Accessibility

For visitors with mobility impairments

The Museum does not have its own parking facility. There are several parking decks nearby, as well as metered and free street parking. Parking decks have designated spaces for vehicles with a disability permit and spaces for oversize vehicles. For real-time information about city parking decks, click here. There are two accessible parking spaces on Pack Square, and two just south of Pack Square on Biltmore Avenue. All spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information about parking, click here.

We can accommodate drop-offs and pickups on the Museum’s plaza, located at the corner of Biltmore Avenue and Pack Square.

The main entrance is on the plaza level, through automatic doors. The entire Museum building is accessible by elevator; please ask staff for any assistance you may need.

Two adult-size manual wheelchairs and one child-size manual wheelchair are available for checkout at the Welcome Desk on a first-come, first-served basis. Visitors may use manual or power wheelchairs or scooters and manually powered mobility aids such as walkers, crutches, and canes throughout the Museum.

All restrooms include an accessible stall. Single-stall restrooms are available on level 2 and adjacent to the studio.

Seating is provided throughout the building.

For visitors with visual impairments

EnChroma glasses are available at the Welcome Desk for use in the galleries. These glasses filter out red and green light frequencies impacted by the most common forms of colorblindness. Page magnifiers are also available for checkout at the Welcome Desk.

For visitors with hearing impairments

All Museum-produced videos in the galleries have captioning. Assistive listening devices are available for checkout on a first-come, first-served basis for programs in the multipurpose space.

For visitors with autism spectrum disorders or sensory sensitivities

The Asheville Art Museum is a KultureCity Certified Sensory Inclusive venue. All front-facing staff are trained on sensory systems and best practices for sensory inclusion. KultureCity Sensory Bags are available for visitors to check out at the Welcome Desk. They include a pair of noise-canceling headphones, fidgets, a lanyard, and a card with visual cues to identify feelings and needs. Weighted lap pads are also available at the Welcome Desk. Signage is placed across the Museum to identify loud areas as “Headphone Zones” and quiet areas as “Quiet Areas.” Staff members are available throughout the museum to assist with navigation to these locations. Headphones are welcome throughout the building.To prepare for your visit, view our Social Story on KultureCity’s website. This first-person ‘know before you go’ guide provides context for what to expect during a visit.

Visitor Guides

We invite you to use our digital guide in the Bloomberg Connects app—a free mobile app and platform that connects audiences with arts and culture institutions worldwide. Our guide offers fresh ways to experience the Museum. To download on your phone, search for Bloomberg Connects in the App Store or Google Play.

We invite you to use our smARTguide. The smARTguide is a self-guided highlights tour with information about artists and artworks in our galleries, plus questions for close-looking. A transcript is available on the smARTguide page.

For visitors with service animals

Service animals trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities are welcome. Pets and comfort animals are not considered service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act and are not permitted in the Museum.

Accessible Programs

Connections is an arts-based program serving community-dwelling adults with mild to moderate memory loss and their care partners. Led by specially trained Museum staff, contractors, and volunteers, each monthly Connections program includes a guided gallery conversation and a related activity. Space is limited, and reservations are required; call 828.253.3227 x122. Read more about Connections here.