and fill in the information for your gift recipient. If the gift recipient is already a member, your purchase will add an additional year to their existing membership.
Can I hold my event at the museum?
The Buffalo AKG Art Museum provides an unparalleled setting for your special event. With one of the foremost collections of modern and contemporary art in the world, the museum offers exclusive opportunities for you and your guests. From private gallery tours to campus-wide festivities, host your next event at the Buffalo AKG!
Learn More
Can I hold my wedding at the museum?
Weddings involve significant time and footprint to set up and take down and, therefore, require a buyout of the campus for a full day. Please contact [email protected] for rates and pricing.