130 Free Cultural Spaces to Visit in NYC
A new list released by the Department of Cultural Affairs highlights dozens of free or pay-what-you-wish museums and institutions.
As $30 tickets for admission become the new normal across several New York institutions, a new list of museums and cultural spaces offering free or pay-what-you-wish entry proves that you can still enjoy the lifeblood of the city's arts scene without sacrificing a day's wages.
Among over 130 spaces on the list released this week by the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) are the American Folk Art Museum, the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art, El Museo del Barrio, the Brooklyn Museum, the Queens Museum, Socrates Sculpture Park, and the Drawing Center. Some of the spaces cater to more niche specialties, such as the Horological Society of New York, which offers free admission to anyone with an interest in watchmaking, or the Skyscraper Museum, which is also free and devoted to the study of high-rise buildings in New York.
DCLA's list is sectioned by borough — and Manhattan takes the lead with over 45 institutions and venues that have committed to free or suggested admissions throughout, and 17 that have scheduled days or time slots for free or discounted access.
Brooklyn comes in second place with 13 spaces that always offer free or suggested admission, Queens follows in third place with nine, Staten Island with five, and the Bronx with three — though the beloved Bronx Zoo and the New York Botanical Gardens have their free days coinciding on Wednesdays.
The list also clarifies the parameters of free or suggested admissions, such as if visitors must be New York State or City residents, if they are able to redeem the benefits online or only in person, or if reservations must be made in advance.
DCLA reminds visitors to check with their intended museum or venue's official website to ensure they have the most up-to-date admissions information, though. On that note, admission to the Whitney Museum of American Art is free for visitors ages 25 and under for the next three years as of last December.
