Nelson-Atkins keeps free admission amid expansion
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The winning design would create additional space for galleries and performances on the east side of the south lawn. Photo: Courtesy of Weiss/Manfredi Architecture/Landscape/Urbanism and Malcolm Reading Consultants
Free. That's the price of admission to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, both now and after its upcoming $160 million expansion.
Why it matters: At a time when major art museums in cities like New York, Philadelphia and Seattle are charging up to $30 for general admission, Kansas City's flagship institution remains committed to keeping art accessible to all.
Context: The Denver Art Museum recently increased prices following a $175 million renovation, Axios Denver reported. Out-of-state visitors can now expect to pay $30 on weekends.
- Meanwhile, the Minneapolis Institute of Art is twinning with the Nelson-Atkins via free admission. We see you, Axios Twin Cities.
What they're saying: "The museum encourages all to attend and does not want any barriers to entry, so free admission will remain," museum spokesperson Kathleen Leighton told Axios.
Flashback: The Nelson-Atkins formally adopted free general admission in 1998, according to its website.
Exhibits included in general admission include works by well-known artists, such as an ongoing series on Claude Monet and pieces by Van Gogh and Georgia O'Keeffe. And that's not to mention other collections from around the world.
Yes, but: Special exhibitions, such as its current "Survival of the Fittest: Picturing Wildlife and Wilderness," have a ticket price ($22).
State of play: Museum officials will spend nine to 12 months refining the expansion's design before the privately funded project begins construction.
- The winning firm, New York-based Weiss/Manfredi, was selected from 182 submissions across six continents.
- About 1,500 Kansas Citians made their voices heard, which contributed to the final selection.
Expansion talks have been in the works since 2018, Leighton says.
- "Simply put — we need more space to better serve our communities, secure the museum's future, and respond to the changing expectations of new museum-goers."
Zoom in: The design will add 61,000 square feet of space and upgrade existing structures, including:
- A new rooftop patio for events and art;
- Sustainable landscaping with native plants;
- And additional renewable energy sources to reach carbon neutrality by 2035.
The bottom line: The Nelson-Atkins has big plans for remaining a premier art institution. However, its greatest impact may be felt in its patrons' wallets.