Updated 6/27/24
The Portland Art Museum is committed to providing meaningful access to our visitors. Below is information that can help ensure your visit is as accessible as possible.
Thank you for your support as we embark on a journey to make our campus more accessible. Please check back here before future visits to receive the most up to date information on how the construction is impacting the campus.
Several of our galleries are closed to allow for the expansion. Please enjoy these exciting exhibitions that are on view.
- Throughlines: Connections in the Collection, 2nd floor, October 28, 2023-November 1, 2024
- Monet to Matisse: French Moderns, 2nd floor, June 8, 2024-September 15, 2024
- Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting Edge Kicks will be on view on the 1st floor, March 30, 2024-August 11, 2024
- The Jubitz Center for Modern and Contemporary Art will be closed until construction is completed.
You may hear construction noises and feel vibration during your visit. Earplugs and noise canceling headphones are welcome. Museum staff have complimentary foam earplugs available. Please inquire at the box office or ask staff in the galleries. You will see construction workers wearing protective gear walking through the space. The majority of the construction work will be conducted during weekdays, so visiting on weekends will be quieter.
Please feel free to reach out with questions and feedback.
Accessibility questions or feedback
503-276-4284: phone
503-420-3169: direct videophone for Deaf visitors
Purchasing tickets
- Ticket purchasing: Tickets can be purchased online or at the box office. If these processes aren’t accessible to you, please contact our access email or phone line for assistance.
- Admission access programs: Reduced ticket prices are available for visitors through our Admission Access Programs.
- Complimentary companion tickets: Companions and care-providers accompanying Disabled visitors receive free admission. Purchase your ticket then email or call us with your name, contact info, date/time of your ticket, and request a companion ticket and we will reserve one that will be waiting for you at the box office.
Getting to the Museum
Accessible entrance
There is currently only one entrance – located at SW Park and Jefferson. There is a curb cut and a large temporary ramp that leads to the glass doors. Staff are available to assist in opening the manual doors – just wave and they will come open it.
Note – the sidewalk and parking on SW Park Ave (west side) next to the museum will be closed for construction. Please use the sidewalk on the east side of SW Park Ave (park side) to cross at the intersection of SW Park and Jefferson . There are curb cuts on both ends of the block. If there are obstacles on the sidewalk preventing passage, please let us know. You may use this area as a loading zone if it is not actively being used by construction vehicles.
Transportation
TriMet Lift
The best place for drop off and pick up is in front of the museum entrance (1219 SW Park Ave Portland, OR 97205). This may change during different points in construction and updates will be posted.
The museum is located near the following stops and lines:
- The Art Museum stop (6493) on the NS and A loop streetcar lines.
- The SW 11 and Jefferson (10759) stop on the NS and B loop streetcar lines.
- The SW 10th and Jefferson bus stop (3049) serving lines 6, 38, 45, 55, 58, 68.
Parking
There are two metered accessible parking spaces on the west side of the museum on 10th Avenue with a 4-hour limit. The spaces in front of the museum on Park will be closed due to construction. We are partnering with the city to get additional accessible spaces added in the vicinity and will update this information when they are finalized. The paid parking lot next to the museum at the intersection of Park and Main has four accessible parking spaces. Prices in the lot vary and at times the kiosk is turned off which means the Reef mobile app must be used to pay.
Navigating the Museum
Elevators
- All galleries in the museum can be accessed via elevators.
- If an elevator is out of order, a notice will be posted on the top banner of our website and on our social media accounts.
- If an elevator is out, staff may be able to assist with alternate routes.
- Most special exhibitions start on the second floor. Use the elevator and choose either 1st or 2nd floor on the back elevator door, and exit into the gallery. From here you can navigate to the hallway to the beginning of the exhibition. Staff are happy to assist with directions.
- The elevator is equipped with a call button in case of emergency. There are multiple evacuation devices designed to assist mobility device users in safely navigating the stairs if an elevator is not available.
Restrooms
There are currently two sets of restrooms available in the main building.
There is an all gender restroom on the first floor just off of the Collins Special Exhibition Gallery. Note this restroom may not be available during exhibition installation/deinstallation. There is a carpeted ramp up into the restrooms from the hallway. At the top of the ramp on the right is an accessible stall with a motion sensor door opener. Please note the lock is manual and if not locked the door will open when others pass by.
There are three additional stalls with floor to ceiling doors, one to the left and two to the right. Soap and paper towels are located under the mirrors above the sink. A baby changing station drops from the wall to the right of the sink and there is a hygiene product dispenser to the right.
Restrooms on the second floor are gendered and have stalls, including an accessible stall. There is a baby changing table and hygiene product dispenser in the women’s restroom. None have automatic doors, but the doors will be propped open. Please notify staff if the door stops have been removed and they will replace them. To get to the restrooms use the elevator and press the floor 2 restroom sign. When you exit, go to the left and follow the signs to the restrooms.
Access at the Mark Building
This building was constructed in 1927 as a Masonic Temple and renovated in 1992 to provide additional gallery space, event and meeting spaces, and administrative offices. Adaptations have been made to make the building accessible.
Entrance
Access the curb cut with truncated domes at Park Ave and Main St and follow the sidewalk South, past the main stairs. There is a break in the planters that links to the sidewalk that leads to the doors.
The main doors are large, heavy manual glass doors. If these are not accessible to you, please ring the doorbell that is mounted on the wall by the construction fence at the Southeast corner of the building. Protection Services staff will come out and either guide you in the side door or open the main door for you.
Rooms and elevators
The Marion L. Miller Room is located on the ground floor to the right of the security desk.
The Fred and Suzanne Fields Ballroom is located below the ground floor and can be accessed by carpeted stairs to the left of the security desk, carpeted stairs at the end of the hall by the restrooms, or by the wheelchair lift also by the restrooms. In the event that the wheelchair lift malfunctions, staff can guide you through the kitchen to the freight elevator.
There are two elevators across from the security desk. These go to floors 2 (East and West Conference Rooms), 3 (Kridel Grand Ballroom), and 4 (Gordon D. Sonland and Katherine J. Durant Trustee Room). The Kridel Grand Ballroom has a wheelchair lift onto the stage.
Restrooms
All restrooms should have a stool under the sink.
Ground Floor: There are gendered, multi-stall restrooms on the ground floor at the end of the hall to the right of the security desk. The manual doors should be propped open. Both have accessible stalls.
3rd Floor: There are large, gendered, multi-stall restrooms in the hall to the right of the elevator. The doors should be propped open and both have accessible stalls.
4th Floor: There are all gender restrooms in the hallway outside the lobby to the right of the Trustee room. The hallway door is unlocked during event periods.
Green room: There is an accessible single-user restroom with a shower in the green room.
Water fountains: There are currently no water fountains in the Mark Building. Please see the security desk if water is needed urgently.
Access at PAM CUT
Parking
The closest accessible parking spot is on SW Salmon at the intersection with Park Ave. The second closest is located on SW 10th Ave between Main and Jefferson St. The third is located on SW Taylor Street between SW Park Ave and SW Broadway.
Entrance
There are curb cuts at both ends of the block on Salmon. The sidewalk near the entrance is uneven and sometimes has people or objects on it. There is a steep, short, ramp into the main door. The door is often locked, please ring the doorbell when you arrive.
Restrooms
There are two accessible, single-user, all gender restrooms available on the first floor.
Lobby and classrooms
The lobby and classrooms on the first floor are wheelchair accessible. The lobby is decorated with bright colors including a hot pink couch, metallic wallpaper, and other brightly colored art.
Program and class access
Please contact PAM CUT to request interpreters, captioning, audio description, or other access requests for classes and programs.
Access at Rental Sales Gallery
There are curb cuts with truncated domes at both ends of the block on SW 10th (at Jefferson and Main). The sidewalk is accessible and other than people, there are not usually any items on the sidewalk.
There are manual glass doors to enter the space which is all on the first floor and wheelchair accessible.
Art is displayed in various positions and staff and volunteers are available to assist if art of interest isn’t within your view.
Standard accessibility offerings
Service animals
Service animals are welcome. If you would like to pre-plan your visit please contact us at access@pam.org; 503-276-4284 phone; or 503-420-3169 direct videophone for Deaf visitors.
Seating
Benches are placed throughout the gallery spaces and are moved depending on the layout of each exhibition. There are some galleries which are too small for benches. Folding chairs and gallery stools are always available and can be used in any gallery. See staff if you would like to utilize one of these during your visit.
Mobility devices
Manual wheelchairs and walkers free of charge. We currently have 11 wheelchairs and 5 walkers. They are generally available without a reservation, but we do encourage reservations during busy times such as events, free admission days, or popular exhibitions.
Please use the information below to determine which item would best meet your needs, then email or call us with your name, date and time of visit, and the item you are requesting. We will put the reservation in our internal system and our Visitor Services Associates will have it ready for you when you check in at the box office.
Wheelchair sizes
- Youth: 125 lb capacity
- Adult small: 250 lb capacity, seat 16 wide x 15 deep
- Adult Medium: 250 lb capacity, seat 18 wide x 15 1/2 deep
- Adult Large: 250 lb capacity, seat 18 wide x 18 deep
- Adult X Large: 500 lb capacity, seat 23 1/2 wide x 17 deep
Walker types
- Three have four wheels, with seats and handbrakes
- One has four wheels and a seat, but is made for standing taller while walking
- One has two wheels in the front and does not have a seat or brakes
Assistive technology
Magnifiers
- Two 8.5×11 hard plastic magnification sheets
- One handheld stronger magnifier with a built in light
Flashlights
- Small pocket flashlight, approved by the Collections Team that can be used for reading labels
EnChroma glasses
We have five pairs of EnChroma glasses that help visitors who have red/green colorblindness see more color available for checkout. They include youth and adult sizes and have options to go over prescription glasses. For more information or to check them out please see staff at the Box Office.
iPad
This can be used as a digital magnifier, can be used to access high resolution images of permanent collection objects via the online database, and can access accessible digital labels and wall text on the exhibition webpages. Bloomberg Connects is also available on the iPads. Bone conduction headphones are also available.
Tactile representations
Sensing Art, an exhibit of four 3-D Tactile Graphics of objects from the permanent collection is now on view. We invite you to explore these pieces through touch. The museum is working to increase opportunities for tactile exploration of art.
Audio guides
The Bloomberg Connects app is a free app that provides free digital guides to museums, galleries, gardens, public art, festivals, historic sites, and more, expanding access to the arts and culture around the world. The Portland Art museum is one of the first museums in the Pacific Northwest to join over 200 other museums in launching the Bloomberg Connects app.
The audio guides have accompanying transcripts. Content can be accessed virtually any time. Please reach out if you have any additional access requests related to the app.
Photosensitivity notices
We aim to provide notices of any art that may trigger photosensitivity. Please feel free to contact us and ask for a current list.
Accessible digital labels
Most special exhibitions will have accessible digital labels posted on the special exhibition webpage. This will include the content of all object labels and wall text. QR codes that link to these labels will be available in the galleries. These are typically available about 1 month after the exhibition opens.
Image descriptions
We are currently working to provide image descriptions for as many objects as possible in our special exhibitions. A small team works to get them out as quickly as possible. If you’d like to join our email list to receive updates please let us know. They will be added to the accessible digital labels as they are completed.
Audio description
We are working towards creating audio descriptions for all media on view. If you encounter one that does not have this and would like a description please let us know.
Captioning
We are working towards captioning or transcripts available for all media on view. If you encounter one that does not have this please let us know. We provide automated real time captioning for most in-person and virtual programming. If you’d like to request CART or TypeWell please contact us in advance of the program with your request.
Assistive listening devices
T-coil compatible FM assistive listening devices with neck loops or headphones for those without hearing aids are available free of charge for tours, programs, and film screenings. Please email or call in advance to let us know you would like to utilize them and staff will have them ready at the event. You may bring your own headphones with a standard 3.5mm jack.
Event accessibility
Unless noted, all event spaces are wheelchair accessible. We aim to provide ASL/English interpreters and automated real time captioning for public programs, both virtual and in real life. We also aim to have assistive listening devices available for in person programs. We will ask speakers to provide verbal descriptions and to describe images shared in presentations. Audio description is available with advance requests. Each program calendar event page will outline the accessibility planned and provide instructions for how to make requests. If one doesn’t, please feel free to contact us and we will update the page.
YouTube channel
All current programs uploaded to YouTube will have corrected captions and we aim to provide ASL/English Interpreting with them also. Transcripts can be viewed on YouTube or you can reach out to request a copy of a program transcript. You may also contact us to request audio description.
Guided tours
All accessibility focused guided tours, including artNOW and Sensing Art, are currently paused. We welcome individuals and groups to come independently. If you have questions or would like assistance gathering resources before your visit please reach out via email or phone. If you would like to be added to the email list to be notified when these tours start again please let us know.
Website information
If our website is not accessible to you, please reach out and we will be happy to provide the information in an alternate format.
Feedback
We are constantly working to be more accessible and inclusive. We welcome your feedback and ideas. You can give feedback on your after-visit survey or reach out directly. If you would like to speak with our Head of Accessibility, Becky Emmert, just make that request in your message and she will reach out to you as soon as possible. access@pam.org
503-276-4284: message phone
503-420-3169: direct videophone for Deaf visitors