Frequently Asked Questions

What are the hours of operation?

The Museum is open from Monday–Friday: 8am–5pm

Saturday, Sunday, and all Major Holidays: Closed

The Hampton University Archives continues to be closed to visitors due to renovations. For assistance with select research requests please email Vanessa.Thaxton-Ward@hamptonu.edu. We will do our best to accommodate your request.

All hours and operation of the Hampton University Museum and Archives are subject to change.

Where do I park?

Parking is free and available in front of the museum. Once you reach the security gate you will be asked to show your license and they will direct you to parking located in the back of the historic Wigwam Building. Additional parking directions available from the HUPD.

Is the Museum handicap accessible?

Wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first serve basis. The Museum, including all galleries, are fully accessible. An accessibility entrance is located at the Museum addition, on the left side of the building.

Fully accessible restrooms are available in the basement and in second floor rotunda. A baby changing table is available in the ladies room located in the basement.

Can I use a baby stroller or bring a bag with me while in the Museum?

Baby strollers are permitted in the galleries. Large bags and backpacks must be placed in the cloak closet.

Can I take pictures inside the Museum?

Photography is permitted for personal, non-commercial use. Flash photography, tripods, and selfie sticks are not allowed. Drones are not permitted in the museum. Please note: some special exhibitions and works on loan may not allow photography of any kind.

For commercial photography or to inquire about HUM image resources, contact HUM Administration at 757.727.5308.

Can I request an image?

High-resolution digital images for publication or commercial use must be requested from Vanessa Thaxton-Ward. Please provide as much information as possible concerning the image(s) and intended use, as well as deadlines for delivery of material. We will respond confirming your image request and provide an invoice for the total fee for your materials, if applicable. You will also receive a reproduction agreement form, containing the appropriate image credits, as well as the terms of use. A signed copy of this form must be returned along with payment before the image will be released. Please allow at least 4 weeks to fill your image request. Requests requiring new photography may take longer. The Museum reserves the right to deny permission to any request.

Is the Museum available for special events?

The Hampton University Museum makes its facilities available for special events use by corporations, organizations, the campus community and individuals. In order to protect its valuable collection and to continue to assure its integrity as a museum, the Hampton University Museum has established guidelines relative to these events.

Please note, no commercial events (meaning no selling of products, no offering of products for purchase at a later date, no admission charge at the Museum for attendance), political fund raising programs, or religious fund raising programs are permitted at the Hampton University Museum. No baby showers, weddings, wedding rehearsals are allowed. Each request will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis, with strict restrictions regarding size, of decorations.

Contact:

Vanessa Thaxton-Ward

Does the Museum offer a historic campus tour?

The Museum offers a campus tour that highlights special buildings and landmarks on the historic Hampton campus. Included in the tour are:

Academy Building
Armstrong Lincoln Memorial
Booker T. Washington Monument
Charles White Mural, Contribution of the Negro to Democracy in America, Clark Hall
Emancipation Oak
John Biggers’ Murals, Tree House and House of the Turtle, William R. and Norma B. Harvey Library Atrium
Legacy Park
Mansion House
Virginia Cleveland
Wigwam Building

Brochures are available in the Museum Rotunda.

Does the museum offer internships?

Internships are periodically available.

Contact:
Vanessa Thaxton-Ward

How do I as an artist, exhibit at Hampton University Museum?

The Hampton University Museum accepts submissions from artists, institutions and collectors. To submit a proposal, please send an email inquiry with a brief description of your work or collection to Vanessa Thaxton-Ward. If the artwork fits within the gallery’s mission and current needs, we will request a complete submission. The gallery calendar is selected annually by staff. On occasion, we issue calls for submissions for thematic exhibitions like New Power Generation: A National Juried Exhibition.

Can I donate a gift of art to the Museum?

The Hampton University Museum accepts donations of art, but we have strict guidelines, protocols and procedures governing these matters. Works up for donation must be in the long-term best interests of our collection to be considered.

How do I proceed in order to make an art donation?

All donations must be approved by an internal committee (Acquisitions Committee) that includes the Curator of Collections and Director as well as other Museum staff and an external person as deemed appropriate by the primary Acquisitions Committee. No museum staff, board, or Acquisition committee member may obligate the Museum to accept any object not consistent with the intent or spirit of the Acquisition Policy and Museum mission. The acceptance of donations shall be unrestricted.

The donor should provide as much information on provenance of a work of art prior to donation of the gift.

The donor must possess free and clear title of the gift. The objects financial value must be determined prior to the gift by the donor and the object’s condition must be evaluated and restoration costs considered. If there are known associated costs for restoration or conservation of a gift, the Deed of Gift should specify who is to assume this cost.

Gifts to the Hampton University Museum at Hampton University may be deductible from taxable income in accordance with the provisions of the federal income tax code. Donors desiring to take a charitable contribution deduction must obtain an independent appraisal by a disinterested third party in accordance with the IRS current regulations. Donors are required to make available to the Museum a copy of the appraisal if the value of the donation is in excess of $4,999.00.

Museum employees and volunteers are prohibited from appraising.

For inquiries concerning works of art in personal collections, the HUM cannot provide monetary appraisals, authentication of art works, or conservation advice.

THE INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF AFRICAN AMERICAN ART (IRAAA)

What is The International Review of African American Art?

The International Review of African American Art (IRAAA) is an academic journal produced by the Hampton University Museum. We publish four times a year (Winter/Fall/Spring/Summer) and are distributed primarily through 1-year and 2-Year subscriptions, wholesale orders, and back issue sets. You can also find a selection of IRAAA issues in the Hampton University Gift Shop!

How much is a subscription? How many issues do I get?

UPDATE: Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, we are going to publish the journal bi-annually (two times a year) starting with Volume 31. Because of our commitment to producing excellent art work and articles within the journal, the current cost of $15 per copy and $55 for an annual subscription will remain.

How can I subscribe to the IRAAA?

You can subscribe to the IRAAA by contacting our Administrative Assistant, Deanna Brooks by email or by phone, at 757-727-5308.

Can I purchase single copies of the IRAAA?

Yes, you can! Issues of the IRAAA start at $15 per copy, and $40 per copy for issues of Black Art: an International Quarterly (BAQ). To purchase back issues and current issues of the journal please

Contact
Deanna Brooks, Administrative Assistant

or call at 757-727-5308.

What is the IRAAA Back Issues set?

The IRAAA Back Issues Set includes the issues of BAQ/IRAAA that are still in print plus current issues. For $1000, the IRAAA Back Issues Set is the perfect way to get your collection of the IRAAA started off strong!

How can I keep up with news about the IRAAA?

Visit the Hampton University Museum website for updates on out latest IRAAA journals! You can also visit our Facebook page at “International Review of African American Art,” for our Journal of the Month and Throwback Thursday sales, Artists of the Week, and other exclusive content you cannot get anywhere else!