Member FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Photo: Orange Photography

New Membership Rates and Benefits

What are the new membership rates?

An Individual membership is $80, and a Dual membership is $105.

Why did membership rates change?

This modest rate increase allows us to maintain our dynamic program of exhibitions and events while continuing to provide the highest-quality educational activities for museum visitors of all ages. This is the first membership rate increase in more than three years.

What changes were made to discounted membership levels?

Senior members continue to receive a discount on our regular rates: a Senior Individual membership is $45, and a Senior Dual membership is $65.

We no longer offer discounted membership rates for artists, teachers, students, and non-Bay Area members. Our Individual membership provides unlimited museum admission for two people for an entire year. It is a tremendous value and provides the museum with vital operating support.

Members at the Working Artist/Teacher, Student, and Out-of-Town levels have received a complimentary upgrade to the Individual level. Working Artist/Teacher and Student members upgraded to Individual can now bring a guest each time they visit the museum. If you received a complimentary upgrade, please continue to use your existing membership card until you renew.

What changes were made to benefits?

Benefits at selected membership levels were adjusted in conjunction with the rate change.

Dual level members continue to receive admission for four people each visit but will no longer receive guest passes. Members at the Contributing level will receive two guest passes each year instead of four, and members at the Benefactor level will continue to receive four guest passes each year.

Dual members no longer receive free admission for children age 16 and under. Children age 12 and under (accompanied by an adult) will continue to receive free admission.

In place of evening preview receptions, members at the Individual, Dual, Supporting, and Senior levels will be invited to exclusive member preview days for selected major exhibitions.

Members at the Supporting level and above will receive a new benefit: private evening viewing hours for selected exhibitions throughout the year. Members at the Contributing level and above will continue to enjoy exclusive evening receptions for major exhibitions.

Member Ticketing for Special Exhibitions

Do I need to pay extra to visit Richard Avedon: Photographs 1946–2004?

No. Timed tickets for members and their guests are available for free on a first-come, first-served basis at the membership desk.

Do I need to reserve tickets in advance for Richard Avedon: Photographs 1946–2004 (on view through November 29, 2009)?

If you are planning to visit on a weekend, holiday, or during the last two weeks of the exhibition, we encourage you to reserve your tickets in advance. Advance ticket reservations can be made in person at the membership desk (no fees) or online (MuseumTix fees apply). Please visit the Member Ticketing page for more information on how to reserve free timed tickets for the exhibition.

Can I reserve tickets for more than one date?

Yes. You may reserve timed tickets for as many dates as you plan to visit throughout the run of the exhibition. Please visit the Member Ticketing page to check your daily member ticket allotment (which is based on membership level). You may also purchase tickets for any additional guests.

Please note that you will NOT be able to reserve tickets for Free Tuesdays (the first Tuesday of each month: October 6 and November 3). A limited number of free timed tickets will be available for members at the membership desk on these days on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please choose your dates carefully, as date exchanges are not encouraged, and as the handling and processing fees are nonrefundable. However, if you are unable to attend on the day you reserved, please email the Membership Department at membership@sfmoma.org at least 24 hours before your reservation so that we can make the tickets available to other members; we can then exchange your tickets for another date or time slot.

When can I visit Richard Avedon: Photographs 1946–2004?

Timed tickets for the exhibition can be reserved for half hourly time slots from 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays; and from 11:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays. You must enter the exhibition during your timeslot but can stay for as long as you’d like. The last ticket is issued approximately one hour prior to the museum's closing. Note: The museum is closed on Wednesdays.

Please note that only entry to this exhibition is timed. You are welcome to visit any other exhibition in the museum at any time on the day of your visit.

Can I visit Richard Avedon: Photographs 1946–2004 before I receive my membership card?

If you joined online or at the membership desk and have not yet received your membership card, you can bring your receipt and a photo ID to the membership desk to reserve or pick up timed tickets.

My membership has lapsed. How can I get tickets for Richard Avedon: Photographs 1946–2004?

Renew your membership online and bring your confirmation email and a photo ID to the membership desk to reserve or pick up timed tickets.

What's the fastest way for me to enter the galleries when I visit the museum?

For the fastest service, present your SFMOMA membership card at the membership desk each time you visit. Your card helps us access your account and print out your free member tickets quickly.

General Membership Information

How do I join or renew my membership?

There are three ways to join or renew your membership:

Online
By phone at 415.357.4135, Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
In person at the membership desk in the museum's Haas Atrium

Please allow up to four weeks for your membership cards to be processed and delivered. You can take advantage of your membership benefits right away by presenting proof of payment and a photo ID at the membership desk.

What are the benefits of membership?

Basic membership benefits include unlimited free admission for you and a guest; express entry at the museum; invitations to exclusive member events; free subscriptions to our exhibition and program guide and members' e.news; free admission to selected film screenings and lectures; and 10 percent off at the MuseumStore. Additional benefits are available at higher membership levels.

Can I bring a guest?

Members at all levels may bring one guest to the museum free of charge on each visit during regular hours. Membership at the Dual level and higher extends complimentary admission to up to four people. To receive complimentary admission, guests must be accompanied by a current member.

How many guests can I bring to member events?

Please check your invitation for guest privilege details.

How can I keep up with museum exhibitions, programs, and events?

Our exhibition and program guide covers everything you need to know about what's going on at the museum, and it arrives in your mailbox every other month. For more up-to-the-moment news and event information, SFMOMA members can sign up for members' e.news or access our online calendar of events.

Can I give a membership gift through my charitable trust, foundation, or donor-advised fund?

Yes, but giving through a charitable trust, foundation, or donor-advised fund carries certain restrictions. Please contact the Membership Department at membership@sfmoma.org or 415.357.4135 for more information.

What is reciprocal membership?

Members at the Supporting level and higher enjoy reciprocal benefits at selected museums in North America — including free admission, admission to member previews, and discounts on purchases made at participating museums' stores. Please note that reciprocal privileges may be restricted for specially ticketed exhibitions.

Review the list of participating museums.

How do I use my guest passes?

Members at the Contributing level and higher receive guest passes each year. Each guest pass may be used for a one-time free admission during regular museum hours, whether or not the member is present. Guest passes do not have an expiration date. Guest passes can be used for complimentary admission to specially ticketed exhibitions. However, they cannot be used for admission to members-only previews and do not entitle the user to a MuseumStore discount or other membership privileges.

Can family members or friends use my membership card?

Membership cards are not transferable; only the cardholder is entitled to use the card. The cardholder must be present in order for guests to receive free admission.

What should I do if I lose my membership card?

Please visit the membership desk in the museum’s Haas Atrium or email the Membership Department at membership@sfmoma.org to request a replacement card. You can continue to take advantage of your membership benefits by presenting a photo ID at the membership desk.

How do I update my contact information or check my membership status?

To update your contact information, please email the Membership Department at membership@sfmoma.org or visit the membership desk in the museum’s Haas Atrium.

If you have not received a renewal notice, you can assume that your membership is current. If you receive a renewal notice but have already renewed your membership, please disregard the notice.