The Frick Collection will extend its popular First Fridays initiative through May 2027 as part of a three-year cultural partnership with Louis Vuitton.
Starting this month, the French fashion house will underwrite the monthly series, which extends free admission to visitors over the age of 10 on the first Friday of every month—excluding January and September—from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
During First Fridays, visitors can explore both the museum’s permanent collection and temporary exhibitions, as well as special programming including talks, music, dance performances, and live figure drawing. The series, which first debuted in October 2016, returned last spring, soon after the museum reopened to the public following a five-year, $330 million renovation and expansion project.
The initiative comes as part of Frick’s broader effort to increase public access to its world-class collection, housed in a historic Fifth Avenue home.
“The success of our recent First Fridays events reflects an ongoing strong public interest in the museum, now a year after our reopening,” said Axel Rüger, the Frick’s Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Director, in a statement. “We have been pleased to once again offer these unique, after-hours experiences in our galleries each month, which expand access to our historic buildings and offer new ways for visitors to explore our collections.”
In recent years, major institutions, including the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, have expanded free-admission programs through major funding commitments designed to expand audiences and reduce barriers to entry.
The Frick Collection’s partnership with Louis Vuitton was announced in May of this year. Soon after, the fashion house unveiled its Cruise 2027 collection in a runway show at the museum. For Louis Vuitton, the collaboration expands the brand’s longstanding involvement in the arts through cultural sponsorships and support for major exhibitions. The three-year partnership will also support future exhibitions at the Frick beyond the First Fridays series.
Art lovers interested in Louis Vuitton First Fridays are encouraged to register in advance, though walk-in visitors will also be admitted as capacity allows. The next event in the series will take place on June 5th.
