The Ackland Museum, open since 1958, is an academic unit of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. It is one of North Carolina’s most significant resources in the visual arts, with a collection including over 15,000 works of art. Areas of specialty include Asian art, and works on paper, with additional concentrations of European masterworks, African and contemporary art, and pottery of North Carolina.
Over a dozen exhibitions are featured each year, many of them oriented toward the curriculum at UNC Chapel Hill and including pieces from the Museum’s collection and traveling exhibitions. The Ackland keeps a busy schedule of additional activities including a calendar of live music from DJs to string quartets, yoga in the galleries, drawing and art & literature programs in the galleries, lectures, and gallery talks.
Ackland Art Museum at the University of North Carolina Information
- Public Transportation: Good (a short walk from several CH Transit and Triangle Transit buses at South Columbia Street/East Franklin Street)
- Handicapped Accessibility: Good
- Hours: Wednesday–Saturday 10 a.m.–5 p.m. (Thursdays open until 8 p.m.); Sunday 1 p.m.–5 p.m. Closed Monday–Tuesday
- Admission: Admission is free to the public
- Tours: The Ackland maintains a busy schedule of tours for local K-12 and college students. Private self-guided groups tours are available, and must be arranged in advance for groups of 5 or more
- Membership: Individual membership is $50 (Non-UNC Students $15, Educators $30, Family/Dual $75); benefits include special events, discounts on publications and paid programs, and complimentary subscriptions to print and electronic publications.