FAQ

No. All exhibitions and related programs are free unless otherwise noted. Visitors must pay to park on campus Monday-Friday from 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Rates are $1.50 per hour, or $8.00 for a daily pass. Parking can be paid at paystations located throughout visitor parking areas.

Yes, groups larger than 10 are encouraged to schedule an appointment to visit the galleries.  Professors coming with their classes are especially encouraged to do this at least 48 hours in advance. Based on staff availability and pre-planning, it should be possible for visits to take place outside of the posted hours.

In most cases, photography in the galleries is not permitted.  Special exceptions can be made for students and media professionals, but this permission must be secured in advance. Flash photography is never allowed, however.

The University Galleries intend to serve audiences at USD above others.  Recent analysis of our annual visitation patterns show that most gallery visitors tend to come during the week, when classes are in session.  Evening hours on Thursdays enable off-campus visitors to take advantage of gallery programs after work, especially since most of these programs are deliberately planned for this night. Exceptional weekend hours may be planned on an occasional basis in conjunction with special exhibitions. Please consult the University Galleries visit page or events section for details.

Yes.  We welcome gifts of original prints, drawings, photographs, and Native American material culture (note: artifacts that are associated with graves or sacred rituals will not be considered in accordance with Federal law and out of respect for tribes).  Gifts of art will be reviewed by a curatorial advisory committee that is tasked with determining what is appropriate before being accessioned to the permanent collection.  This committee meets twice a year.  A Print Society was created in 2013 to support acquisitions, exhibitions, and other programs in that area.

No. Best practices in the museum profession guide us away from offering monetary appraisals of works of art.  As a courtesy, we can provide interested parties with a list of qualified appraisers who conduct evaluations of art (usually on a fee basis) within our region.

Like most non-profit museums/galleries, The University Galleries’ program operates with significant limitations to its resources and space. For these reasons, we focus first on projects that 1) relate directly to the educational mission of the University, 2) enable us to pursue creative links to our faculty and the curriculum they teach, and 3) involve students in innovative ways with the conception, development, and presentation of works of art.  Ideally, our exhibition schedule is fully established 2-3 years in advance and programs must privilege projects that advance the strategic goals of the University, first and foremost.  If you believe you have work that meets all of these criteria, you may submit an exhibition proposal that will be reviewed by the professional staff and our advisory committees. Proposals will be reviewed only as staff time allows. USD is not responsible for any unsolicited materials it receives.

Yes.  We welcome new members of our support groups, such as The Print Society. Internships for USD undergraduates and graduate students are the primary ways for non-professionals to become involved in the gallery programs.  If you have special skills or interests to bring to the programs, please contact the Director of University Galleries to schedule an appointment to discuss additional volunteer opportunities.  Paid opportunities are extremely limited and all jobs are listed on the USD Jobs website.

Yes. Most of this information is already available on this site.  Staff members are prepared to answer questions about past exhibitions or works in the permanent collection, as requested. Inquiries can be sent via the contact information listed on this site.  Publications associated with our past exhibitions are also available.  A small charge to cover expenses associated with shipping these publications may be assessed.