New Orleans Museum of Art
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
NOMA is a cultural gem featuring a beautiful and diverse art collection indoors, complemented by an exceptional outdoor sculpture garden. It offers a serene escape from the city's bustling areas, ideal for art appreciation, photography, and leisurely outdoor strolls.
Key Highlights
- ✓Expansive and incredible outdoor sculpture gardens with paths winding around ponds and clearly labeled art (artist, date sculpted).
- ✓Broad and diverse selection of historical and modern art inside the museum.
- ✓Stunning landscapes and beautiful park grounds surrounding the museum.
- ✓Numerous photo opportunities both indoors and outdoors, especially in the sculpture gardens.
- ✓Specific notable artworks like Will Ryman's "America" and cool quirky furniture inside the museum.
Standout Features
- ⭐Free street parking is available.
- ⭐Located within beautiful city park grounds, offering additional family activities outside of NOMA itself.
- ⭐Easy trolley access from Canal Street.
- ⭐Detailed plaques on sculpture garden art provide educational context (artist and date).
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Bring a camera charger or extra battery, especially if you plan to take many photos of the art and gardens.
- →Consider visiting during the week to experience fewer crowds and a more serene atmosphere.
- →Allocate significant time for the outdoor sculpture gardens, as they are a major highlight and can easily occupy an entire afternoon.
Things to Consider
- ⚠One review noted unhelpful staff in the gift shop.
- ⚠One visitor found the collections 'limited' though well-presented, indicating personal interest may vary.
Price & Value
Non-resident admission is $20, students are $13. Offers good value for soaking up 'true culture' and enjoying extensive art collections and beautiful outdoor gardens, especially when compared to other tourist activities.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •No specific accessibility accommodations mentioned in reviews.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •No information about food and drink rules or availability (e.g., cafes, outside food) in the reviews.
🚗Parking Info
- •Free street parking is available, as mentioned in a review.
👥Crowd Levels
- •Quieter during the week, offering a potentially more enjoyable experience.
- •Weekends are likely more crowded, though not explicitly stated as problematic.
🛡️Safety Features
- •No specific safety features mentioned in reviews.
⏰When to Avoid
- • Families looking for high-energy, interactive activities typically found in dedicated science centers, as NOMA is an art museum.
- • Likely busier during weekends, potentially less serene for families with very young children or those sensitive to crowds.
Pricing/Package/Events
Pricing & Packages
Studio KIDS! Youth Art-Making Workshop: Haiku and Origami
$30Art-making workshop focusing on Haiku and Origami.
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
Salon Supper Club Presented by First Horizon Bank
Fri, October 3rd at 6:00 PM
A new food- and art-focused series of events inspired by works on view. (Previous events mentioned for May 22 include signature dish from chef EJ Lagasse, progressive menu, live music, exclusive exhibition access).
Japan Fest
Sat, October 11th at 10:00 AM
Celebrate Japanese culture through art, performances, food, and more, organized by NOMA, the Japan Club in New Orleans, and the Consulate General of Japan in Nashville.
Butterfly Music Series: Amina Figarova
Sun, October 19th at 2:00 PM
Experience part of Super Bowl LIX history and enjoy music played on Suleika Jaouad and Jon Batiste's custom Yamaha piano on view at NOMA.
Book Club: The Other Side: A Story of Women in Art and the Spirit World
Thu, October 16th at 12:00 PM
NOMA’s book club meets monthly to discuss fiction and non-fiction books related to art in the museum’s collection and exhibitions.
Studio KIDS! Youth Art-Making Workshop: Haiku and Origami
Sat, October 25th
$30
Youth art-making workshop for ages 6-10 or ages 11-14.
Spring Festival
Saturday, May 31, 10 am–4 pm
$5 for NOMA members, Free for ages 19 and under
All ages exploration, artmaking, and creativity inspired by 'New African Masquerades: Artistic Innovations and Collaborations'. Includes live performances, guided tours of African art, conservator-led workshop, exhibition-inspired activities, food and drink from Café NOMA.
Producer's Choice Film Series: Cinema Paradiso
Wednesday, May 28, 7 pm
Outdoor screening in NOMA’s Besthoff Sculpture Garden. Guests can order popcorn, snacks, and drinks from Café NOMA.
Music in the Garden
Sunday, May 18, 2–4 pm
FREE
Outdoor music in NOMA's Besthoff Sculpture Garden featuring T Marie and Bayou Juju (2–3 pm) and Haruka Kikuchi (3–4 pm).
🍎Food Policy
- • Large backpacks, water bottles, and food items should be left in a safe place outside the museum. If not possible, the museum will collect and arrange pickup after the tour for groups.
- • Café NOMA by Ralph Brennan offers pastries, coffee, lunch, cocktails, and more.
🛡️Safety Policy
- • Visitor safety and well-being is NOMA’s highest priority.
- • All guidelines are in place to ensure the safety of groups, visitors, museum staff, and works of art on view.
- • Inappropriate behavior toward NOMA staff, docents, volunteers, or other visitors is strictly prohibited.
- • NOMA reserves the right to refuse or revoke admission of any group member whose conduct violates Museum or Group guidelines, including removal from premises and potential restriction from future visits.
📅Booking Policy
- • Confirmed reservations are required for all groups of 10 or more.
- • Groups without reservations are subject to capacity restrictions and are not guaranteed admission.
- • Groups must complete a visit request form for their category (K–12, college/university, adult).
- • Student and University groups must check in through the Group Tours Courtyard on the museum’s south side near the Museum Shop.
- • Adult groups must check in at the Admissions Desk located in the Great Hall.
- • Plan to meet with a NOMA representative ten minutes before a scheduled tour.
- • For private event rentals, email events@noma.org.
🚗Parking Information
- • Parking is always free on Lelong Drive and the streets surrounding NOMA within City Park.
- • Handicap spaces are reserved at the front of the museum adjacent an entrance ramp.
What People Say
Areas for Improvement
- Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 3 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Tom P
3 weeks agoThis review is mostly about the sculpture gardens. Although the museum is nice, it's the sculpture gardens that really wow you. The landscapes, combined with the outdoor art is just incredible. Paths wander around ponds, and sculptures are located along the paths, each one has a plaque telling you who the artist is and when it was sculpted. We went during the week, so it was probably less crowded. So many great photo opportunities along the way. Highly recommend going. What a gem.
Mardi Graz
a week agoNoma is a beautiful, elegant, and grandiose museum with lots and lots to see! Bring your charger! If you take pictures, you're gonna need it! If you have a camera, bring an extra battery (or a charger). The paintings are incredible! The quirky furniture is super cool, and Will Ryman's "America" is must-see! Trust me! If you're in New Orleans, don't waste all your time on Bourbon Street! Go soak up some true culture! You'll be glad you did! The girls in the gift shop were the least helpful people I've ever met, but it's still worth a visit to grab a dope souvenir!
LYNNETTE RIFFEL
2 weeks agoExcellent broad and diverse selection of art, both historical and modern. Non residents $20 and $13 for students. Free street parking. Beautiful park grounds surrounding the area with additional family activities.
Michelle Gould
a month agoMy husband and I went to the sculpture gardens at NOMA. (The afternoon was so beautiful that we never made it inside the museum!) It’s an easy trolley ride from Canal Street and a lovely way to spend an afternoon away from the boozy crowds.
Rick Dudley
a week agoBeautiful museum in city park. The collections here are limited, but well presented. I was not impressed overall, but that is just because the collections did not hold MY interest. Stop by and check it out, I'm glad I did.