Free Culture
To beef up attendance and give indigent folk like us travel writers a break, almost all of L.A.'s art galleries and museums are open free to the public 1 day of the week or month (or both), and several charge no admission at any time. Use the following list to plan your week around the museums' free-day schedules; refer to the individual attractions listings for more information on each museum.
Free Every Day
- J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Center
- The Getty Villa Malibu (advance tickets required)
- Paley Center for Media (donation suggested)
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art (after 5pm)
- Bergamot Arts Station and Santa Monica Museum of Art
- California African American Museum
- California Science Center
- Annenberg Space for Photography
Free Every Thursday
- Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), from 5 to 8pm
- Hammer Museum, from 11am to 9pm
- Japanese American National Museum, from 5 to 8pm
- Skirball Cultural Center, from noon to 9pm
- Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, from 5 to 8pm
Free Every Friday
- Schindler House, from 4 to 6pm
Free Every First Tuesday
- Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, from 9:30am to 5pm
- Page Museum at La Brea Tar Pits, from 9:30am to 5pm
Free Every First Wednesday
- Craft and Folk Art Museum, from 11am to 5pm
Free Every First Thursday
- Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, from noon to 4:30pm
Free Every First Friday
- Norton Simon Museum of Art, from 6 to 9pm
Free Every Second Tuesday
- Autry National Center of the American West, from 10am to 5pm
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art, from noon to 8pm
Free Every Third Tuesday
- Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, from 9am to 4:30pm
- Japanese American National Museum, from 10am to 8pm
Free Every Fourth Friday
- Pacific Asia Museum, from 10am to 8pm
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
