Visitor Guidelines

Upon the recommendation of officials and medical experts at The University of Texas at Austin, we are following protocols prescribed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), Austin Public Health (APH) and other official sources concerning coronavirus COVID-19.

The Blanton Museum of Art is temporarily closed and will reopen as soon as the situation allows. This includes the galleries of the Michener Building, “Austin” by Ellsworth Kelly, and the Blanton Café and Museum Shop.

Stay informed on official coronavirus COVID-19 updates from The University of Texas at Austin HERE.

• Look and enjoy, but please do not touch the art.
• Food and drink are not permitted in the galleries, including gum and water bottles.
• Cell phone use is not permitted in the galleries.
• Pencils only (no pens) are permitted in the galleries and are available at the Visitor Services Desk.
• Items larger than 11” x 15” – including backpacks, diaper bags, purses, umbrellas, and other bulky or rigid items are not allowed in the galleries and must be put into a locker. Lockers are self–serve and require a quarter, which is refunded after the locker is emptied. The Visitor Services Desk has quarters you can use.
• Sketching is permitted in the galleries–pencil and colored pencil only, no ink or charcoal–with softbound sketchbooks no larger than 18” x 24”.
• Wheelchairs are available at the Visitor Services Desk.
• Only service animals are permitted in the building. Learn more about the University of Texas at Austin’s policy here.
• The University of Texas at Austin’s tobacco-free campus policy applies to all university buildings and on university grounds. Smoking is not allowed inside The Blanton’s two buildings and surrounding walkways, sidewalks, and parking areas.

• Changing tables are located in all restrooms; there are no restrooms or changing areas on the second floor.
• All bags larger than 11” x 15”, including diaper bags, must be placed in a locker by the entrance. Lockers are self–serve and require a quarter, which is refunded after the locker is emptied. The Visitor Services Desk has quarters you can use.
• No baby backpacks, please. Soft frontpacks and strollers are allowed in the museum. Large-framed child carriers need to be left in the checkroom or in a locker. There are a limited number of single-child strollers available at the Visitor Services Desk.
• Snacks, drinks, and toys must be put in a locker in order to protect the collections.
• Water fountains are located by the first-floor restrooms and in the elevator lobby on the second floor.
• PLEASE NOTE: Some works in the museum contain content or ideas of an adult nature. If you are visiting with small children, feel free to ask our Visitor Services staff or Gallery Assistants for further information about adult content in the galleries.

Please call the Visitor Services Desk at 512.471.5482 with any questions you may have.

Amateur photography and video using hand-held devices is allowed in the Blanton Museum of Art unless otherwise indicated by museum staff or signs. To ensure the safety of the art, we do NOT allow:

• Flash Photography
• Tripods
• Monopods
• Selfie Sticks

Feel free to text, take photos, and tweet about your visit, but please keep your phone on vibrate as a courtesy to other visitors.  We love seeing creative photos from our visitors—when posting your photos please tag them #blantonmuseum so we’ll see them too!

Requests for professional photography, videography, or filming should be directed to: events@blantonmuseum.org. Media requests should be directed to media@blantonmuseum.org.

Unfortunately, the Blanton Museum cannot accommodate requests for photography, videography or filming for student projects.

The Blanton Museum of Art reserves the right to remove an individual or group that is causing a distraction that may detract from the experience of other visitors.

See our full photography policy here.