All the conditions listed below are subject to change. Check with the Toronto Public Library for the most up-to-date information.
As most tourists know, there are too many cultural and historical museums here in Toronto to visit during a visit to the city. However, many of those who live in Toronto, who should have ample opportunities to see and do it all, do not always end up taking advantage of our city’s many museums and historic sites. Sometimes it’s just due to a lack of interest or time, but for some there is also the financial concern of packing admission fees into a limited budget. Wouldn’t it be nice if there were some kind of free Toronto museum pass available only to local residents?
There’s a simple solution for you, courtesy of the Toronto Public Library.
Looking to save money on Toronto’s cultural attractions? Enter the Sun Life Financial Museum and the Arts Pass (MAP). Available at all Toronto Public Library branches in the city, these passes, which offer free entry to one of more than a dozen local museums, can be signed by anyone with a Toronto Public Library card for adults . Conditions vary depending on the museum you want to visit, but generally the pass is good for two adults and up to five children.
There are a limited number of passes available from each branch each week, and they are issued on a first-come, first-served basis. Most branches begin closing the week’s allowance on Saturday morning at 9am, with a few exceptions.
If you arrive early enough to get one of the passes, please note that you can only use it once and then you will deliver it to the location for admission (so you have to choose a museum from the list, not make a day of going museum). You can only sign one pass per week, and you can only get one pass for each location about once every three months.
So where can your Toronto museum pass take you?
The following museums and attractions are currently part of the Sun Life Financial Museum and Arts Pass program: The Art Gallery of Ontario, The Textile Museum of Canada, and the 8 Historic Museums of the City of Toronto.
There are also a limited number of passes available to the Bata Shoe Museum, Aga Khan Museum, Black Creek Pioneer Village, Gardiner Museum, Ontario Science Center, Royal Ontario Museum, and the Toronto Zoo.
Of course, there are some restrictions on when you can use the passes (not during the March holidays, for example) and the age and number of children who will receive free admission varies by institution. Visit your local branch or the Sun Life MAP page on the Toronto Public Library website for full loan details and terms, then go to a museum for free.
Other advantages of MAP
It’s also good to note that on Saturdays in May, October, and November, Toronto MAP attractions offer crafts, games, and activities at library branches throughout the city. The programs offered generally last one hour and are ideal for children ages 5-12 and their parents or caregivers.
Updated by Jessica Padykula
