VMFA offers free admission to Giants exhibition for state employees and teachers

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts announced Monday that Commonwealth of Virginia employees and preschool and K–12 teachers, both public and private, are eligible for free admission to its special exhibition Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys.

The exhibition is currently on view at VMFA and runs through March 1st, 2026. It features work drawn from the private collection of musicians and collectors Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys and highlights the contributions of Black artists to contemporary art across multiple generations and media.

According to the museum, eligible visitors can receive one free exhibition ticket by presenting a valid employee ID or badge at the Visitor Services desk. Tickets are issued on a first-available basis, and reservations must be made in person.

The exhibition includes approximately 130 works—paintings, sculptures, photographs, and installations—by 40 artists. The roster spans 20th-century figures and living artists, including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Amy Sherald, Kehinde Wiley, Mickalene Thomas, Gordon Parks, Lorna Simpson, and Titus Kaphar.

VMFA Director and CEO Alex Nyerges said the museum views the offer as an extension of its educational mission, particularly for educators and public employees across the Commonwealth.

Standard ticket prices for Giants are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors 65 and older, and $8 for youth ages 7–17 and college students with ID. Admission is already free for museum members, children 6 and under, and several other groups through existing programs, including Museums for All and Blue Star Museums.

Additional public programs tied to the exhibition are scheduled throughout its run. Details, along with general exhibition information, are available on the museum’s website here.

VMFA is open 365 days a year with free general admission, though special exhibitions like Giants typically require a ticket.