Some of Miami’s art museums are free. Here’s how to take in some culture without paying
Summer is the perfect time for locals to explore Miami’s museums. The tourists have fled because of the heat and the kids are languishing at the house. Some of these museums are even free. Here’s where and when to go to Miami’s museums to take advantage of freebies.
The Bass
Hear us out. The Bass technically isn’t free. Normally, general admission is $15, but right now, you can pay whatever amount you’d like to come inside. At the moment, The Bass only has two galleries open as the museum prepares to open more exhibitions later. That means until Aug. 17, visitors can enter the museum by making a donation of any size. Show The Bass -- which is a nonprofit -- some love and check out the artwork it has on view for a quick, summer afternoon activity.
Address: 2100 Collins Ave., Miami Beach
Hours: noon - 5 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday; closed Monday and Tuesday
Parking: Street parking
de la Cruz Collection
For 30 years, art collecting couple Rosa and Carlos de la Cruz would open their Key Biscayne home for the public to view their artworks. In 2009, they opened the de la Cruz Collection in the Design District for people to explore their vast contemporary art collection year round. The museum is privately funded and admission is completely free.
Address: 23 NE 41 St., Miami
Hours: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday; Closed Sunday and Monday
Parking: Street parking
https://www.delacruzcollection.org/
El Espacio 23
At this point, everyone knows the name Jorge Pérez, the real estate mogul, art collector and namesake of Pérez Art Museum Miami. But few know about El Espacio 23, Pérez’s contemporary art space in Allapattah. And more people should. Currently on view is the exhibition “You Know Who You Are, Recent acquisitions of Cuban art from the Jorge M. Pérez Collection,” a sprawling masterclass on contemporary Cuban art. Though admission is free, visitors have to make an appointment online.
Address: 2270 NW 23rd St
Hours: Thursday to Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Closed Sunday to Wednesday
Parking: Parking lot on premises
Frost Art Museum – FIU
Address: Modesto Maidique Campus, 10975 SW 17th St., Miami
Hours: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday; Closed Monday
Parking: Metered parking in the Blue of Gold garages or Lot 4 on campus
https://frost.fiu.edu/index.html
Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami
ICA, Miami is unique for many reasons. It’s one of the only non-academic, non-privately fundedmuseum on this list that is completely free to visit. In an interview, ICA artistic director Alex Gartenfeld told the Herald that part of the museum’s mission to promote accessibility is to keep it free and open to the public. ICA’s Family Sundays series, which offers workshops for kids, is free, too. The museum still recommends reserving free tickets online to guarantee entry.
Address: 61 NE 41st St., Miami
Hours: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday; Closed Monday and Tuesday
Parking: Parking garage across the street from museum
Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami
This place has got everything. Banksy. Warhol. Haring. Picasso. A mummified cat skeleton. Located on campus at the University of Miami, the Lowe offers a ridiculously diverse collection of both contemporary and ancient artworks entirely for free. Like any good university institution, the Lowe is a great place to learn something new about modern-day Japanese ceramics masters and Native American artisans.
Address: 1301 Stanford Dr., Coral Gables
Hours: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday; Closed Sunday, Monday and Tuesday
Parking: Metered spaces at Pavia and Merrick Garages, Stanford Drive and the yellow, gray and burgundy color parking zones
https://www.lowe.miami.edu/index.html
NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale
This Fort Lauderdale museum offers free admission the first Thursday of each month along with a 2-for-1 wine all-day happy hour at the museum cafe. On the second floor is “Cosmic Mirrors: Haitian Art Highlights from the Collection,” an exhibition on Haitian spirituality, Vodou, mermaids and more. Pop culture fans will want to check out the exhibitions on the first floor that are all about fame, celebrity and fashion.
Address: One East Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale
Hours: noon - 5 p.m. Sunday; 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday; Closed Monday
Parking: Street parking and garage nearby
Pérez Art Museum Miami
There is a way to get into Miami’s flagship art museum for free. The museum lets visitors in at no cost on the second Saturday of each month. PAMM also offers guests free art kits (while supplies lasts) and family friendly workshops. This Saturday, the museum is hosting “Collaging Culture,” an event for art lovers to make artwork inspired by the exhibition “Marcela Cantuária: The South American Dream.”
Address: 1103 Biscayne Blvd., Miami
Hours: Monday, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Closed Tuesday and Wednesday; Thursday, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Friday to Sunday, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Parking: Museum garage, $18 flat rate
The Wolfsonian – FIU
Don’t forget your ID. The Wolfsonian, a small Miami Beach art museum run by Florida International University, offers free admission to Florida residents and State University System of Florida students, faculty and staff. Out-of-towners have to pay $12. This is probably the only place on South Beach that doesn’t cater to tourists.
Address: 1001 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach
Hours: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday; 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Friday
Parking: Street parking
This story was produced with financial support from The Pérez Family Foundation, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners, as part of an independent journalism fellowship program. The Miami Herald maintains full editorial control of this work.
This story was originally published July 7, 2023 at 4:30 AM.