December 12, 2021, 10 a.m – 5 p.m
Tickets reservations are available beginning December 8
The Portland Art Museum announced today that it will celebrate its 129th birthday by welcoming all visitors for free on December 12, 2021. The Museum was founded as the Portland Art Association on December 12, 1892, and for well over a century it has been a cultural cornerstone of the city and region, connecting its communities through exceptional art experiences and engagement opportunities. After these many long COVID-19 months, it’s fitting to celebrate such longevity by welcoming back the Museum’s first quarterly Miller Family Free Day since the start of the pandemic.
Like many nonprofit organizations, the Museum has relied on the generous support of donors big and small to survive the pandemic thus far. Because gifts of all sizes make free days, field trips, admission access programs, and more possible, the Museum is encouraging birthday gifts! In honor of PAM’s birthday, four of the Museum’s longtime supporters, Linda & Scott Andrews and Dan Bergsvik & Don Hastler, have offered to match all gifts up to $10,000 received before December 31, 2021.
Visitors and supporters are invited to give onsite or online in honor of this moment of rebuilding and reconnecting with art and each other. In addition, a limited-time matching incentive means that gifts can go further.
Reserve Tickets
- Ticket reservations begin Wednesday, December 8, at this link.
- Timed entry tickets for the December 12 Miller Family Free Day need to be reserved online in advance of visiting. Tickets include access to Queen Nefertari’s Egypt and Private Lives: Home and Family in the Art of the Nabis, Paris, 1889–1900.
- A limited number of tickets will be available on-site, on a first-come-first-served basis, for individuals who are not able to access tickets online.
Admission Access Programs
The Portland Art Museum and its donors are committed to making the Museum a resource for all. In a typical year, approximately 1/3 of all visitors enjoy the Museum for free or receive admission at highly reduced prices.
Since 2008, the Museum’s quarterly Miller Family Free Days have welcomed the community to visit for free and enjoy special exhibitions and programming. During the upcoming Free Day on December 12, visitors can explore and learn more about this season’s magnificent special exhibitions Queen Nefertari’s Egypt and Private Lives: Home and Family in the Art of the Nabis, Paris, 1889–1900 through viewing guides available in the galleries. The Miller Family Free Days are generously supported in part by Sharon L. Miller and Family, the Gordon D. Sondland and Katherine J. Durant Foundation, the Lamb Baldwin Foundation, and the Joseph E. Weston Public Foundation.
The reinstated Miller Family Free Days are just one of several ways to visit the Museum for free or at a reduced rate. Other options that are available all days throughout the year include:
- Free admission for children 17 and under
- Free self-guided School visits with a reservation
- Free admission for veterans and active-duty military. Plus through the Blue Star Museums program, families of veterans and active-duty military also receive free admission between Memorial Day and Labor Day each year.
- College Student Pass – $25 for a full year of free admission for college students. Purchase online, then present your student ID at entry
- Arts for All – Oregon Trail Cardholders can purchase up to 2 admissions for $5 each
- Multnomah County Library Discovery Pass — Two free adult admissions reserved through a Multnomah County Library account. Ticket availability is limited.
As budget and staffing allow, the Museum will continue to evaluate ways to increase access. Be sure to sign up for the weekly eNews or follow the Museum on social media to stay informed about the next Miller Family Free Day and other opportunities.
Miller Family Free Days are generously supported by Sharon L. Miller and Family. Museum access programs are generously supported by the Gordon D. Sondland and Katherine J. Durant Foundation, Bank of America, the William H. and Mary L. Bauman Foundation, the Lamb Baldwin Foundation, the Joseph E. Weston Public Foundation of the Oregon Community Foundation, the Pamplin Foundation Endowment for the Arts, Members of the Portland Art Museum, and the Citizens of Portland through the Arts and Education Access Fund.