Policies and Guidelines

Visitor Policies

Please help us maintain a safe environment for museum visitors and the art.
Enjoy your visit!

General Museum Policies:

Keep a safe distance from artworks.

To protect the art, stay at least one foot away and do not touch the art.

Supervise children at all times.

Strollers welcome; please, no “baby backpacks” or children carried on shoulders or on backs. Museum strollers are available free at main entrances. During busy times, staff may restrict strollers to protect visitors and artwork.

Observe the No Smoking policy.

Mia is entirely smoke-free.

Observe our photo, video, and sketching guidelines.

Keep food and drink out of the galleries.

Instead, enjoy refreshments in museum cafés.

Please note: The museum bans weapons of any type on the premises.

Visitor Code of Conduct

The Minneapolis Institute of Art is committed to creating a safe, accessible, and inclusive space for all of its visitors, staff, and volunteers. To maintain this safe space and promote respect for everyone at Mia, we insist that all visitors to the museum refrain from the following:

  1. • Verbal or physical abuse or harassment of museum visitors, staff, or volunteers
  2. • Covert and overt hate speech or promotion of current and historical hate groups
  3. • Disrespect of a visitor, staff member, or volunteer’s identity.
  4. • Repeated disruption or intimidation of museum visitors, staff, or volunteers
  5. • Attempted vandalism or theft
  6. • The intentional obstruction of public accessways or prevention of museum staff duties
  7. • Refusal to follow visitor policies or directions of museum staff

If this behavior is observed by, or reported to, Mia staff, the visitor will be subject to direction including but not limited to being asked to leave or trespassed from the property. Final decision of discipline is at the discretion of Mia Security staff.

Photographing, Videotaping, and Copying Works of Art

A visit to Mia is filled with memorable moments among wonderful artworks. Here are some ways you can treasure and share highlights from your visit.

May I photograph at Mia?

Yes—with a few precautions to ensure the safety of visitors and artwork. If it’s for personal use, feel free to use your cell phone, still, or video camera. Any of the following requires prior approval:

  • Posed photography
  • Professional/commercial use
  • Objects on loan, as indicated on the label by “loan,” lent by,” “private collection,” or the name of museum other than Mia; numbers assigned to loaned objects begin with an “L.”

Please go to the Visitor Experience Desk for permission forms.

May I sketch in the galleries?

Absolutely! Just be sure to bring a lapboard or clipboard and use either lead or colored pencils. Also, please keep from using the floors, walls, or pedestals as support for sketching. While in the galleries and packing up to leave, please carry your materials carefully.

May I copy my favorite painting?

To make such a request, please complete the Request Form and send it to Mia by email (visit@artsmia.org), mail or drop it off in person. Our mailing address is: Visitor Experience, Minneapolis Institute of Art, 2400 Third Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55404.

If you have any questions, please call (612) 870-3000 during regular work hours or ask one of our helpful museum guards. Staff at the Security Desk or Visitor Experience Desk will also be happy to assist you.

Personal Information Policy

The Minneapolis Institute of Art shares the names and addresses of its members only with other not-for-profit charitable arts and cultural organizations in the Twin Cities area for the purposes of ticket sales, event promotion, or fund-raising. Mia respects the privacy and personal information of its members. If you prefer to have your name removed from this activity, please contact the Membership office: 612.870.3011; mymia@artsmia.org; or by mail, 2400 Third Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55404.

Copyright and Image Access

Mia believes everyone should be able to engage with cultural heritage online; it is essential to our museum’s mission to make accessible outstanding works of art from the world’s diverse cultures. We want to make it easier for users of our websites to understand what they can do with the images of works of art shared by us.

Read more about Mia’s policies related to copyright and image access.

More Mia Polices and Guidelines

Accessibility and Inclusion

Mia believes in making art accessible to all people. Inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility are among our core values, which are reflected by our trustees, staff, volunteers, and policies.

Learn More

Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility Policy

Mia is committed to championing policies and practices that value diversity, foster equity, and empower an accessible and inclusive environment.

Learn More