Barry Art Museum
Positioned at the gateway to Old Dominion University, the Barry Art Museum beckons the campus and the entire community to come inside and see what’s behind its serpentine glass wall. The glass sculpture collection, featuring internationally known makers, enables the University to contribute substantially to the region’s growing reputation as a glass art center. On campus, the Museum caps the University’s efforts to create an arts village on the east side of Hampton Boulevard, thus enhancing Norfolk’s efforts to make the city a cultural destination.
Accessibility Tips
- The Barry Art Museum strives to adhere to ADA standards. All Museum entrances are accessible, there is an elevator to the second floor, and all areas of their galleries are accessible.
- The Barry Art Museum has two wheelchairs on site for guests’ use. Folding gallery stools are available alongside benches and chairs and can be used throughout the Museum.
- The height of their welcome desk is tiered so that both standing and sitting/wheel chair guests are at an adequate height.
- An accessible restroom is available on the first floor.
- Audio tours are available at the front desk of the Museum.
- The Museum offers free, hands-on/sensory activities every Sunday afternoon.
- The Barry Art Museum allows service dogs on the premises, if and only if they have been trained to perform a service. Service dogs not specifically trained to perform a service are not permitted inside the Museum. No other service animals are permitted inside the Museum.
Chrysler Museum of Art
The Chrysler Museum of Art is a cultural enclave includes more than 30,000 original works of art that span more than 5,000 years in its galleries. The Perry Glass Studio is a modern, 7,000-square-foot facility adjacent to the Museum that is fully equipped to accommodate aspiring and master artists alike. The educational facility supports artists working in a variety of glassmaking processes, including glassblowing, casting, fusing, flameworking and cold-working.
Accessibility Tips
- The main entrance of the Museum features a lift for wheelchair and/or stroller users.
- A secondary side entrance features a ramp for wheelchairs.
- Ramps are located throughout the galleries to allow access to each space.
- Restrooms are wheelchair accessible.
- Wheelchairs are available for guest use.
- Kaufman Theater features an induction loop, which is assistive listening technology for individuals with reduced ranges of hearing.
- Closed captioning or transcripts are available for any audio/video elements on view.
- All works on view feature large print labels.
- Sensory bags are available to rent for guest use.
d’Art Center
The d’ART Center, located in the NEON District, is a unique attraction, providing an environment where working artists are a part of an interactive community. The d’Art Center is home to professional visual artists who display and sell original works of art on-site. The interactive concept crosses socioeconomic lines and bridges the gap between the artist and the art, making the creative process and the visual arts come alive and accessible.
Accessibility Tips
- A ramp is available to access d’Art Center.
- There is adequate space to freely move around via wheelchair inside the gallery.
Hermitage Museum & Gardens
The Hermitage Museum & Gardens is a waterfront estate featuring an Arts and Crafts style mansion located along the Lafayette River. The museum offers innovative changing exhibitions, 12 acres of gardens and grounds, a permanent collection of over 5,000 objects representing 30 countries, outdoor concerts, year-round classes and art camp, and is a popular location for weddings. The museum and gardens are free and open to the public Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Accessibility Tips
- Accessible parking spaces are available on a first come, first served basis.
- The first floor of the Hermitage Museum is wheelchair accessible via a ramp. The main front desk is situated at an adequate height for wheelchairs.
- Accessibility is limited in some areas, including the upstairs galleries and some areas of the gardens. At the museum, if someone in your party can carry your wheelchair up to the second floor, you are welcome to do so. If you are unable to visit the second floor of the museum, materials are available at the front desk upon request to provide an overview and images of the galleries upstairs.
- Some paths throughout the grounds are paved, but there is uneven terrain in some areas. Wheelchair-accessible restrooms are located adjacent to the Millstone Courtyard by the main entrance of the museum, and a single wheelchair-accessible restroom is located on the first floor of the museum.
- Service animals are permitted throughout the grounds and museum.
- If you would like a copy of the Hermitage’s self-guided tour in a language other than English, please submit a request prior to your visit by calling 757-423-2052.
- The Hermitage offers virtual tours of their museum and gardens online.
- Their website features more information about their wheelchair accessible options, as well as a map detailing accessible parking spaces and primary paths.
