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. Find the holiday closure dates here.
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 front entrance is ramped, but there is not an automatic opener.
- There are two accessible parking spots in the Porthole Alley lot. When you arrive pull up to the gate and ring the security desk from the call box.
- An elevator serves all floors of the Ackland.
- The Ackland has one single-stall, wheelchair-accessible restroom.
- Large-print interpretive materials are available.
Learn about The Ackland’s accessibility.
Current and Upcoming Exhibits at Ackland Art Museum
More than half of the gallery space contains special and traveling exhibitions. Here’s what is on view now:
Modern Black Culture: The Art of Aaron Douglas
April 22nd, 2022 to June 19th, 2022
Myth & Memory: Selected Works by the MFA Class of 2022
April 22, 2022 to June 19th, 2022
Focus on the Peck Collection: Botanical Works on Paper
April 22nd, 2022 to July 17th, 2022
Pleasures and Possibilities: Five Patrons of the Asian Art Collection
March 11th, 2022 to March 12th, 2023
Ancestral Altar Ram Heads from the Collection of Rhonda Morgan Wilkerson, PhD
January 7th, 2022 to July 25th, 2022
Ghost of a Dream: Aligned by the Sun (through the revolution)
August 13th, 2021 to July 3rd, 2022
Alexis Rockman: Shipwrecks
July 8th, 2022 to September 4th, 2022
Drawn to Life: Master Drawings from the Age of Rembrandt in the Peck Collection of the Ackland Art Museum
September 23rd, 2022 to December 31st, 2022
Houseguests: American Art from the Art Bridges Collection Loan Partnership
July 15th, 2022 to September 4th, 2022
Permanent Collection Galleries
Permanent
Learn more about each of these exhibits, as well as the permanent collection galleries.
Upcoming Events with Ackland Art Museum
Here are some of the upcoming events at the Ackland. Most events require registration.
Ackland F.A.M.: Juneteenth Celebration
Sunday, June 19th, 2022
1 to 5 p.m.
Free
This is the final day of the exhibition Modern Black Culture: The Art of Aaron Douglas. Activities include:
- 2 p.m.: Family-friendly close look at Aaron Douglas’ 1931 mural, Harriet Tubman
- 3 p.m.: Storytime: books will be read about the signfigance of the murals (age 5+)
- All afternoon in courtyard: Temporary graffiti & mural wall
- All afternoon: Free family activity kits inspired by the Harriet Tubman mural
- All afternoon: Self-guided art walk to Chapel Hill-Carrboro Juneteenth Celebration at Hargraves Community Center, which takes place from 2 to 6 p.m.
2nd Friday ArtWalk: Party in the pARC
Friday, July 8th, 2022
5 to 9 p.m.
Free
Join us for a sunset celebration of pARC by The Urban Conga, our new outdoor Terrace installation. Make your own pARC-inspired iridescent suncatcher, enjoy a craft beer or soda from Craftboro Brewery, and relax with friends to a sunset soundtrack.
NEW in the galleries: July 8 is the first day to see our new exhibition Alexis Rockman: Shipwrecks. The Museum galleries will remain open until 9 p.m. for 2nd Friday ArtWalk evening hours.
Art Adventures A.M. Session: Decorated Paper Hand Fans
Saturday, July 9th, 2022
10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
1 to 2:30 p.m.
Free for members; $5 for non-members
Ages 6-9
Art Adventures is an in-person class in person with instructor Allison Tierney, inspired by works in Pleasures and Possibilities: Five Patrons of the Asian Art Collection.
Art Adventures sessions provide kids with a guided view of art in the Ackland’s galleries, followed by the opportunity to create take-home treasures in an adjacent art studio using newly-learned art-making techniques. Materials are provided.
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.
