Visitor Policies
Our Community
We are committed to working together to create a safe experience for visitors and our professionally trained frontline staff. To ensure the safety of our community, we have a zero-tolerance policy for verbal or physical harassment, discriminatory or threatening behavior, or any interference with the experience of others. We reserve the right to require that any person acting unacceptably or inappropriately leave the premises.
By entering the Museum, you agree to abide by our policies.
Photograph by Max Touhey
Visitor Conduct
Visitors may not endanger staff, visitors, artwork or any other Museum property, and may not engage in verbally or physically abusive, threatening, discriminatory, harassing or inappropriate statements or behavior, or otherwise interfere with the experience of others in the Museum. The Museum asks that visitors do not photograph staff without their consent. Shirts and shoes are required for entry into the Museum.
Prohibited conduct includes:
- Conduct that poses any risk to other visitors or to the Museum’s staff or collections
- Leafleting, signature gathering, picketing, charitable solicitations, and press conferences by visitors
- The unauthorized playing of music and video, unauthorized projection of images, unauthorized theater performances, and sound amplification and noisemakers (except for assistive-listening devices)
- Solicitation of business and unauthorized for-profit activity
- Resale, exchange, or transfer of Museum tickets or membership benefits
- Running, rough play, and disruptive behavior
- Smoking, including electronic cigarettes, is prohibited anywhere on Museum property, including the terraces and outdoor areas
Prohibited Items
Items prohibited in the Museum and at coat check include, but are not limited to:
- Food and drink (other than water in a secure bottle or for medical reasons)
- Weapons, firearms, tools, and other dual-use items
- Hazardous materials, including pepper spray, mace, and other chemical compounds or biological agents that could be considered toxic, including flammable liquids, aerosols, fuels, fireworks, toxic chemicals, and explosives
- Bicycles, recreational equipment such as scooters, skateboards, shoes with wheels, roller blades
- Sporting equipment
- Selfie sticks, tripods, monopods, and any professional video equipment
- Musical instruments, projectors, speakers or other sound amplification devices
- Luggage of any size or type
- Large objects, such as flags, banners, frames and artwork
- Marking materials, paint, adhesives, epoxies or glues
- Illegal items or substances
- Plants and flowers
- Pets or other animals (except service animals which must be leashed and attached at all times)
- Any other item that could put the art, staff or visitors at risk, to be determined at the sole discretion of the Museum
Any prohibited items may be confiscated.
General Policies
Accompany Children
Children age 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Crowd Control
Please keep doorways, stairs, and hallways accessible to other visitors; do not sit on the floor.
Do Not Touch
Please do not touch the artwork, frames, platforms, labels, display cases, or anything that is used to project the art. If a work is intended to be interactive, this will be indicated by signage.
Bags and Coat Check
All bags will be inspected upon arrival. A complimentary coat check is located on Floor -1. The Museum reserves the right to prohibit any visitors from bringing in any items to the Museum or to require visitors to check any bags or items. Prohibited items that are brought to the museum may be confiscated.
Small bags may be worn at your front or carried in your hand while in the galleries. Larger backpacks must be checked.
Smaller umbrellas may be placed in a protective bag supplied by the Museum and carried. Large umbrellas must be checked.
All articles left in coat check must be claimed before the Museum closes. The Museum is not responsible for items that are left overnight. A corresponding coat check tag is required for the return of items. Please place the numbered tag in a secure place.
The Museum’s total liability for items left in the coat checkroom is half the purchase price of the item up to $250.
Photography
Unless otherwise noted, photography in the galleries is allowed for personal, non-commercial purposes only. The use of flash, tripods, and selfie sticks is prohibited.
Please note that visitors to the Museum may be photographed, videotaped, or otherwise recorded. By attending, you grant the Museum permission to use photographs and/or audiovisual recordings in which you appear for archival, documentary, publicity, advertising, or other purposes.
Sketching
Sketching with pencil is welcome. Use of charcoal, pastels, markers, and paint of any kind is prohibited, and these materials are not permitted in the Museum or coat check and any such items may be confiscated.
Health and Safety
COVID-19 vaccination and face coverings are not required, but strongly recommended. An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public space where people are present. We cannot guarantee that you will not be exposed to COVID-19 during your visit, and all those entering the Whitney do so at their own risk as to such exposure. Please do not visit the Museum if you have a fever or any COVID-19 symptoms or have tested positive for COVID-19.