Updated May 2025.
Originally posted November 2017.
Over 30 Arizona museums and attractions offer free passes to local library card holders through the Culture Pass program!
What is a Culture Pass?
Culture Passes are a limited number of free admissions to cultural, historic, and other educational sites in Arizona that libraries make available to patrons. It was created by Act One, a 501(c)3 charitable organization.
Libraries that offer Culture Passes have a certain number available for each museum, etc. Different libraries have a different selection and number of Culture Passes that they offer.
About 175 libraries statewide and the library districts for 11 out of Arizona’s 15 counties participate in this program.
Who Can Check Out a Culture Pass?
To check out a culture pass you must…
- Be a current cardholder for a participating library.
- Live in the district (or be a member of the community) that library serves.
- Be 18 or over.
How to Use a Culture Pass
Each pass is good for free general admission for two people on one visit.
1. Browse Culture Pass options your library offers. Usually, you can find a list on your library’s Culture Pass page or you can search “Culture Pass” in the online catalog.
2. Pick an available pass in-person. Sometimes libraries have a stand/kiosk with brochure-sized cards representing available Culture Pass destinations, and you take the one you want up to the circulation desk to check out. Other times, the culture passes are kept behind the desk, so you just have to ask.
3. A librarian will check the pass out with your library card (no self checkout for these!) and hand you a receipt-like slip of paper. It may seem flimsy, but don’t lose it! This is your actual ticket in.
4. Go to the museum / garden / zoo! Each pass is good for free general admission for two people one time. It will automatically expire after one week. You don’t have to return anything to the library.
- You must check out Culture Passes in person.
- Passes are first-come, first-served. They can’t be put on hold or reserved.
- You may be able to check the library catalog online for availability, but that doesn’t guarantee the pass will still be there when you arrive!
Culture Pass Arts Destinations
Some of the Culture Pass Arts Destinations we’ve enjoyed (with or without a pass):
- Arcosanti (Cordes Junction)
- Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
- Desert Botanical Garden
- Heard Museum
- MOCA Tucson
- Phoenix Art Museum
- Reid Park Zoo
- Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
- University of Arizona Museum of Art
- Tohono Chul Park
- Tucson Botanical Gardens
- Tucson Museum of Art
The program now includes more passes for Northern Arizona destinations, like Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff and the Sedona Heritage Museum.
Culture Pass Performances
More recently, the program has also expanded to include performances. It works basically the same way. Certain plays, operas, symphony concerts, and other performances will have Culture Passes available a couple weeks ahead of time. You can check them out from select Phoenix- and Tucson-area libraries on a first come, first serve basis.
These include performances from…
- Arizona Opera
- Chandler Center for the Arts
- The Phoenix Symphony
…and several more!
Where to Check Out a Culture Pass
The number of participating libraries has been growing, and I didn’t see an updated list. Here’s what I did find.
One of the newer libraries to join is Arizona Talking Book Library, which accepts applications from people with certain visual and physical disabilities and is part of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS).
Public Libraries
These are some of the public, county, and city library systems that offer access to Culture Passes to residents with a library card:
- Cochise County Library District
- Coconino County: Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library Downtown Library and East Flagstaff Community Library
- Gila County Library District
- Maricopa County Library District: also city libraries within Maricopa County, like Phoenix Public Library. If you live in Maricopa County, you can get a library card from any of the County’s public libraries.
- Navajo County Library District: Holbrook Public Library, Pinetop-Lakeside Public Library, Show Low Public Library, Snowflake-Taylor Public Library, and Winslow Public Library
- Nogales-Santa Cruz County Public Library: Nogales-Rochlin Library, Sonoita Library, Tubac Library, and Rio Rico Library
- Pima County Public Library branches
- Pinal County Library District
- Safford City Graham County Library
- Sedona (on the border of Yavapi and Coconino Counties): Community Library Sedona on White Bear Road
- Yavapi Library Network: includes Sedona
- Yuma County Library District: Main Yuma Library
College / University Libraries
Check out Culture Passes at your campus library if you’re a student or employee of…
- Arizona State University (ASU)
- Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University (available at Hazy Library and Learning Center)
- Maricopa Community Colleges
- Northern Arizona University / Coconino Community College (NAU/CCC)
- Pima Community College
- University of Arizona (U of A)
- Yavapi College (available at Prescott Campus Library)
I believe there are similar programs at some libraries outside of Arizona. If you know of one, let me know!
