Making art accessible is vital to the Menil's mission; no admission is charged and public programs are free. All of the Menil's campus buildings are entered at ground level, symbolic of its democratic ideals. The Menil's philosophy is to foster each visitor's direct, personal encounter with works in the collection.
How much is the Menil Collection Worth?
Dominique de Menil appears regularly in Forbes magazine's annual listing of the 400 richest people in America, with an estimated worth of ''at least'' $200 million in Schlumberger stock and art alone. But one family member suggests that the figure ''could easily be twice that amount.
Can you take pictures in the Menil Collection?
We encourage you to take photographs for personal use in our foyer, corridors, and outdoor spaces. We ask that you refrain from photography within the galleries. Please do not use a flash or tripod (or similar equipment) as these can damage the artwork and disturb other visitors.
Who owns the Menil Collection?
The museum continues to be governed by the Menil Foundation. The foundation has been solely responsible for acquisition funds, which during the first years averaged more than $1 million annually, and operating disbursements of between $2.7 million and $2.9 million a year.
How did the Menil museum originate?
Plans to create a museum to house and exhibit John and Dominique de Menil's collection began as early as 1972 when they asked the architect Louis I. Kahn to design a museum campus on Menil Foundation property in the Montrose neighborhood of Houston near the Rothko Chapel.