What are you doing Sunday? Well, ditch that, because this is your chance to go to some really cool and pricey museums for free. It’s the annual So Cal Museums Free-for-All day, this year on Feb. 22 and it’s worth doing, for sure. But make sure you go really, really early because they get crazy busy. Parking costs extra. And some of these are always free!
Here’s the list: (See all participating museums at socalmuseums.net)
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, 6067 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. This large space explores the art of movie-making from different angles. Current exhibits include “Jaws: The Exhibition,” “Inventing Worlds and Characters,” “The Oscars,” “The Godfather” and more. Prepare to wait in line. academymuseum.org
American Museum of Ceramic Art / AMOCA, 399 North Garey Ave., Pomona. The ceramic collections range across time periods and cultures, showcasing how this craft has used clay to transform civilizations. Learn about firing methods, how glazes work and more. amoca.org
Autry Museum Of The American West, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles. This interesting spot explores the westward expansion, including cowboys, Native Americans, frontier settlers and more with art, paintings, basketry, cowboy paraphernalia and fun relics of the Hollywood cowboy era. theautry.org
Benton Museum Of Art At Pomona College. 120 West Bonita Ave., Claremont. Always free. Modern gallery spaces inside this historic building showcase art. Sometimes, art students are on hand to discuss the works. pomona.edu/museum/visit
Bowers Museum 2002 North Main St. Santa Ana. This museum displays interesting cultural exhibits from around the world, typically featuring ceramics, textiles and more, housed in a Spanish Colonial Revival building. There’s also a restaurant. Paid parking lot. bowers.org
The Broad. 221 South Grand Ave., Los Angeles. This contemporary art museum in downtown L.A. is always free, but advance tickets are recommended. The collection ranges from Jeff Koon’s sculpture of Michael Jackson with his chimpanzee, Bubbles, and “Weeping Woman with Handkerchief” by Pablo Picasso. Get advance free tickets here: thebroad.org
California African American Museum, Exposition Park, 600 State Drive, Los Angeles. Always free. Highlights the history, art and stories of the state’s African American experience with artifacts, paintings, sculptures, photos and more. caamuseum.org
California Botanic Garden, 1500 N. College Ave., Claremont. This living museum showcases native species, including rare plants and botanicals with winding trails through 86 acres. Picnic areas are available. Get free tickets in advance: calbg.org
Columbia Memorial Space Center Museum, 12400 Columbia Way, Downey. Indoor and outdoor exhibits highlight the 70-year aerospace history of the city of Downey and of this site, where components of the Apollo spacecraft were built. Learn about rocket propulsion and life in space. See a replica space suit and more. Free parking. columbiaspacescience.org
Craft Contemporary. 5814 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. A museum that focuses on interesting folk art and handmade unique pieces incorporating ceramics, textiles, wood, metal and more. craftcontemporary.org
Fowler Museum at UCLA. 308 Charles E. Young Drive North, Los Angeles. (North side of campus) Always free. It looks at global cultures and their objects, including ceramics, textiles, ceremonial objects, masks and more. Paid parking. fowler.ucla.edu/visit/
The Getty Center. 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles. Always free. Reservations required. It’s hard to miss the world’s richest museum, as it sits on its hilltop perch. Features decorative arts, European paintings, sculptures and more. Don’t miss the roof garden. Paid parking. There’s a cafe, restaurant, or you can bring a picnic. getty.edu/visit/center
The Getty Villa. 17985 Pacific Coast Highway, Pacific Palisades. Always free. Reservations required. This is a stunning replica of an Italian villa buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Overlooking the ocean, it’s filled with ancient Greek and Roman art. There’s a casual cafe. Paid parking. getty.edu/visit/villa/
Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. (at UCLA) Always free. Exhibits house the Armand Hammer collection of European paintings, and also include contemporary arts. The museum frequently spotlights cultural programming and social issues. There’s a cafe. Paid parking. hammer.ucla.edu
Institute Of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, 1717 E. 7th St., Los Angeles. Admission is always free. This museum, in a former warehouse in the downtown arts district, features contemporary artists. There’s street parking, but read all the signs carefully or use a paid lot. theicala.org
La Brea Tar Pits & Museum, 5801 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. A great place to learn about ice age animals, see real skeletons dug out of the tar pits on site of dire wolves, mammoths, saber-toothed cats and more. You can watch paleontologists clean and restore fossils through a window into their lab. There’s a picnic area and paid parking garage. tarpits.org
Long Beach Museum Of Art, 2300 East Ocean Blvd., Long Beach. In an historic mansion on a pretty setting overlooking the bay, this museum is celebrating its 75th birthday. It features painting, sculpture, craft and design. lbma.org. Order free advance tickets here: eventbrite.com/e/long-beach-museum-of-art-tickets-1685839524399
Los Angeles County Museum Of Art (LACMA) 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. (Portions are closed and under construction) This huge museum encompasses everything from ancient artifacts to David Hockney paintings. Order free advance tickets here: lacma.org
Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles MOCA) has two locations: MOCA Grand, at 250 South Grand Ave., and also the Geffen Contemporary, at 152 North Central Ave. in Little Tokyo. The MOCA Grand is free every day with a timed ticket. The Geffen Contemporary does normally charge, but is free this day with a ticket. moca.org
Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., West Los Angeles. The Skirball houses one of the world’s largest collections of Jewish ceremonial art, ritual objects, and cultural artifacts, and exhibits on Jewish immigration to America, social issues and hands-on things for kids to do. Exhibits are culturally relevant to all people. There’s a cafe. Note that the Noah’s Ark exhibit is not included in the free admission. On the plus side, there’s free parking. skirball.org
Wende Museum 10808 Culver Blvd. Culver City. Always free. This unique space in a former armory preserves items and cultural artifacts from behind the Iron Curtain. Free parking. wendemuseum.org