PLAN YOUR VISIT
COVID-19 RESPONSE
Do I have to wear a mask?
Masks are no longer required to enter the museum, but visitors are encouraged to wear them for their personal safety and comfort.
SAM is offering a mask-required hour in the galleries for visitors that prefer to wear masks and be around others wearing masks. Initially slated to run through July, we’ve extended this and will continue to offer these the third Saturday of the month from 9–10 am through October at Seattle Art Museum and Seattle Asian Art Museum. Upcoming mask required dates are: July 16, Aug. 20, Sep. 17, and Oct. 15. We will determine whether to extend the mask required hour beyond these dates based on the trajectory of COVID-19 and if there is continued demand for this additional hour. Online advance purchase is recommended.
Do I need to check my belongings?
Backpacks, large bags, or items larger than 11″ x 15″ are not allowed in the galleries and must be checked. Coat check is free at Seattle Art Museum, and Seattle Asian Art Museum has a free self-check, so please plan accordingly.
Do I need to show proof of vaccination?
The vaccine verification requirement to enter the museum is no longer in effect per the latest guidance from Public Health—Seattle & King County. Safety protocols change and evolve rapidly, please refer to
What to Know When You Visit SAM for the most up-to-date information.
Are there physical distancing guidelines?
Physical distancing is recommended. Please pay attention to physical distance between you and other visitors and staff. Keep your group together and remain six feet away from others.
Do I need to get tickets in advance?
Save $3 when you purchase tickets online at least one day in advance of your visit. Admission increases if you wait until the day of your visit to purchase tickets online or onsite. General Admission and Special Exhibition tickets are released online the first Thursday of every month on a rolling basis.
Is there a time limit for visits?
Visitors are welcome to stay as long as they want once they have entered the galleries.
Have the entrances and exits changed?
Yes. At the Seattle Art Museum, only the First and Union entrance will be open. The south entrance (the Hammering Man entrance) and the South Hall are closed. At the Seattle Asian Art Museum, please follow the one-way traffic signs at the entrance.
Will parts of the museum be closed?
Seattle Art Museum: The entire south wing of the museum will be closed, including South Hall and South Hall restrooms, the Grand Staircase, the Chase Open Studio and the Ann P. Wyckoff Education Resource Center. The Bullitt Library, and children play areas will also be closed.
Seattle Asian Art Museum: The Education Studio, Community Gallery, Chen Community Meeting Room, and the McCaw Foundation Library will be closed.
Will the SAM Shop be open?
The Seattle Art Museum Shop and Gallery and Seattle Asian Art Museum Shop are open.
Will MARKET SEATTLE be open?
Seattle Art Museum's new restaurant, MARKET SEATTLE, is now open. For information on hours and menu selections, please visit their
website.
What sanitation protocols are in place?
Enhanced cleaning of high-touch surfaces will be conducted throughout the day; hand-sanitizer units are stationed throughout the building. All high-touch interactives have been converted to no-touch or removed from the galleries.
Will coat check be available?
Yes, coat check is now available.
Will wheelchairs and strollers be available?
Wheelchairs and strollers are available upon request on a first come first served basis, and will be cleaned after every use.
Will there be gallery tours?
No tours will be offered at this time. Group tours or school tours will not be permitted at this time.
Where can I find information for SAM members?
Frequently asked questions specifically related to SAM members can be found
here.
ADMISSION POLICIES
What does "suggested admission" mean?
Suggested admission means visitors may choose to pay anything from a penny to $19.99 for general admission when they purchase tickets. General admission includes access to Collections and Installations at Seattle Art Museum and is suggested. Suggested admission tickets do not include entry to special exhibitions which have fixed pricing. Suggested admission is not currently available online. Please call SAM’s Customer Service Center at 206.654.3210 seven days a week, 10 am–5 pm, to pay what you wish for tickets.
Are there any discounts for admission?
Yes! Below are discounts that are always available at the Seattle Art Museum and the Seattle Asian Art Museum, as well as discounts available for visiting special exhibitions.
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Purchase tickets in advance to save $3 on admission! Admission prices increase if you wait until the day of your visit to purchase tickets.
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SAM offers suggested admission pricing for general admission tickets to SAM's Collections & Installations (special exhibitions excluded) and the Seattle Asian Art Museum. We are currently unable to process suggested pricing online, please call the Customer Service Center to secure a ticket for a suggested donation.
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SAM provides discounted rates for students, teens, seniors, and military with ID.
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SAM members and children (14 & under) are free.
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The First Thursday of every month admission to the Seattle Art Museum is free.
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The First Friday of every month seniors get free general admission to the Seattle Art Museum. Tickets to special exhibitions downtown are an additional $7.99.
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The last Friday of every month admission to the Seattle Asian Art Museum is free.
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Admission to the Olympic Sculpture Park is always free!
Visiting special exhibitions
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Free and discounted passes can be requested by individuals, families, or groups, especially those for whom the cost of a ticket is prohibitive, and groups who have been historically excluded from the museum space due to systematic oppression.
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Some of our programs include free admission to our special exhibitions on the day of the event. Keep an eye on exhibition related
events.
What is First Thursday?
On the first Thursday of each month, the Seattle Art Museum offers free admission to all exhibitions for all visitors.
ONLINE PURCHASES
Do I need to purchase a ticket online?
Tickets are available both online and onsite, but purchasing your ticket online in advance saves you $3! Tickets to the Special Exhibition are timed and limited, and online advance purchase is recommended to ensure availability. Tickets are released online on a monthly rolling basis.
How can I pay what I want for advance tickets online?
Suggested admission is not currently available online, but you can use the Customer Service Center
online form to get tickets in advance or call SAM’s Customer Service Center, 206.654.3210, 10 am–5 pm, Monday through Friday, to pay what you want for tickets.
What if I do not already have an online account?
If you do not have an account already, you will be prompted to create an account with a login and password in order to check out online.
What do I do if I lost my print-at-home tickets?
Please contact SAM’s Customer Service Center through our
online form to request your print-at-home tickets be sent to you via email.
What do I do if I didn’t receive a confirmation email?
Please start by checking your email account’s junk mail folder. Be sure to have your email account set up to receive emails sent from boxoffice@seattleartmuseum.org before you purchase additional tickets. You can also log in to to your SAM account and confirm your purchase under Purchase History.
Gallery Policies
Can I take photos?
Non-flash photography is permitted in most areas of the museum for personal, noncommercial use, with the following restrictions
For press and other special photography, including filming and video projects, please contact
SAM Public Relations. For images of artworks owned by SAM, please see
Image Rights.
SAM reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to withhold or withdraw permission to photograph on its premises or to reproduce images of objects in its collection.
Photography is prohibited of artwork with this symbol:
Can I sketch in the galleries?
Sketching with pencil and charcoal is permitted in all galleries of the museum devoted to SAM’s collection. The use of ink, fountain pens, or watercolors is prohibited.
Is there seating in the galleries?
Benches and other seating are provided on each floor of the museum for your comfort.
What accommodations does SAM offer to make the museum accessible to all?
SAM strives to be accessible for all visitors and provides a variety of support services to assist with your visit. More information can be found
here. Service animals are the only animals welcome in the museum.
What do I do if I lost something at the museum?
Report your lost article and we will let you know if it turns up.