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