Right in the middle of Westwood Village in Los Angeles is the Armand Hammer Museum and Cultural Center. The Museum opened to the public in November of 1990, and became affiliated with the University of California in Los Angeles in 1994. The Museum building was designed by architect Edward Larrabee Barnes, and includes two floors for exhibition with a courtyard for outdoor performances and other events. Elevator access between floors is provided for wheelchairs.

The Museum exhibits a diverse collection of art, from Renaissance to contemporary. Works are taken from the Armand Hammer Collection, which consists of paintings from Impressionist and Post Impressionist artists including Mary Cassat, Claude Monet and Vincent Van Gogh. Also featured are works from the Armand Hammer Daumier and Contemporaries Collection, showcasing the art of Honore
Daumier and fellow 19th century French satirists. In addition, the upper level of the Museum houses the UCLA Grunwald Center for the Graphic Arts. Its collections include thousands of drawings, photographs, books and prints by artists such as Paul Cezanne, Oscar Wilde and Jasper Johns.

Aside from exhibiting its extensive collections, the Museum holds an educational series geared towards both adults and children. Programs include poetry readings, art workshops, lectures and musical performances. The Museum also serves as a site for community gatherings and other functions. Docent tours of the permanent collection are available, as well as tours of the other collections. Group tours are also available for large parties. Call the Museum for details.

Remember to stop by the Gallery Bookstore. It sells a wide variety of posters, books and gifts to remember your visit by. It operates the same hours as the Museum.

The Museum is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 11am to 7pm. On Thursdays the Museum is open from 11am to 9pm, and on Sundays it is open from 11am to 9pm. Admission is $4.50 for adults, $3.00 for seniors and students, and free for Museum members, and children 17 an under, accompanied by an adult.

On Thursdays, the Museum is open to the public for free, all day. The UCLA Armand Hammer Museum is located at 10899 Wilshire Boulevard, on the corner of Wilshire and Westwood Boulevard. Parking is available beneath the

Museum at the rate of $2.75 for the first three hours and $1.50 for every additional 20 minutes. On Thursdays there is a flat rate of $3.00 after 6pm. Parking is also available at lots around the Museum, for a fee.

For information call the Museum at (310)443-7000.

Insider tip: Make an evening of it! On Thursdays the Armand Hammer Museum is open to the public free of charge until 9pm. Visit the Museum, and have dinner at one of the Nearby restaurants.