Free First Thursday

Overview

Portland Art Museum invites the community to join a Free First Thursday event, offering free admission to the museum for all as we celebrate Disability Pride. Please see links below for more information on each event. Visit The Shop at PAM for special Disability Pride merchandise. Enjoy a special menu item at Coquelico Cafe. This unique day includes a chance to explore the special exhibition David Hockney: Works from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation and the 2026 HeART of Portland exhibition, as well as PAM’s transformed campus and reinstalled permanent collection galleries with several recently rotated works.

All spaces and events are accessible. Accessible restrooms have adult-sized motorized changing tables. Single-user and all gender restrooms are available. 

For more information contact our Head of Accessibility Becky Emmert:
Email: access@pam.org
Voicemail: 503-276-4284
Signmail: 503-420-3169

Schedule

This list of events will be updated as new events are scheduled. All spaces and events are accessible.

10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Access Welcome Table and Drop-in Artmaking, Gallery 101

11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Meet the Artist – Tactile Graphic Artist/Braille Transcriber Michael Cantino with several tactile graphics, Gallery 101

11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Meet the Puppies – Guide Dogs for the Blind Puppy Raisers and their puppies in training, Gallery 101

11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. Sensing Art Tour for Blind and Low Vision Visitors, various galleries and Rental Sales Gallery, multiple sculptures including a Picasso will be available to touch. Meet at Admission Desk. Please RSVP using this Google Survey Form.

12 – 2 p.m. Artmaking with Elbow Room – join a community weaving project inspired by Disability Pride led by artist Ricky Bearghost, Finley Learning Studio

3 – 4:15 p.m. Screening of short films by DeafBlind Multiply Disabled Filmmaker Ariel Baska – with open captions and audio description, Whitsell Auditorium

4 – 6 p.m. Art in ASL Look with Me Slow Looking Tour led by four Deaf guides in ASL with English interpreting, various galleries – see sign at Admission Desk for locations and times

4:30 – 6:45 p.m. Screening of the documentary Complicated with open captions and live audio description followed by a panel discussion on Ehlers-Danlos with families from the film and local experts, Whitsell Auditorium

Explore special Disability Pride themed gifts at the Shop at PAM.

Enjoy special menu items at Coquelico.

Tickets

Free First Thursday tickets can be reserved online one week in advance and are also available at the door. Tickets to Free First Thursday programs at the Tomorrow Theater are available online.

Free First Thursdays at the Museum and PAM CUT’s Tomorrow Theater aligns with the revitalization of the long-standing Portland art galleries’ tradition of opening their doors for openings, receptions, and events on the first Thursday of each month. In recent months art and culture organizations have joined to bring back this popular activity, including the Pacific Northwest College of Art and the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education in the North Park Blocks.

Generous support provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program.