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 info@buffaloakg.org, and we will respond to you as soon as we can.
When will the Jeffrey E. Gundlach Building open?
The new Gundlach Building, along with the Albright Bridge and the new underground Parking Garage, is now open. We cannot wait to welcome you!
When are my return passes valid?
All passes stamped for September 3, 2023, will be accepted until October 30, 2023.
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
Summer Hours (May–August):
9 am–11 pm
Winter Hours (September–April):
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
Museum Visitor, $10 for 3 hours
Museum Member, $8 for 3 hours
Public Parking, $20 for 2 hours
$2 for each additional hour
If you are visiting the museum, please be sure to receive a QR code for your parking discount at a Visitor Services desk, the Shop, Cornelia, or Sculpture Bar. 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. If you are not visiting the museum, please pay the public parking rate at one of the parking stations in the Parking 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?
Yes, there are multiple bike racks around the museum’s campus.
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?
To ensure you’re able to visit at your preferred date and time, we strongly encourage visitors and members to reserve tickets in advance. A certain number of tickets are available hourly, both online and onsite, until sold out.
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 directly into the museum galleries.
How strict is the entry time on my ticket?
Tickets are issued by the hour, and we welcome you to arrive any time within that hour. If you’re going to miss your time and need to reschedule, please contact us at info@buffaloakg.org ahead of time. Refunds cannot be granted once an admission time has passed.
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 experience Lucas Samaras’s Mirrored Room in 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.
Bank of America - Museums on Us
Bank of America’s Museums on Us provides free admission to all Bank of America cardholders on the first full weekend of each month (Saturday and Sunday only). Visitors to the Buffalo AKG are eligible to participate in Museums on Us for the duration of Clyfford Still: A Legacy for Buffalo (through February 19, 2024).
Cardholders must present a picture ID and a valid Bank of America, Merrill, or Bank of America Private Bank credit or debit card. Admission is non-transferable and good for one free general admission for the cardholder only. Offer does not include ticketed exhibitions or events. Discount is available in person only. Bank of America associates are also eligible for free general admission on designated “Museums on Us” weekends. Present current proof of employment and photo ID.
Learn more about reduced Admission opportunities
Do you offer gift cards to the museum?
While we do not offer gift cards to use toward admissions, merchandise, or food, gift memberships are available.
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.
What are the rules I should follow at Albright-Knox Northland?In order to ensure a safe environment for all, we ask you to please review our Courtesy Code and reserve your visit date and time prior to your arrival.
In order to ensure the safety of artworks and other visitors, we ask you to observe the following:
- Look, discuss, and enjoy, but please do not touch the art unless otherwise noted
- We know that sometimes the art is in the details, but please keep at least an arm’s length away
- Take your time: there’s no need to run
- Photography without flash is encouraged unless otherwise noted
- Looking to take notes or sketch? Pencils are available at the Welcome Desk.
- Please leave all food and drink outside
- Take a load off, and leave all backpacks, purses, and bags larger than 11 x 15 x 5 inches in our complimentary lockers. Umbrellas may be left in holders near the entrance.
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 Albright-Knox Northland accessible via public transportation?Yes, there are a few different ways to get to Albright-Knox Northland via public transportation.
Public Transportation Directions
-->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 Albright-Knox Northland offer parking?Yes, free parking is available in a dedicated lot on the east side of the building and on Northland Avenue.
Is there a restaurant at Albright-Knox Northland?
Albright-Knox Northland does not have a restaurant. We recommend you visit our friends at Manna in the Northland Workforce Training Center at 683 Northland Avenue. Please visit their Facebook page or call 716.253.2100 for details.
Does Albright-Knox Northland have a gift shop?
Albright-Knox Northland does not have a gift shop. We look forward to reopening our physical store when the Buffalo AKG Art Museum opens in the first half of 2023.
Does Albright-Knox Northland offer public WiFi access?
Yes, free WiFi is available through SSID Northland-Guest.
Does Albright-Knox Northland offer a coat check?
Yes, there are coatracks and complimentary storage lockers.
Does Albright-Knox Northland have baby-changing stations?
Yes, there is a family restroom with a changing station.
-->Can I use my phone in Albright-Knox Northland?Yes. If you are on a telephone call, we ask that you speak in a low voice and keep your calls short to avoid disturbing other guests. If you are using your phone to text or browse the internet, we offer free WiFi through SSID akagguest.
-->Is Albright-Knox Northland accessible to those with special needs?Albright-Knox Northland is committed to creating and fostering a universal environment of accessibility for visitors of all ages.
Learn More about Accessibility at Albright-Knox Northland
Learn More about our Access AK Programs for Visitors with Disabilities
The Albright-Knox offers casual dining at AK Café and a unique, artful shopping experience at Shop AK. We invite you to explore the outdoor sculptures on our grounds at any time, whether you decide to come inside or not. The east side of our campus offers a great view of Hoyt Lake and Delaware Park.
-->What are other things to do within close distance of Albright-Knox Northland?Check out Shantell Martin’s mural Dance Everyday, 2017, just steps away at 537 East Delavan Avenue, and explore Buffalo through other public artworks created and placed by the Albright-Knox’s Public Art Initiative.
If you'd like a bite to eat, check out our friends at Manna in the Northland Workforce Training Center at 683 Northland Avenue. Please visit their Facebook page or call 716.253.2100 for details.
-->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 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 pre-packaged sandwiches and salads prepared in-house, as well as coffee, tea, wine, and beer. The Sculpture Bar will open later this summer.
Does the museum have a shop?
The Shop is open during regular museum hours. It will offer a wide variety of books, home décor, stationery, prints, exhibition merchandise, local artisans, one-of-a-kind jewelry, and children’s items. We offer inquiries and personalized shopping assistance if needed. Please contact 716.270.8231 or shop@buffaloakg.org.
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 11 x 15 x 5” 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?
Yes! Coming Soon! The AKGo! audio app will be 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 it's ready. When using the app, journeys and content will automatically surface based on your location. For now, you can 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, changing table, and seating.
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:
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Please look, discuss, and enjoy the art from a safe distance, refraining from touching unless invited to do so.
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When sketching or taking notes, please use pencil. We can provide them if needed.
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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.
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Our campus is large and bags get heavy. Before entering spaces with art, leave backpacks and bags larger than 15" in any dimension in our free lockers located in the Knox and Gundlach buildings.
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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.
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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 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 absolutely 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, ask a Visitor Experience team member or a Preservation & Safety Officer if it's OK before snapping away. 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 get 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.
Is the Mirrored Room on view right now?
Yes! Lucas Samaras’s Mirrored Room, 1966, is currently 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 asainfo@appraisers.org.
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 throughout the day. M&T FIRST FRIDAYS is generously presented by M&T Bank.
M&T FIRST FRIDAYS will be returning on the first Friday of September 2023.
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.
More information on programming coming soon.
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 facility rental program will officially launch in November 2023 following the Inaugural Season. Please email events@buffaloakg.org for more information on how to schedule an event.
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 events@buffaloakg.org for rates and pricing.
Can I hold a community meeting at the museum?
Yes, community groups should submit a request for consideration to hold a small community meeting at the museum using our online request form.