Frequently Asked Questions
The Stanley is closed on Monday; open 10 am - 4:30 pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday; open 10 am - 8 pm on Thursday; and open 12 pm - 4:30 pm on Sunday.
Admittance to the museum will end 15 minutes before close each day.
For updated holiday hours, please see the main Stanley Museum of Art website.
No!
You can drop by the Stanley for any reason.
There's comfy furniture in the lobby you can sit in and it's a great place to read a book, study or do some homework, eat a quick snack, wait for your next class to start, people watch, etc.
The galleries are also a great place to spend some time if you want to clear your mind before a big test, cool down after an exercise at the CRWC, take that special someone on a date, etc.
The Stanley is always free and open to the public!
University students will be asked to use their Iowa One Card/ HawkID to Swipe in when they first enter the building, and certain programs will require pre-registration, but visiting the Stanley will never cost you anything.
Like most art museums, the Stanley does have some basic guidelines they'll ask you to follow in the space.
Don't worry about knowing these in advance--the student gallery hosts at the front desk will be there to greet you when you arrive and fill you in on what's happening.
But in case you do want to prepare...
Please do:
- Experience the Stanley in your own way—stop by for ten minutes between classes, bring your family and friends for the afternoon, or spend an hour in your favorite gallery.
- Remember to check all backpacks, large bags, coats/jackets, and other bulky items in the coat room before entering the galleries. Please wear your coat/jacket if you do not store it in the coat room.
- Please wear child carriers on the front of the body.
- Sketch and draw in the galleries with pencil only.
Thank you for helping us protect the collection by:
- Not touching the works of art - natural oils in our hands and fingers can cause damage. Try staying at least an arm's length away from all objects.
- Not bringing food or drink into the second floor galleries. Finish these items in our first floor lobby or save them for later in the coat room.
Yes!
The Stanley Museum of Art is a popular place for photographers. We want you to “See Yourself at the Stanley,” both in person and through a lens. Personal photography is encouraged at the museum when conducted without disruption to museum operations or visitors, and with the safety of the art in mind.
Please do:
- Take casual photos for personal use only.
- Use handheld cameras, cell phones, and tablets with the flash turned off.
- Post images from your visit on personal, noncommercial social media. We love it when our visitors share the museum with their networks!
- Remember to tag the museum @uistanleymuseum #UIowaStanley #StudentsAtTheStanley
Thank you for helping us protect the collection by:
- Remaining behind stanchions and maintaining a safe, non-touching distance from all artworks, cases, platforms, and pedestals.
- Respecting other visitors enjoying the galleries.
- Avoiding the use of flash photography and video cameras. Bulky items, tripods, selfie-sticks, or other equipment must be left with the front desk.
- Understanding that photographs cannot be published, sold, reproduced, transferred, distributed, or otherwise commercially exploited in any manner.
All photography of a non-personal nature (i.e. editorial, commercial, advertisement – including portrait and wedding photographers) requires the written the permission of the Stanley Museum of Art. See the main Stanley website for more info.
The Stanley Museum of Art is working diligently with campus partners to offer a variety of onsite accommodations for visitors with disabilities. Check back for updates as we continue to prepare the museum for your first visit. Here is a preview of what to expect.
- Elevators are available to all floors of the building and museum parking ramp.
- Accessible restrooms are available the first and third floors.
- Museum entrances have automatic doors.
- Manual and electric wheelchairs are welcome in all areas of the museum.
- Wheelchairs are available free of charge and may be checked out at the lobby information desk on a first come, first served basis.
- Service animals trained to perform specific tasks for an individual with a disability are allowed into all public areas of the museum.
There are a few parking options close by!
The nearest places to park are the Stanley Art Ramp (63), the Library Lot (3), the Recreation Center Lot (11), the Iowa City Capitol Street Ramp, and the Iowa City Court Street Ramp.
The Stanley Art Ramp has a 2-hour time limit and costs $1.20/hr.
The Library Lot is restricted to Student Day Permit holders except on weekends and from 4:30 pm – 7:30 am M – F. With the Student Day Permit, this lot costs a reduced rate of $0.75/ hr.
The Recreation Center Lot is open to public use. If you park between 5 am and 9 am, you are subject to the Graduated Parking Rate. If you park outside of those hours, you are subject to the Standard Parking Rate.
The Capitol Street and Court Street Ramps are city operated. Their rates are first hour free, $1 per hour for each additional hour parked.
If you prefer to take the CAMBUS, the Red, Blue, and Interdorm routes stop outside the Main Library, which is adjacent to the Stanley Museum of Art.
You can also bike! There are large bike racks on either side of the Main Library's south staircase, facing Gibson Square Park. An additional bike rack is located at the southwest corner of the building, next to the stairs for the lower level parking.
Please see the above links for more information on the restrictions and procedures at each parking location.
Please visit the main Stanley Museum of Art website if you're interested in scheduling a docent-led tour. Tours must be scheduled at least a month in advance and are limited to normal museum hours.
Schedule a tour with your family when they're visiting, with your friends, with your student organization... the opportunities are endless!
There are lots of opportunities for students at the Stanley, and they aren't limited to just art and art history students!
University of Iowa students make up the entire Gallery Host team, who work the front desk and serve as the main point of contact between the Stanley and the public. There is also a team of Student Security Officers, hired through the University of Iowa Department of Public Safety, who work with the Gallery Hosts in this regard.
Each semester, there are also a range of internships available. There are internships available in almost every department at the museum: curatorial/ research, marketing and communications, learning and engagement, facilities and events management, and more! Be sure to check Handshake as well as the SCC Instagram for upcoming student job opportunities.
And of course... there is the Stanley Campus Council! We accept new members each spring semester for the following year. While you wait for those applications to open, we encourage you to attend our events to get a feel for what we do!
Our logo was designed by fellow student Matthew Pursell! Matthew is part of the class of 2023 and is pursuing a Business Marketing BBA and a Graphic Design minor. He is a Marketing Representative for Student Life Communications at the University of Iowa.
The logo is based on his rendering of the Stanley Museum of Art building! Super cool, right?