The Denver Art Museum (quietly) raised its prices
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It's not just the artwork turning heads at the Denver Art Museum — it's the tickets, too.
Why it matters: General admission, particularly on weekends, now rivals prices at some of the country's most prestigious institutions, despite Denver's museum being smaller in scale and collection.
Driving the news: The DAM raised its prices last fall, spokesperson Andy Sinclair tells us, three years after completing a $175 million renovation.
- The move largely flew under the radar, but now some visitors are raising an eyebrow.
What they're saying: "I've been to the DAM a bunch growing up. ... I don't remember it ever being something that made me think twice about cost," one user recently posted on the Denver Reddit channel, sparking a conversation about pricing.
By the numbers: In-state weekday admission for adults has jumped from $18 to $22 — a 22% increase. On Fridays through Sundays, it's $25.
- Out-of-state visitors now pay $27 on weekdays instead of $22, and $30 on Fridays through Sundays.
Between the lines: That puts DAM's peak out-of-state admission on par with The Met in New York City — the most visited and arguably most iconic art institution in the country.
Context: The DAM says the increase reflects rising costs and the value of its programming.
- DAM compared admission costs across museums and entertainment venues to select pricing that's in line with peer institutions nationally and locally, Sinclair says.
If you go: A general admission ticket to the DAM includes the Martin and Hamilton buildings — offering access to more than 70,000 works across 12 collections — plus the Kirkland Museum across the street.