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.
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–September):
9 am–11 pm
Winter Hours (October–April):
Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays, 9 am–6 pm
Thursdays and Fridays, 9 am–9 pm
Hours may vary for special events.
Rates:
Public Parking: $20 for 2 hours
Museum Visitor Parking: $10 for 3 hours
Museum Member Parking: $8 for 3 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 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 Parking Garage. If you are not visiting the museum, please pay the public parking rate at one of the parking stations in the parking garage.
If the museum’s parking lot is full, public parking is available along Elmwood Avenue, Forest Avenue, and Lincoln Parkway. Please obey marked signs and pay applicable parking fees to avoid getting a parking ticket.
Learn more about Accessible Parking and Visitor Drop-off Locations
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.
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.
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.
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! 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. QR codes are also available near artwork labels in the galleries so you can listen to the audio content a la carte.
Please use headphones when using the app 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 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.
Can I take wedding photographs at the museum?
You are welcome to take photographs with your prom party or wedding party outside on our Delaware Stairs, facing Hoyt Lake. Due to safety concerns, wedding photography is not allowed on the Elmwood Avenue side of the building or 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 or check out our ongoing programs, both of 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.