If you were to Google all the museums in Los Angeles, you’d see that we have so many amazing ones to choose from, it’d be hard to narrow it down to just one for a day visit. On Earth Day, I took the train out to DTLA instead of my car and set out for a day of adventure at The Broad, a contemporary art museum. I had been to The Broad once when it first opened in 2015. I had to reserve admission tickets months in advance to avoid the hours of waiting in line! This gorgeous and eclectic museum has been all the rage with local and tourists, and it should definitely be on your list of places to visit in Los Angeles. Here are some helpful tips on how to make your visit to the The Broad an awesome one!
Fun Facts: The Broad has welcomed over 820,000 visitors, far exceeding the attendance projections! The Broad museum is founded by Eli and Edythe Broad, who are lifelong philanthropists. Their vision was to make their collection of contemporary art accessible to the public with free admission. Their art collection of nearly 2000 in size at The Broad dates from the 1950s to the present day, including work by some of the most influential contemporary artists. This two floors 120,000-square-foot, $140 million building, designed by architectural firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro in collaboration with Gensler is a true masterpiece in itself.
Skip the Line:On any given day, you will see a long, long line outside at The Broad of people waiting to get in. The line is first come, first serve type of deal for anyone who doesn’t have admission reserved in advance. To avoid being stuck in a line that can be over two hours long, reserve your tickets on their website! As mentioned before, general admissions to get into the museum is free. Special installations or exhibitions require a separate reservation and requires a fee. More information can be found here about reservations.
Take a Self-Guided Tour: Take the elevator up to the second floor and download The Broad’s free mobile app. The app is accessible on Apple and Android smartphones or Wi-Fi enabled portable electronic devices and is easy to navigate. The app features audio, video, descriptive text about the collection, artworks and artists on view, all to enhance the museum experience. There are currently 4 multi-stop tours that will take you throughout the 50,000 square feet of gallery space. Play a docent for the day!
Special Events:The Broad hosts many special events that are interactive and thought-provoking. There really is something for everyone. There’s a family weekend workshop, film series screening, discussions with artists, live music performances, and many upcoming art programs to look forward to all year long. Be sure to check out their website under Programs so you won’t miss out on upcoming events! The FOMO is real at The Broad!
The Shop:Located on the first floor of The Broad is their truly impressive gift shop, officially called The Shop! This gift shop offers a sense of fun and quirkiness with limited book editions, jewelry, and gifts all inspired by the contemporary art collection. My favorite thing I saw were skateboards that were inspired by the artists that were currently featured at the museum.
Let’s Eat:While there is no food in the museum, there are plenty of options right outside! Food trucks and carts are available with goodies. If you are feeling a bit extravagant, walk over to Otium, a contemporary restaurant owned by Chef Timothy Hollingsworth. This casual, chic restaurant is on the pricey side but so totally worth it! The quality of the food, service, and overall ambiance is spectacular. Just look at the food presentation!
Are you feeling inspired, yet? Don’t miss out on this two story contemporary art museum! Remember to reserve tickets, download the free mobile app, get yourself a little gift, and eat a delicious meal! The Broad is a thought-provoking place with art around every corner that will make you appreciate all it has to offer. Enjoy your visit!
Your LA Friend,
Wendy
Address: 221 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Entrance Fee: General Admission is free!
Hours: Monday- Closed, Tuesday – Wednesday 11am-5pm, Thursday – Friday 11am-8pm, Saturday 10am-8pm, and Sunday 10am-6pm.
Parking: Parking is available in the attached parking structure for a fee. Currently it is $12 for three hours on weekdays (after three hours, an additional $4 each 15 minutes, maximum of $22) and $12 weeknights after 5 p.m. and all day weekends. You can also find metered parking and other parking garages nearby.
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This museum looks so cool! We are about to plan another day trip to LA we should totally go see this! Thanks for sharing, the installations inside look awesome!
That's awesome, where are you located? You can't beat the fact that the museum is free, too! Hopefully you can visit and let us know what you think! Thanks for stopping by, Megan! xo Kana