The Denver Art Museum offers free admission several times during the year. The first Saturday of each month is free thanks to an Art Museum sponsorship from Target. In addition, several free days for the Denver Art Museum are scheduled throughout the year thanks to funding from the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District, or SCFD, which helps fund cultural and scientific institutions in the Denver Metro area via a 0.1 percent sales tax.
2011 Denver Art Museum Free Days List
- February 5
- March 5
- April 2
- April 24
- May 7
- June 4
- July 2
- August 6
- September 3
- September 10
- October 1
- November 5
- December 3
It is important to note that the art museum’s free days do not include admission to any special exhibits going on. Any movies or other attractions happening at the museum will cost extra as well.
Another Denver Art Museum insider tip is that the SCFD free days are not a secret. Free days at the art museum, as well as free days at the Denver Zoo, Botanic Gardens, and Museum of Nature and Science can be some of the busiest days of the year. If you are making a special trip and don’t mind paying for admission, you are better off to avoid the free days since free admission can make usually tranquil places like the art museum more crowded than usual.
If you want to both take advantage of the museum’s free admission day and avoid the crowds, then get there earlier in the day. Most families and other visitors don’t end up visiting the museum first thing in the morning, so an early arrival can help you beat the crowds.
The Denver Art Museum parking garage charges $2 per hour most days, but changes to $5 per day for some weekends, evenings and special events. For a short visit on a free Saturday, parking on the street at a Denver city parking meter is $1 per hour if you can find an open one. Denver parking meters are free on Sundays.
Don’t forget you can park at meters on both the south side of the new building (pointy and angled building) or on the north side of the old building (looks like a castle). Both buildings have an entrance and admission desk.