Ackland Art Museum, on the University of North Carolina campus, at 101 South Columbia Street, is always free to visit.
The Ackland’s permanent collection features more than 19,000 works of art, including Asian art, North Carolina pottery, collections of European masterworks, and more.
Visiting Ackland Art Museum
Hours
Ackland Art Museum is free to visit. Hours are Wednesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.
In addition, they’re open the 2nd Friday of the month from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Ackland Art Museum is closed on dates around Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Parking
There are several nearby parking decks, and over 400 metered spaces within a short walk of the Ackland Art Museum. Use Park on the Hill to learn about all the parking options.
Weeknight parking in the Ackland Porthole Alley lot requires a $1 permit. Evening parking Friday to Sunday does not require a permit. Learn about UNC’s parking permits.
Cost
The Ackland is free to visit, but some of the events have a ticket price. Often these events are free for members.
Accessibility
Some things to know about accessibility:
The Ackland’s front entrance has a ramp accessible via the driveway off of Columbia Street near Franklin Street. Our front doors are not equipped with an automatic opener, but the guards at our front desk watch for visitors who may need assistance.
There are two accessible parking spaces in our Porthole Alley lot. Enter the lot off of South Columbia St. between the Ackland and Top of the Hill. Drive to the end of the lot and turn right. Visitors using the accessible parking spaces must display the appropriate University or DOT disability placard or plate. Spaces are available on a first come, first served basis. Find more accessible parking spaces on campus with the UNC Campus Accessibility map.
Upcoming Events with Ackland Art Museum
Here are some of the upcoming events at the Ackland. Most events require registration.
Drawing in the Galleries
Saturday, January 24, 2026
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Free to attend + no registration required
Amanda Hughes leads participants in a creative exploration of a particular object in the Ackland’s collection. Participants all draw from one object using their own gallery-safe materials (paper/notebooks and dry media like crayons and pencils), then discuss what they’ve noticed through the process of drawing.
Curator’s Tour of “Bill Bamberger: Boys Will Be Men”
Friday, January 30, 2026
3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Free to attend (RSVP here)
A guided look at “Bill Bamberger: Boys Will Be Men” with exhibition curator Lauren Turner, associate curator for contemporary art.
Take Two Tour: Two Perspectives on Salon-Style Exhibitions
Friday, February 6, 2026
3 to 4 p.m.
Free to attend (RSVP here)
Professor Daniel Sherman (UNC-Chapel Hill Department of Art and Art History) and Dana Cowen, Sheldon Peck Curator for European and American Art before 1950 at the Ackland will co-lead the tour.
Drawing in the Galleries
Saturday, February 7, 2026
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Free to attend + no registration required
Amanda Hughes leads participants in a creative exploration of a particular object in the Ackland’s collection. Participants all draw from one object using their own gallery-safe materials (paper/notebooks and dry media like crayons and pencils), then discuss what they’ve noticed through the process of drawing.
Tour: A Closer Look at “Color Concentrated”
Friday, February 13, 2026
1 to 1:30 p.m.
Free to attend + no registration required
Join Ackland educators for a lively half-hour look at a small handful of artworks. These engaging conversational tours offer a closer look at and new perspectives on works on view at the Museum.
Find all upcoming events and registration links here.
Becoming a Member of Ackland Art Museum
Becoming a member of the Ackland is a way to support the museum, and it also affords you some benefits.
Current UNC at Chapel Hill students get free membership.
A basic membership is $60 for individuals and $100 for households, and provides these benefits:
- 10% discount in the Museum Store
- Subscription to member e-newsletter
- Notices and announcements of Museum events, programs and activities
- Enrollment in the University and College Art Museum Reciprocal Program
- Free or reduced amission to public programs
- Invitations to member-only exhibition previews, events and local travel committee trips
- Member pricing for special events
Double-Check Before You Head Out!
We make every effort to make sure that everything on Triangle on the Cheap is 100% accurate.
However, sometimes things change without notice, and it’s also possible that we can make a mistake.
Please verify all deals and events with the venue or organizer before you go.
More Events
Check out our list of free and cheap events in Raleigh and the rest of the Triangle this weekend, or our full event calendar in the Triangle, or just look at few upcoming events here:
