Admission is $10 for visitors ages 1 and up.  We also are participate in the Museums for All program, which reduces admission to $2 per person (limit 6 discounts per family) when you show an EBT card. We are not currently participating in other discount programs.

Admission is FREE for members and babies 11 month and younger.

Please note: During exhibition opening weekends, the museum has restrictions on admission passes. Please be sure to refer to your pass for the fine print.

Memberships start at $70. Benefits include discounts, special members-only events and exhibition previews.

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Tickets may be purchased in person or online. Reservations encouraged, particularly during busy times, such as school breaks,  when the museum may reach capacity.

Read full admission policy here.

We ask all guests who are experiencing symptoms of illness – such as fever, cough, nausea or shortness of breath – to postpone their visit.

To help mitigate the spread of germs, the museum has enhanced cleaning procedures and added hand sanitizer stations throughout the galleries. Additionally, we’ve installed Plasma Air ionization systems at the museum and signage to encourage frequent hand washing and proper cough/sneeze containment.

We encourage good hygiene for all our visitors, including washing hands before and after playing at the museum.

Although face coverings are optional at City of Mesa facilities, we encourage visitors to continue to exercise precautions, including getting vaccinated, wearing masks if unvaccinated and staying at home when not feeling well.

Note: The City of Mesa continues to monitor pending litigation and recent executive orders involving the ability of municipalities to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Governor Doug Ducey’s Executive Order 2021-09 precludes municipalities from requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination status to enter any building, including Mesa-owned and operated venues such as the i.d.e.a Museum. We are actively monitoring the course of the pandemic in Arizona as we strive to balance public safety and the services we provide to residents, businesses, employees and visitors

Cleaning

Staff rotates in clean toys and materials daily, and both staff and volunteers tidy up activities and wipe down common spaces and toys several times a day.  Additionally, a professional cleaning crew comes out daily when we are closed for more thorough cleanings – including sanitizing bathrooms and drinking fountains.

Deep cleaning and larger exhibition maintenance projects takes place when the museum is closed on Mondays.

We also remind staff and museum volunteers to play their part with good hygiene. Staff and volunteers are expected to wash hands regularly and must stay home when they are ill.

If you notice a dirty toy or untidy space, please bring it to our staff’s attention as soon as possible. We’ve also added “Yuck Buckets” throughout the museum to place used toys/materials.

Best practices for health and wellness:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue away.
• If you don’t have a tissue, couch or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands.
• If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms such as a fever, cough, or shortness of breath, please stay home.

Yes. Accessibility to the museum for our entire community is part of our mission. Through generous museum donations and sponsorships, we have been able to offer occasional free admission days in the past. Please check our Museum Access page for updates.

We participate in Museums for All, which enables families with an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card to visit the i.d.e.a. Museum for $2 per person – up to 6 family members – by showing the card (cannot be combined with other discounts). Learn more >>

Please check with our front desk for available accommodations to address your family’s needs. Find more information on museum accessibility by clicking the link.

PLAY SPACE: ArtVille features an enclosed space for babies. The space features soft toys and mirrored pony walls geared toward non-walkers.

NURSING: We are nursing friendly. For moms who prefer some quiet and privacy, we offer a family room inside ArtVille. It’s furnished with comfy chairs, a changing table, sink and toys so other children can stay close by.

CHANGING STATIONS: We have changing tables in all our bathrooms, except the children’s bathrooms in ArtVille designed for little one who want some independence from mom and dad.

STROLLERS: You may bring your stroller to the museum. While visiting ArtVille, we offer designated parking areas for stroller to help the museum maintain floor cleanliness and to provide a safe environment for all visitors in ArtVille.

If would like to enjoy a snack that you packed for your museum visit, the Snackery is open for families.

Also, several kid-friendly restaurants are within walking distance of the museum (a few blocks). A list of options is available at our Visitors Services desk.

The nearest ATM is located at US Bank on Main Street and Macdonald.

We often support local community organizations that align with our mission by donating passes for use in fundraisers and silent auctions.

All donation requests must be submitted online at least 30 days prior to an event. The form can be found here.

Please note: We receive a large volume of requests, and it is not possible for us to donate to every organization that requests tickets.

The i.d.e.a. Museum is owned by the City of Mesa and is supported by the i.d.e.a. Museum Foundation, Inc. a 501(c)3 nonprofit.  These two organizations support the museum through admissions, workshop fees, individual and corporate donations, grants, memberships and proceeds from our i.d.e.a. Shop.

If you would like to support the i.d.e.a. Museum, contact Development Manager Lindsay Hochhalter at 480-644-5564.

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If you are making monthly donations, you will be sent a year-end tax receipt.