Faqs

Are baby strollers allowed in the Museum?
Strollers are permitted in the collection galleries; however, certain exhibitions may have restrictions. Check the Visitor Policies page to see if there are any current restrictions. See the family section for more information on visiting with children.

Is there a restaurant at the Whitney?
We are excited to launch our permanent restaurant, which will open at the Museum this winter. In the interim, we will be serving sandwiches, pastries, coffee and other beverages on the lower level.

Do I need a ticket for lectures, courses, concerts, and other programs?
A ticket or advance registration is required for some programs. Please check the Calendar & Events page for ticketing information by program.

Are there docent tours for exhibitions and if so when are they?
Yes. Information can be found on the Free Daily Tours page.

Is the Museum wheelchair accessible?
Yes, all galleries, restrooms, and the restaurant are wheelchair accessible. Wheelchairs are available free of charge at the coat check in the Museum Lobby. More information is available on the Visitors with Disabilities pages.

How do I find out more information about the Museum’s founder, Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, and her family?
A brief history of the Museum can be found on this site. Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney: A Biography (1978), written by B.H. Friedman, Rebels on Eighth Street: Juliana Force and the Whitney Museum of American Art (1990), by Avis Berman, and The Whitney Women and the Museum They Made: A Family Memoir (1999), by Flora Miller Biddle, are important books that document her life and family. Gertrude’s personal papers are held by the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, in Washington, DC.

Where was the original Whitney Museum of American Art located?
The original Museum, opened in 1931, was located at 10 West 8th Street, New York. In 1954, the Museum relocated to 22 West 54th Street. The present location of the Whitney, 945 Madison Avenue, was designed by architect Marcel Breuer and completed in 1966. 

How can I find out more about the present Museum building and its architect, Marcel Breuer?
Breuer’s personal papers are held by two institutions: Syracuse University Library, Special Collections, and the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. A comprehensive book about Breuer’s work was written recently by Isabelle Hyman, Marcel Breuer, Architect: The Career and the Buildings. For other book titles, search the Whitney Library’s online catalogue, WhitneyCat, or visit your local library.

Can I submit materials for consideration for the 2012 Biennial?
No, the Biennial is a curated exhibition, and thus there is no formal submission process.

What kind of works will I find at the Whitney?
The Whitney collects and exhibits American art from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The fifth-floor galleries feature work from the permanent collection. The Museum’s other galleries feature a changing series of exhibitions.

How can I find out about the Whitney’s collection?
View the Collection pages. There are also numerous publications that picture and describe the collection, which are available for purchase at the Museum Store.

How do I find out about a specific work in the Whitney’s collection?
All questions regarding the collection should be forwarded to the Registrar’s Department. Fax: (212) 570-7784.

Is there a list of works presently on view at the Museum?
A comprehensive list of works on view is available here. In addition, works displayed on the Collection pages are flagged if they are on view at the Museum.

Where can I find out about past exhibitions?
All exhibitions since 2006 are included in the past exhibitions pages.

Where can I find out about touring exhibitions?
See the touring exhibitions page.

How can I let the Whitney Museum’s curatorial staff know about my artwork?
Thank you for your interest in the Whitney Museum. If you would like the curatorial staff to learn more about your work, please feel free to send written materials and reproductions only. We cannot accept original works of art. Due to the volume of correspondence we receive, we may not able to respond directly to each and every submission and we cannot assume responsibility for or guarantee the return of any materials that are submitted.

Materials may be sent to: Curatorial Department, Whitney Museum of American Art, 945 Madison Avenue, New York NY 10021.

Where can I find information regarding rights to reproduce works in the Whitney’s collection?
Please view the Rights & Reproductions page.

How do I contact the owner of a specific Edward Hopper work of art?
Read Edward Hopper: A Catalogue Raisonné (1995) by Gail Levin published by the Whitney in association with W.W. Norton & Company. Owners are listed beneath each entry for oil paintings, watercolors, and illustrations. The Museum does not provide addresses of private collectors.

Is it possible to contact artists at the Whitney?
The Whitney does not release artists’ personal information. Artists should be contacted through their galleries. Art in America offers an online directory of galleries.

How do I donate or see if the Museum is interested in purchasing works of art from my collection?
In order for the Museum to consider the work, please send a letter indicating your intention to offer the work as a gift or for sale, along with a reproduction of the piece, and detailed object information (artist, artist’s dates, title, work date, process, dimensions, edition number, insurance value, and preferred donor credit information for the gift). The Museum will be in contact with you if interested in the work. Please send your letter to the Curator of the Permanent Collection, Whitney Museum of American Art, 945 Madison Avenue, New York NY 10021.

How can I order a book published by the Whitney?
Visit the online Museum Store or call (212) 570-3614.

How can I find out the value of a work of art, its provenance, or its attribution?
Museum staff cannot answer questions regarding the value, provenance, or attribution of any work of art. Below is a list of reputable organizations that help people with those questions:

Telepraisal
316 East 3rd Street, New York, NY 10009
(800) 645-6002

American Society of Appraisers
P.O. Box 17625, Washington, DC 20041
(800) ASA-VALU

Appraisers Association of America
386 Park Avenue South, 
New York, NY 10016
(212) 889-5405

Art Dealers Association of America
575 Madison Avenue, 
New York, NY 10022

(212) 940-8590

Where would I go to have a work of art restored?
The American Institute for Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works at (202) 452-9545, guides collectors on how to find and choose qualified conservators in their particular area of the country.

How can I learn about an artist in the Whitney’s collection?
For general information about a contemporary artist, we recommend you begin research in your local public library, where you will find indexes to artists, current periodical publications, encyclopedias, and other general sources of art history. You may also find information in periodical articles and such publications as dissertations and anthologies. Libraries collect ephemeral materials and place them in folders called pamphlet, vertical, or artist files. These files contain small brochures, press releases, magazines, and newspaper clippings.

The New York Public Library offers a free research service, Ask Librarians Online or call (212) 340-0871. Many public and museum library collections contain books about contemporary art and artists. Search online catalogues of the Whitney, MoMA, the Met, and the New York Public Library.

Finally, there are numerous web resources that one can search to find information about contemporary artists. Sites such as Art Net, Ask Art, ArtForum, and Art News provide information about artists, exhibitions, and current events in the art world.

Who can use the Museum Library?
It is available, by appointment only, for research on the Museum’s history and exhibitions and study of American art history by collectors, art historians, graduate students, staff of other museums, art galleries, and scholars. Before making an appointment, researchers are encouraged to search the Library online catalogue, WhitneyCat. Please email your request to library@whitney.org or call (212) 570-3648 to schedule an appointment.

Does the library take part in Interlibrary Loan?
The Whitney Museum does not participate in Interlibrary Loan.

How can I find out about employment opportunities at the Whitney?
View the job postings page.

Can I rent space in the Museum for a private event or photo shoot?
The Museum is available for corporate event rentals and commercial film, video and photo shoots. Private rentals by individuals for parties, weddings, etc. are not possible.