Visiting the New Harvard Art Museums


When did the Harvard Art Museums open?


The Harvard Art Museums—comprising the Fogg Museum, the Busch-Reisinger Museum, and the Arthur M. Sackler Museum—opened their new facility, designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop, to the public on November 16, 2014.



What are the public hours for the Harvard Art Museums?


Public hours are daily, 10am–5pm. The museums are closed on major holidays: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve (closed at 1pm), Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve (closed at 3pm), New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, and Veterans Day. Emergency closures will be announced on the website homepage.

What are the admission rates at the Harvard Art Museums?


Admission rates are as follows: Adults, $20; seniors (65+), $18. The museums are free for youth under 18, non-Harvard students with valid student ID, members of the Harvard Art Museums, and Cambridge residents. Harvard University students, faculty, and staff receive free admission for themselves plus one guest. Massachusetts residents receive free admission on Saturdays, 10am–noon.

Can I bring a large group to the Harvard Art Museums?


Yes; however, we ask that all group visits of eight or more people register in advance by emailing . Groups that pre-register will receive $1 off the admission rates. Please note that we are unable to accept groups larger than 45 persons.


What are the public hours and admission rates for Adolphus Busch Hall at 29 Kirkland Street?


Public hours for Adolphus Busch Hall are Wednesdays, 1–5pm, and Saturdays, 10am–2pm. The adjacent garden is open during the summer months, Monday to Friday, 10am–5pm. The hall and garden are closed on major holidays. Admission to the hall and garden is free. Organ recitals are held at Adolphus Busch Hall in the spring and fall. Visit our calendar for more information.



Can I rent spaces in the new Harvard Art Museums facility for my special event?



Please visit the Event Rentals page for more information.

How can I plan a visit to the Art Study Center? 



You can schedule an appointment from the Art Study Center page, or contact the Art Study Center at 617-495-1004 for additional information about a class visit or study appointment.

What is on view in the new Harvard Art Museums?


The Harvard Art Museums offer expanded Collections and Special Exhibitions Galleries. They are complemented by University Galleries, which are programmed in consultation with faculty to support specific coursework and can also be used for curatorial studies and training. Visit our interactive floor plan to preview some of the works on view in our galleries.

How can I stay up to date with the Harvard Art Museums?


There are many ways to stay connected to the Harvard Art Museums: sign up for our email newsletter to find out about news and upcoming programs and exhibitions; visit Index magazine, which features weekly stories that take a deeper look into our collections, the work of our staff, and more; and follow us on social media for frequent updates on news, events, and happenings at the museums. You can find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Appraisals/Evaluations of Art

How can I determine the value of my work of art?


The Smithsonian American Art Museum provides helpful information about appraising your object. Alternatively, you can also contact a local auction house, art dealer, or art gallery.



What does the Fogg label on the back of my picture mean?


Works of art enter the Fogg Museum for a number of reasons, including conservation treatment, examination, photography, exhibition, or acquisition. When they come in, they are registered and given a unique loan number, which may appear on a Fogg label. By tracing the number, we can tell you why and when the work of art was here, but we will not divulge the name of the owner. Note that objects are registered using the owner’s description of the object, which does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Fogg Museum. For more information about a specific Fogg label and/or number, please contact the Registrar’s Office at 617-495-2379.



Do I have the original Picasso drawing Mother and Child and Four Studies of Her Right Hand?


The original Picasso drawing Mother and Child and Four Studies of Her Right Hand (1904) has been in the Fogg Museum collection since 1929. Many years ago very good facsimile reproductions of the drawing were made, and these have often been confused with the original drawing. There is a nude self-portrait on the verso (back) of the drawing that does not appear on the facsimile. Because the facsimile is a photographic reproduction, like a poster, it has little commercial value. The reproductions were originally printed with a white or off-white margin around the image (although this has often been cut down to show just the image). The margin includes a printed description of the original drawing, including the artist, title, and the words “Fogg Art Museum.” We receive many inquiries about this image every year. Although we cannot be sure without looking at the work itself, we can say that if your picture looks just like our drawing, it is almost certainly a reproduction. Mother and Child and Four Studies of Her Right Hand is related to a gouache (opaque watercolor) drawing, Maternité (1905), which is in a private collection.

Conservation of Works of Art

Where can I find a conservation specialist or have my art object repaired?


The American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works maintains a web page outlining how to choose a conservator.

Does the Straus Center for Conservation and Technical Studies accept outside work?


The Straus Center rarely accepts outside client treatments and technical examination projects, although those with significant research and teaching potential may be considered. For more information, contact the center at 617-495-2392.

Donations

How do I make a financial contribution?


You can support the Harvard Art Museums through membership, as a member or a Fellow, or a gift. For more information about supporting the museums, visit the Members, Fellows, and Make a Gift sections of this website.

How do I make a donation of artwork?


The Harvard Art Museums welcome works that advance the teaching mission of our institution. If you would like to discuss a gift of a work of art, please contact the Registrar for Collections at 617-495-3902 and we will be happy to guide you through the process.

Images of Art

Are images of objects in the Harvard Art Museums collections available on your website?


Yes, the majority of the objects in our collections are viewable through our Browse Our Collections tool. Our objects have online records that are searchable in many ways. Most records have images (many enlargeable) as well as a section containing each object’s basic information such as artist, title, date, and culture. Description, bibliography, and provenance and exhibition history sections are also provided when available. By registering with the site, you can save images to a personal “collection” and also share them on social media.

Is it okay to use images from the Harvard Art Museums website?


The Harvard Art Museums encourage the use of images found on this website for personal, noncommercial use, including educational and scholarly purposes. Please note that some of the content of the site is protected by third-party rights. For example, large images of some objects are unavailable because of copyright restrictions.

How do I order images of objects in the Harvard Art Museums collections?


For information regarding images for study or publication, please visit our Image Resources page or contact our Department of Digital Imaging and Visual Resources at 617-495-8211.

Is it true that Harvard University students can rent works of art for their dorm rooms?


Current Harvard students are able to rent prints as part of the museums’ Student Print Rental Program. The program was temporarily suspended in 2008, when the museums closed for renovation and expansion, but was relaunched in Fall 2015. For more information, please contact Janet Chen, Senior Assistant Registrar, janet_chen@harvard.edu or 617-495-3877.

Photography/Filming at the Harvard Art Museums

Are photography and filming allowed at the Harvard Art Museums?


With the exception of personal photography by visitors, any photography or filming on Harvard Art Museums property is prohibited unless prior permission is granted by the museums’ Communications Division. All such requests to photograph or film on museum property must be directed to Jennifer Aubin, Public Relations Manager, to determine approval in consultation with appropriate departments. The Harvard Art Museums limit photography or filming projects in their buildings, and preference is given to projects that are directly related to the museums’ mission of furthering scholarship and research on the works of art under their care.

Research Questions

What online research tools pertaining to the Harvard Art Museums collections are available?


Our Browse Our Collections tool provides access to detailed information and images for the approximately 250,000 works of art in our collections. It is possible to filter a search by classification, work type, technique/medium, period, place, century, culture, or gallery. The Special Collections section of our website provides a focused lens into various aspects of our collections. Our Digital Tours offer deeper insights into select objects in our collections.

Where can I find historical information about the people and programs of the Harvard Art Museums?

The Harvard Art Museums Archives is the official repository for the administrative records of the institution from 1895 to the present. Holdings include the correspondence of past directors and curators; architectural drawings; scrapbooks; and many other primary source materials related to the history of the Fogg, Busch-Reisinger, and Arthur M. Sackler Museums. For information about accessing our archives, visit the Harvard Art Museums Archives page on this website.