As on campus art museums go, this was a nice one, both in the classic construction and in the variety of the collection. Only one floor was open covering half a dozen rooms or so. I did get the sense occasionally of "hey, didn't I see that at the North Carolina museum in Raleigh?" having stopped there just before coming here (it was a rainy day), but that's not a terrible thing as both are solid museums in their own right and there were plenty of historically intriguing and unique pieces here. The building complexes with an art library that was closed for the holidays when I was here. There is no charge to get in, and a small amount of museum parking was hidden behind the building. read more

See all

My family decided to check out the museum while visiting Chapel Hill. We had a great time. It is a free museum, which is nice. They had a large variety of paintings and artifacts throughout the museum. The staff was nice. I would check out the museum again while visiting Chapel Hill. read more

The wife and I stayed at the Carolina Inn for their wonderful Thanksgiving Day Buffet and in the couple of days we were here some places were closed, so what should we do? Well there was a sign on the sidewalk that mentioned the AAM and that it was always free. So what the hay?! The wife is Tar Heel Born and Bred and I am Wed, and she said she had not been in the museum since she was in school there a few years ago (lol). So we walked in to have a look and what some wonderful pieces and they were predominately of Far East Art and Culture and WOW! If you look at the pictures ( I tried to match with the description when I added them) you will see they were pretty amazing. 2 Floors of art the current show on 1, and 2nd floor of notable artist. What a way to take an hour + to enhance your life with art and what the artist may consider important in this moment in their life. Don't go in and just look, but examine the details of what ever exhibit maybe there, some works are just so amazing, the amount of detail. I Will tell you again, "it was Free!". We will be back again to see what they have to offer over and over. read more

See all

Located on Columbia St on UNC Chapel Hill's campus the Ackland is a small but mighty museum. Free to the public, it houses a permanent collection as well as traveling exhibits. The biggest drawback to the museum is parking. Folks, it's a college town and parking is difficult on most days. If you arrive early in the day, there is a city paid parking lot just off of Rosemary St which is very close to the Ackland. There are two floors to the museum. The lower floor contains the permanent collection as well as a small gift shop. The lower floor does occasionally house traveling exhibits but those are mostly shown on the upper floor. It is worth the visit if you find yourself in Chapel Hill and want a dose of culture ;) read more

See all

We visited this exhibit today and it was full of interesting art pieces. I enjoyed learning about who Mr. Ackland was and how he came into his fortune. There are many interesting pieces to see and it's a pretty quick visit. If you are looking for something different this may be an option. read more

This art museum is affiliated with UNC Chapel Hill, which means parking is always going to be a problem if you go during the week. We visited during Christmas break so we were able to park relatively close. They pack a lot of different exhibits, both temporary and permanent, into a relatively small space. You won't do a ton of walking, but you will be exposed to different types of art, from modern to European, Asian, Middle Eastern and African. Oh, and it's absolutely free, although you can leave a donation. There's also a small gift shop with some interesting items. Worth a visit if you enjoy art museums and have an hour or two to peruse the exhibits and read the educational descriptions. read more

Ackland Art Museum - St. John the Baptist II by Kehinde Wiley - Art Museums Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Wonderful art museum full of so many beautiful pieces. Loved our experience there but was admittedly taken off balance by the unfriendliness/hostility of staff at the front entrance. A female guard followed us every minute that we walked through each room, giving us the evil eye. The air of nastiness that greeted us was shocking and made our UNC graduate school family honestly not want to return. No Southern hospitality that we saw here during our visit! read more

This is a nice little art museum located on The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus. Admission is free! I visited the Yayoi Kusama:Open the Shape Called Love exhibition. Other exhibits include ancient Mediterranean and European art, Asian, Islamic, and African artists. They have a really cute gift shop. www.ackland.org @acklandart read more

See all

Like I said in my tip, calling this place a gem is an understatement. I liken it to a very miniature version of the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid. Inside is a very well laid series of collections partitioned by geographic origin and era. There are a few famous names, but instead of getting caught up looking for any masterpiece,  I appreciated the way the items were attractively showcased.  You don't need much time here, so all the more reason to include it when nearby. Oh yeh, it's free too. read more

See all

It's worth a visit especially for interesting changing exhibits. UNC art students and other enthusiasts enjoy drawing in the galleries, yoga, music and dance performances and other art adventures. Donations are voluntary. read more

See all

I can't think of anything negative to say about the Ackland Art Museum. We've been twice and will return again. So many beautiful pieces of various types, The docents (if that's what they're called) or guards (if that's the word) are very friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. Mr. Ackland is actually buried in the museum, and his story is very interesting! I think the painting(s) that caught my attention most this visit was a large installation that looked a lot like paint ball art. read more

Ackland Art Museum - Looked a lot like paint ball art! - Art Museums Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

UNC is lucky to have this little gem. Incredible collection for a college museum, the Ackland impressed me in my undergraduate years -- and it still impressed me on recent visit. I read this week's Indie piece on the Spectacular of Vernacular exhibit, and was excited to have the opportunity to drop in and check it out today. I found the collection very diverse (video, sculptural pieces, photography, painting) and visually engaging. Ackland has a whole two floors of art that spans a broad period of time and culture -- Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Southeast Asian, and elsewhere. All this is accessible for free! With such a convenient location off Franklin, there's really no excuse not to drop in next time you're strolling through Chapel Hill. read more

Glad to have this museum nearby. It's free. The permanent exhibition is a good mix over different epochs and cultures. And there's always a changing exhibition that vary in quality and taste. You can ask for a free scavenger hunt for children. On the family Sundays they have some crafts and the most of the parking in Chapel Hill is free on that day. Or you take your bicycles/the bus. The Art Adventures classes on Saturdays are on of the best in the triangle for 6 to 9 year olds. This museum doesn't have windows, so it's kind of dark. But it's perfect not only if the weather outside is to wet, hot or cold. They lend folding chairs. They also have a nice small museum shop where you can find selected gifts and cards. read more

It took me several years to stop walking by this place and actually go in. Wow! I had no idea that we had a world class art museum right on campus. The exhibits alone are wonderful, but even more value is added by the programming; they offer so much. For example: they participate in the 2nd Friday Art Walk, staying open after hours one Friday per month giving public, and free access to the exhibits and to programming such as yoga and Tai chi, or even hands-on art activities. They've even published a book entitled "A Place for Meaning: Art, Faith, and Museum Culture" which I also recommend. Pro tip: Check out the art library and student exhibits in the adjacent Hanes Art Center. Then visit the Kenan Music building and wander the halls listening to the music. read more

Ackland Art Museum is a wonderful addition to the vibrant arts scene in Chapel Hill. The museum offers a myriad of galleries featuring an impressive and always rotating collection of pieces. The decor is very stark and plain. This creates a nice clean feeling, but also serves to reinforce the art pieces as the focus. Their galleries are themed and rotate quickly enough to make frequent trips enjoyable with lots of new stuff to see. Best of all, Ackland is free. This is a great service to the University and surrounding community. read more

Photo vision exhibit is quite interesting- a variety of photographic methods including fotescultura, albumen prints, lithographs and gelatin prints and more read more

Ackland Art Museum - Art Museums Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Great museum connect with UNC's campus. It's not huge, but they do have some great exhibits. It is a wonderful place to spend an hour or two. They also have a lot of interesting programs and really make an effort to reach out to the community. Check the calendar as they always seem to have something going on. Worth the stop for sure! read more

I like this place when I can find parking. I love their rotating collections, especially the Japanese wood block prints. You really can't be the price- it's free. Perfect place to bring out of town guests. They titles describing the piece, the artists and information about the time period is quite informative and well organized. read more

The Ackland is an excellent university art museum right off the hubbub of Franklin Street. It's not the largest building, but the pieces are interesting, particularly the Asian collection. It seems like they always have exhibitions running - sometimes featuring the work of UNC students and faculty. Also, UNC students will occasionally co-curate exhibits with museum staff. Several public programs also take place here - music in the museum, lunch lectures, and drawing workshops. Apparently, they also have yoga in the galleries now - I hate yoga, but that actually sounds like it could be cool. I have gotten to work with a few of the staff members here, and they're all very nice, interesting people who are excited about sharing their museum with the community. read more

Each time I've come here its been because a friend (or a friend of a friend, sometimes) has had work featured in a collection here, or had to evaluate something for a class and wanted company, or something like that. Point is, it's never been my idea, but I've enjoyed it anyway. There's some really interesting stuff here, and even if you don't think so, just wait a couple of weeks, you won't be disappointed. That's the best thing about the place, they keep things rolling. I can't tell you how many times I've gone to an art museum and walked out disappointed not because the artwork was bad, but because it was all so blasted similar. That's never a danger here, they love their variety, so exhibits rotate pretty frequently. There's a lot of local work (I daresay nearly all of it), so you'll get a good feel for the kind of artistic thought that you're brushing by on the sidewalk, always a nice touch. read more

Fantastic free art museum affiliated with UNC-Chapel Hill. Every second Friday of the month, the galleries stay open to the public until 9pm with complimentary refreshments and a live jazz band. read more

Ackland Art Museum - Art Museums Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Really neat art museum with several gems. You could probably spend a good hour at least wandering the exhibits, which seem to change every few months. The types of artwork displayed are quite diverse in style, ranging from ancient Japanese ceramics to 18th century paintings to experimental modern art. Plus, it's free. Definitely worth a visit. read more

It is great and free! They have a plate created by Pablo Picasso which I was pleasantly surprised to discover. I was also surprised to learn that the gentlemen the museum is named for is buried in the front left of the museum. I enjoyed looking at the paintings and they currently have several pieces of Asian art. I definitely recommend going, plan for at least half an hour to walk around the museum. read more

Awesome museum! Got to see the Andy Warhol polaroids as well as some Chinese Calligraphy. Close to may places to eat and walk around.

Nice little museum. Kinda freaky the dudes buried there. But the story of it is neat. Will go again

Small uninspiring stuffy building with a musty smell. The Japanese exhibition was good. The second floor galleries were closed but not sure what I missed given it was my first visit. Construction outside made it difficult to get to the museum. No onsite parking which meant parking blocks away. Surprising experience given the university it's connected to...expected more. read more

Make sure you visit this gem .....check out the website also. Lots of events, music, great exhibits. read more

Ackland Art Museum - Music in the galleries - Art Museums Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

The Ackland is a great escape from the hustle and bustle that sometimes goes on in the downtown area. If you love art, you'll find something that satisfies your art loving taste buds. There are ancient pieces and contemporary art shown in the museum. They often run a series from some great artist, from mixed media to botanical photographs. The museum is affiliated with UNC-Chapel Hill and you can stop in free of charge. read more

Ackland Art Museum is just a few steps back from Franklin Street, and its best attribute is that it's FREE! They have a continuously changing array of exhibits, allowing everyone to find something that interests them. In my most recent visit, there was an exhibit on contemporary drawings which I found fascinating. You can call ahead to see what's on exhibit, or just drop by, why not? Like I mentioned, it's free, so it's a great place to take a large group, especially those not from the area. read more

I loved visiting the Ackland when I was a student and still enjoy spending an afternoon there occasionally. They do attract some really cool traveling exhibits, and I'll definitely be checking out the upcoming Circa 1958 collection, which features works from Jasper Johns and Andy Warhol. Even if there's not a traveling exhibit in house, it's worth visiting just to check out their pieces from local artists. Admission is free (donations are encouraged), and the staff is incredibly friendly and personable. The Ackland hosts Yoga in the Galleries twice a month, where you can practice yoga with a certified instructor amongst all the lovely artwork. It's $5 for non-members, but museum membership is free for UNC students. And on the third Sunday of every month, they feature live music (the acts vary), which is free for everyone. read more

This is a small museum but certainly worth a stop in- it's free (a rare find in Chapel Hill!) It has a piece for just about every range of art form and history and also has some great kids programs for creating artwork. Check it out! read more

An active little museum that is, of course, a high art kind of place, except lately, and I don't know why, they've been having a good time with things like the recent Warhol photo exhibit, which was done well, very cool event. We've all seen Warhol this and Warhol that until it's a bit much, for sure, but these photographs were entirely different; black and white photo-verite shots, that made you(me) wish I'd been there back then, hanging out at just the right time. These weren't the drugged up, decadent(decadent's okay, but if that's all you got going for you...)people you think of associated with him, but just your average amazing actors or writers and wives and husbands and also some people who'd hired him to do their portraits, and it was good, really good. The Ackland then had a showing later on at the Varsity, of Warhol's Chelsea Girls, never screened before, or in a long long time, and it is something like 8 hours or if it isn't, one hour of sitting through it felt like 8 hours, and that was a major bomb, no wonder it hadn't been screened before. So, I am happy with the Ackland, and hope they keep it up. Bring in the contemporary artists. We're ready to see them without having to go to NY or Chicago, ready even if it's a "ball made out of AIG or Lehman Brothers feckless derivatives" that rolls around the room (we're told) except you can't see it because there's no there there. read more

Worth checking out if you're in the area - it's free! And who can turn down a free museum? Not this girl. I thought it was cool that the museum is being run by students (at reception, and as docents within the different rooms), and it seemed like there were a lot of rotating activities, if you got your hands on a calendar of events. My biggest complaint was that the curation was beyond boring. My bf didn't think it was bad, but I can't stand a museum where all of the art is displayed on plain beige walls. There wasn't a strong story guiding me through each collection (though one room offered magnifying glasses to study details of sketches, I give them points for that) - I like to know why I should care about the pieces I'm about to see. Was this artist overlooked during his lifetime, but relevant in the modern day? Is this room exploring juxtaposing ideas of representation during a time of political upheaval? Art is interesting! But this was a snoozefest for me. But, hey, for $0 you can judge for yourself. read more

Amazing collection for a free museum! Artwork was very well organized and presented. It was so nice to have so many pieces in the open air, free from glass. Security is high here, showing respect for the work. I wasn't expecting the collection to be so historical, and this made it especially interesting. read more