How to Prepare for Your Museum Visit

The West is a Big Place… and so is the Museum!

The Museum is open Wednesday – Saturday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Admission is free!

Below is a short video about the protocols in place and what you can do to have a safe and enjoyable visit.

Expectations

Thank you for your interest in visiting the Stark Museum of Art. Staff and visitors work together to ensure the safety of the collections you will see. To prepare for an enjoyable visit, please review the following expectations.

Children under age 12 are welcome to visit the Museum, but must be accompanied by an adult.

Eating and Drinking

For the safety of the collection, there is no eating or drinking allowed in the Museum galleries, main Stark House, or adjacent Carriage House. There is a café at Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center as well has many eateries in the area. Gum and candy are also not allowed in the Museum galleries or historic house.

Photography and Video

Light, both visible and invisible, damages most objects. Museums and historic houses try to eliminate all natural light from their galleries and rooms by using filters. Still photography for personal, noncommercial use is permitted in the Museum’s permanent galleries as well as the Carriage House and grounds. No video, flash photography or additional light, selfie sticks, monopods, tripods or similar equipment is permitted. Please be aware, photography may be restricted in special exhibitions, specific galleries, or with specific works of art designated as “No Photography” on labels, signs, or other methods.

Touching

Museums and Historic Homes across the country preserve collections for current and future generations. Visitors can help protect the objects that are on display at the Stark Museum of Art and The W.H. Stark House by not touching objects, works of art, or the walls of the historic house. The oils in your hands and skin can damage the historic and artistic objects. Your touch may seem insignificant, but the slightest contact will damage the surface of a painting or textiles, discolor stone and porcelain, and wear down metal. To enhance the visitor experience the Museum and House make every effort to provide interactive areas and opportunities to touch similar, non-collections, materials.

Tobacco & Firearms

For the safety of the collection and comfort of other visitors, use of tobacco products of any kind is forbidden. Firearms are also not allowed in the Museum and House.

Purses and Bags

To insure the safety of the House and Museum collection items, all visitors are required to lock any bags, packages, or other carried items in lockers; and store umbrellas and large coats in the cloakroom.