Exhibits & Events

Philadelphia, PA, June 3, 2026—On the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the United States, the Barnes Foundation and Calder Gardens have jointly announced free admission for Philadelphia residents for the month of July. This initiative is designed to engage and honor the people of Philadelphia during a landmark moment in our city’s history. More information on the free admission offers can be found on the Calder Gardens and Barnes Foundation websites. “With the momentous occasion of the country’s semiquincentennial nearly upon us, the Barnes and Calder Gardens wanted to do something special for Philadelphia residents—the people who make everything happen here in our great city,” says Thom Collins, Neubauer Family Executive Director and President of the Barnes. “Philadelphia is not only a world-class travel destination for art and culture but also a vibrant and inspiring home that is unrivaled when it comes to authentic civic pride. With myriad exciting events taking place in Philly this summer that will draw visitors from far and wide, we are offering free admission for residents during the month of July as a way to express our gratitude and celebrate what it means to be a Philadelphian.”

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Included in free admission at the Barnes is access to the Barnes collection, including daily gallery talks and drop-in experiences; Freedom Dreams, an exhibition of powerful works in film, video, and installation in the Roberts Gallery by an intergenerational cohort of Black artists—Arthur Jafa, David Hartt, Garrett Bradley, Ja’Tovia Gary, and Tourmaline—who are interested in exploring history, archives, and cultural memory; Sky Hopinka: Red Metal Dust, an installation of meditative photographic landscapes by multidisciplinary Native American artist Sky Hopinka (Ho-Chunk Nation/Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians) in the Walter and Leonore Annenberg Court; and Just Us, an exhibition of original work created by artists from Mural Arts Philadelphia’s Rec Crew, a 24-week job readiness and life skills program for justice-impacted young adults, and artists at State Correctional Institution (SCI) Phoenix in
the first-floor gallery classroom.
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At Calder Gardens, Philadelphia residents will enjoy free admission to the rotating installation of artworks by Alexander Calder spanning the artist’s 50-year career and diverse oeuvre. From June 11 to August 3 two films will be screened on a loop throughout the day in the Multipurpose Room: a new short film entitled Cirque Calder on Film, directed by Vic Brooks and making its U.S. premiere, alongside Carlos Vilardebó’s 1961 seminal film Le Cirque Calder. Outdoors, the Piet Oudolf–designed gardens are always free to visit during open hours. A map and list of artworks on view are available on the Calder Gardens website.

The Barnes and Calder Gardens, which is celebrating its inaugural year and first summer in the heart of Philadelphia, are committed to promoting the power of art, access, and community. This shared commitment is the driving force behind this free admission initiative for the people of Philadelphia.
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How to Get Free General Admission
• Walk up to the ticketing desk at the Barnes or Calder Gardens (no reservations required)
• Show a valid Philadelphia ID (showing Philadelphia address). Additional forms of ID will be considered.
• Receive free admission for the day (Philadelphia residents can make the most of both the Barnes and Calder Gardens with a free PLUS ticket—a same-day ticket to both institutions)
• Please note: Each visitor must present their own ID, and all tickets are subject to availability. In addition to free general admission during July for Philadelphia residents, the Barnes and Calder Gardens are also offering free tickets—for everyone, not only residents—to a variety of public programs, including First Friday at the Barnes (July 3) and the Moon Alignment series (July 27) at Calder Gardens. The full list of free July programming is below. Advance registration to programs is required.

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The Barnes:
• First Friday (Friday, July 3, 6–9 pm)
• PECO Free First Sunday Family Day (Sunday, July 5, 10 am–4 pm)
• Barnes Cinema: Ja’Tovia Gary Retrospective (Saturday, July 11, 1–4 pm)
• Barnes on the Block (Sunday, July 12, 10 am–5 pm; registration for gallery access opens
Thursday, July 9)
• Book Talk: Black Curators Matter with Kellie Jones (Sunday, July 26, 1–2 pm)
Calder Gardens:
• Pictures in Motion: Celebrating Cirque Calder (Daily film screening June 11–August 3)
• Moon Alignment series (Monday, July 27, 11am – 12:30pm)
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Philadelphia residents who visit during the month of July will be eligible for a 15% discount on Contributor, Supporter, and Sustainer memberships. More details about the membership program are listed on our website.

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This initiative is part of Philadelphia’s yearlong commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary in 2026. The celebration encompasses major sporting events, cultural exhibitions, and community programs that honor Philadelphia’s role as the birthplace of American democracy. For more information about this historic milestone year, visit philly2026.com.

ABOUT THE BARNES FOUNDATION
The Barnes Foundation is a nonprofit cultural and educational institution that shares its unparalleled art collection with the public, organizes special exhibitions, and presents programming that fosters new ways of thinking about human creativity. The Barnes collection is displayed in ensembles that integrate art and objects from across cultures and time periods, overturning traditional hierarchies and revealing universal elements of human expression. Home to one of the world’s finest collections of impressionist, post-impressionist, and modern paintings—including the largest groups of paintings by Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Paul Cézanne in existence—the Barnes brings together renowned canvases by Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Amedeo Modigliani, and Vincent van Gogh, alongside African, Asian, ancient, medieval, and
Native American art as well as metalwork, furniture, and decorative art.

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The Barnes was established by Dr. Albert C. Barnes in 1922 to “promote the advancement of education and the appreciation of the fine arts and horticulture.” A visionary collector and pioneering educator, Dr. Barnes was also a fierce advocate for the civil rights of African Americans, women, and the economically marginalized. Committed to racial equality and social justice, he established a scholarship program to support young Black artists, writers, and musicians who wanted to further their education. Dr. Barnes became actively involved in the Harlem Renaissance, during which he collaborated with philosopher Alain Locke and Charles S. Johnson, the scholar and activist, to promote awareness of the artistic value of African art. Since moving to Philadelphia in 2012, the Barnes has expanded its commitment to diversity, inclusion, and social justice, teaching visual literacy in groundbreaking ways, investing in original scholarship relating to its collection, and enhancing accessibility throughout every facet of its programs.
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The Barnes is situated in Lenapehoking, the ancestral homeland of the Lenape people. Read our Land Acknowledgment.
Hours and ticket prices are listed on our website.

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ABOUT CALDER GARDENS
Calder Gardens is a new art institution dedicated to Alexander Calder (1898–1976), one of the most acclaimed and influential artists of the 20th century. Building on the artist’s enduring legacy, it is conceived as a place where an evolving interplay between art, architecture, nature, and programming encourages contemplation and self-discovery.
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Set within a landscape featuring more than 250 varieties of plants in gardens conceived by Piet Oudolf, Calder Gardens’ 18,000-square-foot building designed by Herzog & de Meuron houses a rotating installation of artworks by Calder. Spanning the artist’s 50-year career and diverse bodies of work, the objects on view respond to architectural moments rather than art historical narratives. This selection of artworks slowly changes over time, echoing the natural rhythms of the seasons. Some will remain for years, while others are only on view for a few months, creating an ever-changing environment that encourages close looking and repeat visits.
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In dialogue with Calder’s own experimental practice, programming at Calder Gardens presents performances, sonic experiences, screenings, lectures, and other events that connect the artist’s legacy of innovation to contemporary art. Emphasizing mindfulness and environmental awareness, Calder Gardens is a space that foregrounds the interconnectedness of all elements of life.
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Calder Gardens is located on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in the heart of Philadelphia, a city with deep connections to the Calder family across several generations. It extends this lineage to the present day and joins Philadelphia’s rich artistic and cultural communities.
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Calder Gardens has been realized thanks to Philadelphia philanthropists working with the Calder Foundation, with significant support from the City of Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Through an innovative collaboration, the Barnes Foundation provides administrative, operational, and educational programming support for Calder Gardens. The Trustees of Calder Gardens is a section 509(a)(3) supporting organization that provides strategic and artistic direction, as well as financial support, to sustain the vision for Calder Gardens.

To learn more, visit caldergardens.org, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram @caldergardens