Grand Rapids Art Museum

Accessibility and restrooms are not clearly marked. Maps/guides ere not offered when purchasing admission. Admission employees do not ask if first time to museum either, however, they were the only "nice" employees present.

As for art, save your $12. This museum isn't comprehensive or large. We saw the whole thing in 40 mins max. The Toledo Art Museum is free, comprehensive, much larger, unbelievably amazing and is accessible. Go there instead.

The community accessibility to the GRAM is ironic.. The majority of art exhibited at this museum addresses disparities and injustice between races and socioeconomic circumstances. It is a "theme" GR, as a city, seems passionate about. However, free parking isn't offered anywhere nearby; there is limited free museum admission (and then it's only from 5-6 on Thursdays, which is a common work day/time); and parking reimbursement/subsidization is offered to PAYING MEMBERS only. I must point out that the GRAM is monumentally hypocritical when weighed against their art content; it is not easily accessible for those with limited income. This museum offers "token" inclusivity at best and, wholly, is not a museum for ALL the people... It's there for only those who can afford to go.

As well, it is a museum that caters only to those that read/speak English. Only the exhibit on loan had plaques in non-English languages. No QR codes or brochures with common US languages other than English are offered.

An important note: you better be walking out of the building doors BY, not at, the closing hour. This is not communicated to you in person or in writing. The employees are not gracious or discreet if you break ANY perceived rule or etiquette, whether listed on the website, room, or not:

I was scolded for using my cell phone in a non-exhibition area, even though I was using an undertone, I was in a secluded area with no other guests nearby, there were no signs marking it as a no phone area, and there were no cell phone etiquette policies listed on the website. The restroom on either the second or third level is a one-person-at-a-time and had clearly not been serviced for hours; no paper towels, trash on the floors, etc. The Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) closed at 4 on Sunday and I used the restroom at 3:55. My friend was waiting after me and also used the restroom. I literally was stared at by FIVE employees while waiting for her. That was very uncomfortable. Once my friend immediately excited the restroom, it was projected across the entire second floor that the museum was closed. We used the elevator to go to the first floor and decided to take a selfie while waiting for it. Once we raised our phone, again, it was yelled from across the room that the museum was closed. The elevator wasn't even open yet! We were followed (herded) as we were walking out and given dirty looks. Then once we were back at the first floor exit doors, standing between the two exit doors, looking at the map on my phone because this was the first time in Grand Rapids, we were directly told to step out of the museum because, again, it was closed. We literally had been standing there for not even 30 seconds; a literal pause. I looked at my watch and it was 4:08. My watch is set a few minutes ahead. A bit of graciousness, even if such firmness was considered necessary, would have been greatly appreciated. Graciousness is a lost "art".

The only person of color I saw there was the security guard and one guest. I found that unacceptable.

BTW, both my friend and myself are 45yo licensed, medical professionals. Considering all the issues I've addressed, this place smells strongly of mismanagement and/or lack of cohesiveness among those in charge. If these GRAM employees were under my management (I wish they were), a team meeting and training session on guest courtesy would be considered imperative. As well, a board conversation on redirecting the focus of the museum's mission and how to address the lack of inclusivity and community accessibility is utterly overdue.