The St. Louis Art Museum Foundation, a Missouri nonprofit corporation, was established in 1985 for the sole benefit of, and to carry out the purposes of, the mission and activities of the Saint Louis Art Museum. The mission of the Saint Louis Art Museum (SLAM) is to collect, present, interpret, and conserve works of art of the highest quality across time and cultures; educate, inspire discovery, and elevate the human spirit; preserve a legacy of artistic achievement for the people of St. Louis and the world; and engage, include, and represent the full diversity of the St. Louis community supporting it.
SLAM offers over 100,000 square feet of gallery space, with a permanent collection that contains more than 37,000 works of art. 98% of visitors surveyed reported a high degree of satisfaction with the Museum’s exhibitions, while 91% were satisfied with the representation of a wide variety of races, ethnicities, and communities. 75% of visitors reported having a very positive interaction with staff. 80% or more of visitors reported that a trip to the Museum had a positive impact on mood or mental health
In 2024, SLAM welcomed over 454,000 visitors. Each year, the Museum’s Learning & Engagement programs serve over 150,000 total participants (in-person and virtually) through such offerings as Family Sundays, Wee Weekends, The Young Artists Exhibition, SLAM Underground, and Living with Art. The Museum is part of the Art Bridges Foundation’s nationwide Access for All initiative. Through extended Access for All hours each Friday, the Museum is building collaborative partnerships, offering a wide variety of interdisciplinary activities and performances, and engaging new audiences while expanding our regional impact - over 115,000 visitors participated in Free Fridays in 2024.
SLAM has offered free general admission for more than a century, and admission fees for featured exhibitions are waived on Fridays to guarantee access for everyone. This ensures that the Museum remains "Dedicated to Art and Free to All," the institution's guiding principle carved in stone above the entrance. Your support is vital as we strive to reach and serve every corner of our community, improve quality of life throughout the metropolitan region, and enhance St. Louis's reputation as an arts destination.