Visitor Information
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Seattle Art Museum Downtown |
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Discounted Parking Validation for SAM Visitors
Pay only $6 for up to 5 hours of parking at the Chase Parking Garage, Wednesday–Friday, entry after noon (12 pm), and entry anytime on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets must be validated at the SAM Ticketing Desk in order to receive discount. (Please note: If you stay more than 5 hours, Republic Parking will no longer honor the discount.)
Upcoming Exhibitions
love fear pleasure lust pain glamour death—Andy Warhol Media Works
May 13–September 6, 2010
Kurt
May
13–September 6, 2010
Hours
Wednesday–Sunday: 10 am–5
pm
Thursday & Friday: 10 am–9 pm
Monday & Tuesday: closed
Tickets
Suggested Fees
Alexander Calder: A Balancing Act
October 15, 2009–April 11, 2010
- $15 adults
- $12 seniors 62 and over, military with ID
- $9 students with ID, youth 13-17
- FREE for children 12 and under
- FREE for SAM members
Fees include all SAM collections and installations. SAM Audio, the permanent collection audio guide, is free with admission (available on a first-come, first-served basis).
SAM Gift Certificates are available for any denomination at the SAM Ticketing Desk. Contact SAM Box Office for more information.
Teen Tix
SAM is part of Teen Tix, a free arts access pass that allows teenagers to purchase $5 rush tickets to theater, dance, music and visual arts events. Teens must present this pass in person to get a $5 ticket at the SAM Ticketing Desk. To get your pass, sign up at www.seattlecenter.com/teentix.
Free Days
All free day programs include access to special exhibitions as well as all SAM collections and installations.
- First Thursdays: Free to all
- First Friday: Free to seniors (age 62+)
-
Second Fridays, 5–9 pm: Free to teens (ages 13–19) with ID
Members are always FREE. Join SAM.
Holidays
Open on the following holidays:
- Easter, Sunday, April 4, 2010
- Independence Day, Sunday, July 4, 2010
- Labor Day, Monday, September 6, 2010
- Veterans Day, Thursday, November 11, 2010
- Day after Thanksgiving, Friday, November 26, 2010
- New Year's Eve, Friday, December 31, 2010
Closed on the following holidays:
- New Year’s Day, Friday, January 1, 2010
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, January 18, 2010
- Presidents Day, Monday, February 15, 2010
- Memorial Day, Monday, May 31, 2010
- Independence Day (observed), Monday, July 5, 2010
- Columbus Day, Monday, October 11, 2010
- Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 25, 2010
- Christmas Eve, Friday, December 24, 2010
- Christmas Day, Saturday, December 25, 2010
- Christmas Day (observed), Monday, December 27, 2010
- New Year's Day, Saturday, January 1, 2011
Directions
The museum entrance is located on First Avenue on the corner of Union Street.
Heading North: I-5 to Seneca Street exit (#165), west on Seneca Street to First Avenue, and turn right (north).
Heading South: I-5 to Union Street exit (#165B), west (toward Puget Sound) on Union Street to First Avenue.
From I-90: Heading west, merge onto I-5 North, take Madison Street exit (#2C). Turn left on Madison and right on First Avenue.
Maps
Map courtesy of Microsoft Bing
Where is SAM Downtown in relation to the Seattle Asian Art Museum and the Olympic Sculpture Park?
Use this map of the galleries (PDF) to design your own tour of SAM Downtown.
Parking
Chase Center Parking Garage
Entrance is below the SAM building on Union Street between First and Second Avenues.
206.264.8444
Monday–Friday: 6 am–midnight
Saturday: 9 am–midnight
Sunday: 10 am–10 pm
More information....
Discounted Parking Validation for SAM Visitors
Pay only $6 for up to 5 hours of parking at the Chase Parking Garage, Wednesday–Friday, entry after noon (12 pm), and entry anytime on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets must be validated at the SAM Ticketing Desk in order to receive discount. (Please note: If you stay more than 5 hours, Republic Parking will no longer honor the discount.)
This is an ADA-accessible garage; it has an elevator that will leave you around the corner from the museum’s main entrance or inside the museum.
Drop-off areas for visitors with special needs, other paid parking lots and metered parking are available near the Seattle Art Museum.
Bus Information
The museum is easily reached by using the Metro bus system. Detailed rider information is available by calling Metro at 206.553.3000, Sound Transit at 206.398.5000 or Community Transit at 206.353.7433.
Visitors with Disabilities
Museum facilities are wheelchair accessible and we offer a variety of services for the visually and hearing impaired. More Information...
SAM SHOP
Wednesday–Sunday: 10 am–5
pm
Thursday & Friday: 10 am–9 pm
Monday & Tuesday: closed
The SAM SHOP is located in the new North Building on the First Floor next to the new SAM TASTE Restaurant. Visitors can enter from the street level on First Avenue or from Sarkowsky Hall at the new museum entrance.
Museum members receive a 15% discount at all SAM SHOP locations. Contact the store at 206.654.3120.
More Store Information...
TASTE Restaurant
TASTE punch cards are here.Open for lunch, happy hour and dinner
Wednesday–Saturday: 11 am–10 pm
Sunday: 9 am–8 pm
Monday & Tuesday: closed
www.tastesam.com
Make a reservation online
TASTE Restaurant at the Seattle Art Museum features simple yet upscale, reasonably priced foods created with “fresh from the market” ingredients. You will enjoy a seasonally changing assortment of small and large plates from its sustainable-focused menu, created by executive chef Craig Hetherington and award winning artistic desserts by pastry chef Elise Fineberg, and a list of excellent Northwest wines and beers. SAM members receive a 10% discount.
Visit the TASTE website for the restaurant menu and seasonal recipes.
Dorothy Stimson Bullitt Library
Tuesday–Friday: 10 am–5 pm
Although primarily geared to support the museum staff, docents and educators, the library is open to members and the general public. The library offers a number of resources to aid you in your research or educational endeavors.
- Art Since 1940
Discuss the processes, innovations and inspirations that characterize some of the more spectacular works of art, created in the last 70 years, in SAM's collection during this 60-minute tour. - Highlights of the Collection
On this 60-minute highlights tour, visitors are encouraged to view and discuss outstanding works of art from across SAM's collection. From a spirited masquerade to a sixteenth-century Italian Room, discover the art that makes SAM unique. - In Focus Gallery Talks
These 30-minute gallery discussions focus on a single gallery, allowing the visitor to experience works of art in depth. Topics rotate regularly. - Living Arts of Africa and Australia
From indigenous to international, discover contemporary art from the continents of Africa and Australia in this 60-minute tour. - New @ Noon
Featuring works of art new to the museum or freshly back on view, New @ Noon gallery talks are 20-minute discussions focused one or two works of art. - My Favorite Things
Special guests—including visual artists, dancers, curators, critics and more—are invited to select their favorite works of art in SAM's galleries to discuss during these 30-minute tours. - Special Exhibitions
Explore the special exhibitions at SAM Downtown on these 60-minute tours designed to illuminate exhibition themes and present diverse perspectives on the art on view.
Private Tours
SAM offers docent-led tours for private groups of 10–60 people upon request. Private tour groups pay a flat-rate tour fee in addition to discounted admission. Tours are 60 minutes in length and must be scheduled four weeks in advance. To schedule a private tour for your group, please fill out our private tour request form. Questions? Call 206.654.3123 or email tours@seattleartmuseum.org.
Are you an educator? Learn more about our school tour program.
Group Rates
Planning to bring a crowd? Groups of 10 or more get a discount with advanced reservation. Call 206.344.5260 or email boxoffice@seattleartmuseum.org. Please visit our rates page for more information.
Plan an Event
Plan your next event at SAM Downtown. A variety of stunning spaces are available to serve small and intimate gatherings as well as large gala celebrations.
More Information...
Lost and Found
Do you think you may have lost something at the Seattle Art Museum? Report your lost article using this form, and we will let you know if it turns up.
Hotel & Travel Partners
Planning a visit to Seattle? Take advantage of air and travel discounts.
For Artists
Slide Review by Curators
SAM curators regularly review artist submissions in the form of slides and DVDs. Materials may be sent to the Curatorial Department, Seattle Art Museum, 1300 First Avenue,
Seattle, WA 98101-2003. Please include a self-addressed stamped envelope if you would like your material returned. Due to the volume of submissions received, please allow at least 6 weeks for a response.
Learn more about the art councils and council events.
The Annual Betty Bowen Memorial Award Competition takes place each spring, juried by the Betty Bowen Committee, which includes local artists and SAM curators.
Links to art-funding resources.
Photography
SAM allows photography in most areas. Feel free to photograph friends and family and your favorite works of art, but please do not photograph any work with this symbol:
A select number of galleries, including the Simonyi Special Exhibition Galleries, include this notice, which means that photography is not allowed in those galleries.
Please note that photography is allowed only for personal, noncommercial use, with the following restrictions:
- No tripods
- No flash photography
- No movie or video cameras
For press and other special photography, including filming and videotape projects, please contact the SAM Public Relations office at pr@seattleartmuseum.org. For images of works of art owned by SAM, please see Image Rights and Reproductions.
SAM reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to withhold and/or withdraw permission to photograph on its premises or to reproduce images of objects in its collection.
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