Welcome to the Birmingham Museum of Art, which is considered one of the finest regional museums in the United States. With a diverse collection that spans more than 27,000 paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, and decorative arts, the Birmingham Museum of Art provides an outstanding exhibit rich with culture from around the world.
Photo by Beth Miles
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Updated Guidelines for Visitors
ADMISSION TO THE BMA CONTINUES TO BE FREE.
The Birmingham Museum of Art is dedicated to keeping all patrons and employees safe during visits with thorough cleanings daily. High-touch surfaces will be cleaned multiple times throughout each day.
Sanitation stations featuring touch-free sanitizer dispensers will be available throughout the museum.
The facility is limiting attendance to fifty percent capacity with social distancing guidelines in place. All employees and all visitors over the age of two will be required to wear a mask or face covering. High-traffic areas will be marked with guidelines to help visitors with social distancing requirements.
The interactive exhibits and Oscar’s cafe will remain closed until further notice. Please check the website or the BMA Facebook page for current and re-opening announcements.
Prepare for Your Visit
Maneuver the exhibits like a pro by accessing and bookmarking the in-gallery guide on your phone. Also, be sure to bring a water bottle as all water fountains in the building are turned off until further notice.
Click here to review all museum health and safety precautions ahead of arriving.
#BMAfromHome
The pandemic provided a unique opportunity for BMA to offer patrons an art fix through their online events and activities. With students and teachers facing virtual instruction, BMA immediately launched its new Cultural Bridge Resources, which is a 72 art-related digital learning resource
With some outreach programs and events canceled or rescheduled, and cuts in the budget from civic funding, it’s now more crucial than ever for Birmingham to support this generous asset to our community.
You can donate or even become a member HERE.
Check out all the cool ways BMA has grown in spite of the hardships!
via BMA website
The museum’s mission statement, “to spark the creativity, imagination, and liveliness of Birmingham by connecting all its citizens to the experience, meaning, and joy of art,” is supported by over 27,000 works of art including paintings, sculptures, decorative art, artifacts, drawings, and prints available for viewing in the 150,000 square feet three-story structure.
Another 30,000 square feet can be found outdoors in the sculpture garden.
Collections and Exhibits
The collections housed by the Birmingham Museum of Art span from ancient to modern times and include culturally diverse sets of work from Africa, Asia, and Europe. American collections include both Native American and Pre-Columbian.
The museum also features exhibitions, which are only available for planned lengths of time, usually spanning several months. Several exhibits that had interrupted timelines in the spring are being continued during the re-opening this fall. To see current exhibitions featured at the Birmingham Museum of Art, click here. You can also check out a recent article by Javacia Bowser featured in birminghamtimes.com for more information.
Photo by Beth Miles
Hands-On and Interactive Displays**
There are two “hands-on” spaces to look out for: Bart’s ArtVenture, designed for toddlers through age twelve, and the SmARTlab, designed for interactive experiences for all ages.
Bart’s ArtVenture is made to specifically allow all children to express themselves creatively utilizing the provided interactives. It contains two areas:
- The Sonat Gallery for preschoolers and toddlers offers an exploration of light, texture, and color as an introduction to the world of art.
- The Hess Gallery, appropriate for ages 5-12, offers centers for creating art such as weaving, pottery, and printmaking and is designed to inspire creativity. This area also houses work from local artists in the Birmingham community which changes regularly. One visiting adult is required to accompany every four children.
The SmARTlab is an interactive area where visitors of all ages can experience both digital interactives and tactile exhibits. You can also relax and recharge in this area (literally, you can plug your device into the charging station) as you take a break from touring the facility.
**NOTE: THESE AREAS ARE CURRENTLY STILL CLOSED PER SAFETY GUIDELINES.
Photo by Beth Miles
Stay safe, Birmingham!
Current Operating Hours
Tuesday – Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sundays: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
CLOSED on Mondays & Major Holidays
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In the opening it is stated there are over 27,000 works of art but after the mission statement the quantity dropped to 24,000. I am impressed either way and absolutely love visiting the BMA but am now curious which is the correct number.
Hello Karyn!
Thank you so much for alerting us about the discrepancy! According to the Birmingham Museum of Art, the organization does, in fact, house over 27,000 works of art. The typo was on our end, and has been corrected! Thank you so much for visiting https://www.birminghamonthecheap.com, and contributing to the value of this article. Please visit again, and subscribe to our FREE newsletter if you have not already done so!