The MIA has an encyclopedic collection with a strong emphasis on European, American, African, and Judaic art. The extensive Asian art collection is housed in 22 different galleries. The museum is also strong in ancient art and has several period rooms, including a Chinese reception hall, study, and garden. MIA’s permanent collection of roughly eighty thousand pieces is housed in a McKim Mead White building from 1915 that has been expanded twice in the last century; at night, the 24th street entrance (the original, colonnaded one) is lit in multicolor. MIA also offers regular tours of the Purcell-Cutts House, a circa-1913 masterpiece of Prairie School architecture.
Minneapolis Institute of Arts (The MIA) Information
- Public Transportation: Good (the MIA is readily accessible via Metro bus and Light Rail)
- Handicapped Accessibility: Good (to reserve a wheelchair or electric scooter in advance, call 612-870 -3091)
- Hours: Tuesday–Wednesday, Friday–Saturday 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m.–9 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.–5 p.m., and some holidays
- Admission: Free
- Basic Tour: Daily public tours are available 1–2 p.m. daily
- Audio Tours: Yes, tours are available for seniors, students, and children for $4; $5 for non-members; free for members
- Membership: Individual membership starts at $45 and includes unlimited free passes to all special exhibitions and priority ticketing for events, a subscription to Artsmagazine, invitations to the MIA’s large annual events, members-only special exhibition preview days, invitations to special members appreciation weekend, 10% discount at the museum shop and D’Amico and Sons’ Arts Café and Arts Break restaurants; discounts on selected performances and classes at the Children’s Theatre Company and the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, monthly special at the museum shop, free audio guide rentals and orientation tours. Reciprocal membership to other museums nationwide is available at the Reciprocal level ($250) and above.
