Visitor Tips & Gallery Etiquette
Welcome to the Tampa Museum of Art! We want everyone to have an enjoyable, safe, and inspiring visit. Please take a moment to review these helpful museum guidelines before you explore TMA’s galleries.
Getting Started
- Check In: When you arrive, stop by the Welcome Desk. Our friendly Visitor Experience Representatives (VERs) are happy to answer your questions and help you get oriented. The Museum has two entrances, the west entrance on the side of the Hillsborough River, and the east entrance at the Vinik Family Education Center. Both entrances have a Welcome Desk with staff ready to assist you.
- Walk, Don’t Run: Please enjoy the art at your own pace, but keep in mind that running is not allowed in the galleries.
- Service Animals: Only service animals that meet ADA requirements are allowed inside the Museum. Emotional support animals (ESA) and pets are not permitted in the museum.
- Sketching & Note-Taking: We welcome creativity and learning. Visitors may bring a notebook, sketchpad or other learning tools, but only pencils are allowed in the galleries. If you forget yours, a VER can provide a golf pencil.
Bags & Belongings
To protect the artwork and ensure a comfortable experience for all visitors:
- Store away any backpacks (including purse-style backpacks), large bags (over 11×15 inches), luggage, food, drinks, tripods, and umbrellas. Complimentary and secure locker space is available by the Welcome Desks for your personal belongings that are not permitted in the galleries.
- Please ask a VER at the Welcome Desk if you need assistance.
Photography and Video
- Personal-use photography and video is allowed. In most cases, photography is allowed in the permanent collection and the temporary exhibition galleries. VERs and posted signs will indicate if photography is not permitted in specific galleries. Please look for posted signs or ask a staff member for clarification.
- Turn off the flash function on your phone or camera and leave the selfie stick at home.
- Hand-held equipment only: Cameras or phones weighing under 3 lbs.
- Equipment NOT allowed: Flash, external lights, selfie sticks, tripods, monopods, stands, drones, or other photography accessories.
- Respect others: Maintain a safe distance from the art and avoid blocking fellow visitors.
- If you want to bring professional equipment, or want to learn more about other types of photography options at TMA, see our full Photography & Videography Policy.
Help Us Protect the Art for Everyone
Look closer, but not too close. The artwork on view at the Tampa Museum of Art is meant to inspire visitors today and for generations to come. You play an important role in helping us care for it.
- Be mindful of your proximity to the artwork. Please do not touch the art, display cases, or gallery walls. Even the smallest touch can cause long-term damage.
- Keep a safe distance from the artwork. If you’re close enough to touch it, you’re likely too close. When you take a step back to admire the art, don’t forget to look behind you to avoid bumping into any artwork around you.
- Follow any special instructions posted in the galleries or shared by our Visitor Experience Representatives.
Tips for Looking
Art invites exploration, observation, and reflection. Here are a few ways to make the most of your visit:
- Take your time. Even small galleries contain incredible details. You can look at everything briefly or focus deeply on a few works.
- Change your view. Step closer. Step back. Walk around the piece. Have a seat. A different perspective can reveal something new.
- Ask questions. Engage with the art by asking yourself or the people around you:
- What’s going on in this work of art? What do you see that makes you say that? What more can you find?
- How was it made? What materials, tools, and techniques were utilized?
- Does the work remind you of anything or evoke any feelings? What are they and why?
- Read some labels. Exhibition text can provide helpful context. If a work or exhibition intrigues you, read the accompanying text. Once you read a label, go back to the work of art. Has your impression of the work changed? Why?
We are glad you’re here. Thank you for helping us protect the art and make the Tampa Museum a welcoming space for all. Enjoy your visit!