While visiting the National Gallery of Canada and the Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography you have the opportunity to view original works of art. In order to ensure the safety of our collections, our visitors and our staff, there are specific rules that must be followed during your museum visit. Please take time to review these rules prior to your visit, especially with young children and school groups.

ENJOY YOURSELF
Visiting an art gallery is a fun, interesting, relaxing, enriching, and educational experience. If you keep these basic rules in mind then everyone will have an enjoyable visit!

ADMISSION TICKETS
Although admission is free for members, children under 12 and people using only our dining facilities, all visitors must obtain a ticket from the box office. If you have a complimentary pass, please exchange it for a timed ticket at the box office. Follow this link for admission rates. If you have booked a guided tour for a group, please present yourself at the Information Office in the Tour Group Lobby.

Closing of the building begins 15 minutes before the times stated.

PARKING
Paid parking is available in the indoor garage and on the adjacent streets. No parking of motor vehicles on Gallery property is allowed unless appropriate authorization has been given.

SPECIAL NEEDS
Visitors with special needs are welcome to use wheelchairs or strollers free of charge. Please inquire at the Ticket Desk.

CAN I BRING THIS?
All bags are subject to being searched upon entering or leaving the building. Bags larger than 30 X 40 X 12 cm (12 X 16 X 5 in.), backpacks and umbrellas must be checked in the cloakroom (free of charge). We also recommend that you check your coat. Balloons, flags, banners, and animals are not permitted inside the building.

For security reasons, all bags may be subject to search upon entering or leaving the building.

Bags and backpacks may not be worn on the back within the exhibition galleries. Please do not carry children in back carriers or on your shoulders.

The Gallery makes wheelchairs, strollers and scooters available for use free of charge. Please ask at the admission desk.

NO FOOD OR BEVERAGES
Eating and drinking is not permitted in the exhibition spaces. 

CELLULAR PHONES
Cellular phones may not be used in the exhibition galleries. We ask that you turn off the ring tone.

SMOKING
Smoking is not allowed anywhere in the building or within 6 m (20 ft) of any entrance or covered area.

PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE GALLERY
Visitors may take pictures for personal use, with a hand-held camera and electronic flash, only of the public spaces of the National Gallery of Canada. For copyright reasons, it is not permitted to reproduce or to sell the photographs, or to photograph works in the exhibition galleries.

Professional photographic equipment, video cameras, recording devices, tripods, lights and other similar equipment are not permitted without prior approval from Gallery authorities. To use such equipment, please contact the Public Affairs Department for approval, at 613-990-1935.

WHY WE ASK YOU NOT TO TOUCH…
We hope your children – and their grandchildren – will some day visit the National Gallery. We also hope the fine works of art you are enjoying will be there for them to see in the future, in just as fine condition as they are today.

A painting is fragile and may be damaged forever by the gentlest brush of your fingertips. In fact, most damage is caused by innocent touches. Yours may not seem like much, but a million visitors’ touches will destroy a painting, a drawing or a photograph.

Sculpture is not as sturdy as it looks. The tiny trace of moisture from your finger can, in time, strip the rich surface from bronze and rust the strongest steel. Fingernails and rings will, in time, gouge deep furrows in stone and wood. Handled carelessly, glass will crack and plaster will break.

Please help us preserve your museum’s collection. Please don’t touch the works of art. Thank you.

SCHOOL GROUPS
While visiting the National Gallery of Canada and the Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography, students have the opportunity to view and engage with original works of art. In order to ensure the safety of the works of art and the students, specific rules must be followed during your museum visit. 

For more information on the rules to follow, click here.

PUBLIC PERFORMANCES
No visitor is allowed to create any activity that could be described as a performance, a show or a happening, make a declaration or speech, create a media event or photo opportunity on Gallery property or give tours of the exhibitions without prior approval from Gallery authorities. For additional restrictions on conducting tours please see the Gallery Tours Policy.

NO LOITERING
Loitering, vending, begging, handing out information of any kind or petitioning on Gallery property is not allowed.

WORKS OF ART ON DISPLAY
The art appearing in the Gallery has been carefully selected in accordance with the Gallery’s Acquisition Policy. The Gallery prohibits the display on Gallery property any art that has not been approved for exhibition in accordance with the Acquisitions Policy.

Failing to adhere to these conditions could result in your immediate removal from the property without a reimbursement of your cost of admission. Please see the back of your admission ticket for additional terms and conditions, including the requirement that you permit a search of your person and/or belongings if requested by Gallery security. The Gallery reserves the right to further restrict the terms and conditions on a member of the public who is considered a threat to the safety of the collection or property of the Gallery.

HARRASSMENT-FREE ENVIRONMENT
The National Gallery of Canada is a harassment-free environment.