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Membership Matters
Membership at the Michael C. Carlos Museum is now free! Join or renew your membership to the Carlos at no cost to deepen your connection with the museum. Members enjoy priority registration, discounts on special program, and invitations to member-only events.
Questions about ongoing membership benefits? Please contact our membership office via email here or call our membership line at 404-727-2623.
Free Membership FAQs
Why free membership?
- Many reasons! Most importantly, we have found a way to keep admission and membership costs from becoming a barrier to coming to the Carlos Museum.
- We are pleased to join other University museums in offering free admission.
- A group of incredible Carlos Museum patrons have increased their giving to replace what we have previously received in annual membership and admission revenue to make this initiative possible. We are grateful for these contributors!
What are you doing instead of paid membership?
- Membership will be free going forward! We’ll renew your membership for free until you tell us not to.
- A group of wonderful Carlos Museum patrons has increased their giving to replace what we have previously received annually in membership and admission revenue. We are so grateful to these contributors! You can join them by giving to keep our museum free to all.
- We are establishing two patronage levels: $100 and above, and $1500 and above.
- These two levels will enable us to offer bespoke special events and invitations beyond what we will offer to those who sign up for free membership.
- These two levels will enable us to offer bespoke special events and invitations beyond what we will offer to those who sign up for free membership.
What about the membership I paid for?
- Your paid membership and any related benefits will continue until the current expiration date. After that, we will renew your membership for free.
- If you would like to receive the balance of your paid membership, we are able to process that on your behalf.
What about the special benefits I used to get as a member at a certain level?
- As a free member, you will still receive regular updates from the museum and invitations to special programs.
- You will still receive a discount for programs that must carry a registration fee (like Carlos Reads, where we have to buy and distribute books, for instance)
- We are establishing just 2 patronage levels: $100 and above, and $1500 and above. These two levels will enable us to offer bespoke special events and invitations beyond what we will offer to those who sign up for free membership.
What about NARM and other reciprocal free museum benefits?
- If you purchased a membership at a level that gets you reciprocal benefits, those will continue until your paid membership expires.
- Because membership and admission will be free at the Carlos, we won’t be able to justify asking museums with paid admission to allow our members in for free.
- In the future, we hope that we will be able to provide reciprocal benefits at NARM museums across North America as a patron benefit.
Can I still get a physical Membership Card?
- We will only provide digital membership cards going forward. We know many of our members prefer physical cards, but with free membership, we can’t absorb the cost of printing and mailing the cards.
- Digital cards will continue to be delivered through our partner, Memberships Anywhere.
What does free membership do for me?
- You can attend the museum and bring your friends for free!
- The sign-in process when you come to the museum will be easier.
- As a free member, you will still receive regular updates from the museum and invitations to special programs.
- You’ll receive discounts on popular regular programs like Carlos Reads.
If I haven’t paid for a membership, do I have to pay to get into the Carlos?
- Admission to the Museum will be free beginning January 6, 2027!
- But being a member is free, too, so sign up here!
For more information or questions about membership benefits, contact the membership office at carlosmembership@emory.edu or 404-727-2623.
Digital Membership Cards
We're thrilled to offer digital membership cards! You'll be able to access your digital membership card when you renew or join our membership program. Members can continue to use their physical cards to enjoy the museum. Can’t find your card? Email the Membership Office for assistance. Click the button below to see FAQs regarding digital membership cards.
