Visitor's Guide To The Detroit Institute Of Arts
The Detroit Institute Of Arts
5200 Woodward Ave.
Detroit, MI 48202
(313) 833-7900
www.dia.org
The Detroit Institute of Arts, known affectionately as the DIA, has been one of America's top museums for over 100 years, and has been building its incredible reputation since it first opened back in 1885. Known throughout the art world as having one of the top selections of art pieces, paintings and sculptures, the DIA has been threatened in recent years due to Detroit's bankruptcy, but now the city is back and the DIA remains untouched, it's prized collection intact, and ready for the world to come and experience all the the Motor City art world has to offer!
Since 1885, the City of Detroit has been one of the most important cities in America. When the industrial age came into full swing, and manufacturing took over the country, Detroit became the heart and soul of the working class. At one point, Detroit was the country's third largest city (behind New York City and Los Angeles). Part of being such an important city is also offering your citizens some of the best art that the world has to offer. Throughout Detroit's storied history of ups and downs, successes and failures, the Detroit Institute of Arts has always stood as a beacon of culture and education, as it will continue to do now with the city back on the track to success once more.
One of the absolute best things about the Detroit Institute of Arts? It's completely free to Metro Detroiters! That's right — if you're a resident of either Wayne, Macomb or Oakland County, just show your valid drivers license or state I.D. at the door and you'll be welcomed in for no charge. If you're visiting from another area of the state or country (which we think is great), admission is a mere $8 for adults and only $6 for seniors, $5 for students, and children five and under are free. Admission to special exhibitions are a little extra, but well worth the price (not required to pay if you choose not to visit these exhibits). Groups of 15 or more, please call (313) 833-1292. Group general admission for the permanent collection is $7 per person.
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Getting down to the Detroit Institute of Arts couldn't be simpler! Located right in the heart of Midtown, in the Cass Corridor, the DIA sits adjacent to Wayne State University. There is a large parking garage of secured self-parking right off of John R. St. just south of Kirby. Other street parking is available as well. With the construction taking place on Woodward throughout the summer and fall of 2015 for the M-1 rail project, there will be posted detours, but only minor ones. Parking on the Wayne State University campus is available, too.
Upcoming Exhibits
The Detroit Institute of Arts recently held its first major exhibition since the Detroit bankruptcy with the "Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo in Detroit" exhibit earlier this spring, which was a huge success and financial boom for the museum. New and regular major exhibitions are always being planned. For those who will be attending in the early fall of 2015, there are a number of great upcoming options, including "The Big Picture" guided tour through some of the DIA's best-known pieces. It is a free tour taking place each day Tuesdays through Sundays (1 p.m. on Tuesday through Friday and 1 & 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays). Also happening now is the "Rembrandt: Guest of Honor" exhibition that will run through Dec. 13. Other upcoming exhibitions will be announced on the DIA's website.
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