Frequently Asked Questions
Welcome to Marin Art and Garden Center
Marin Art and Garden Center is a an 11-acre historic property that is free and open to the public every day, year round from sunup to sundown. The Garden is dedicated to enriching the local community through a celebration of community, the arts, and conservation. We are a living tribute to the few dedicated, visionary women, who were instrumental in pioneering the conservation movement in this county nearly 80 years ago, led by Caroline Livermore.
Marin Art and Garden is an independent non-profit organization and depends on the generosity of individuals to maintain our Gardens and provide engaging programs for the entire community.
Our Mission and Vision
Marin Art and Garden Center is a special gathering place that celebrates learning, growth, and the beauty of nature; a place that welcomes us all to be inspired, educated and entertained—or to just be.
Our vision is to create a sense of pride and connection among all the people of Marin—and beyond—in this thriving, inclusive gathering place of inspiration, growth and celebration.
General questions about the Center
Entry to Marin Art and Garden Center is free and open to the public 365 days a year, from sunrise to sunset.
The grounds of Marin Art and Garden Center are open to the public free of charge 365 days a year, from sunrise to sunset. Our main office, located near the Rose Garden, is open Monday through Friday from 9am-5pm.
Yes, dogs are welcome on leash. Please clean up after your pet; waste bags are available near the main entry gate.
Laurel House Antiques and Consignment closed in 2020 after more than 65 years at Marin Art and Garden Center. The shop space has been converted into a studio for our workshop partners and guests.
Yes, you can volunteer! We welcome volunteers of all ages, including high school students (with a guardian’s permission). To learn more about our volunteer opportunities, please visit this page or contact volunteering@maringarden.org.
Yes, if you’re looking for a lost or missing item, please visit our main office near the Rose Garden on weekdays from 9am-5pm or call 415-455-5260.
Program registration and your account
First, click the Log In button at the top-left corner of this page. Then, enter your email and password. If you need to reset your password or are unsure if you have an existing account, click Forgot password? An email with a link to recover your account will be sent to your email.
To create a new account, click Create an account on this page and fill out your contact information. Then check your email for a message with a link to set up your password.
To troubleshoot account login issues, please try the following:
- If you receive this error message, please click Forgot password? to send a reset password link to the email address associated with your account.
- If you are unsure whether you have an existing account, please click Forgot password? This will send a link to the email associated with your account to reset your password.
- If you do not have an existing account, you will not receive this email. Click Create an account to setup your account.
- Please contact our office at 415-455-5260 or info@maringarden.org for additional support logging in.
On our homepage in the top left corner, click “Login.” Then, enter your email associated with your Friends of the Garden membership and password. On this Dashboard, you can edit your contact information, see past and current events you have registered for, change your password, and sign up for upcoming programs.
Private events and venue rental
The Garden is home to several beautiful venues that are available to book for private events including the Livermore Pavilion, Gazebo Lawn, and Fountain Pond. Please see our Private Events page for more details.
Marin Art and Garden Center hosts many kinds of private events, such as:
- Weddings
- Celebrations of life
- Corporate and non-profit events
- Small gatherings
Please visit our bookings page to schedule a tour and submit an inquiry for our events team.
Program partnership and exhibitions
Yes, we offer many programs throughout the year in collaboration with our workshop leaders. Our grounds and gardens provide exciting possibilities for classes, lectures, workshops, and family activities that are open to the public.
If you are interested in becoming a partner with us, please fill out this Program Partnership Proposal form.
If you have already submitted an application, please allow 5-7 business days for a response.
Our gallery space has hosted a wide range of exhibitions and featured fine artists working in a diverse range of media types including painting, sculpture, illustration, photography, design, and digital art. To see our catalog of past exhibitions, please see this page.
Our grounds and gardens provide inspiration for several exhibitions each year that are open to the public. We aim to feature artwork that reflects our mission and vision and engages the wider community. The Studio is a large space and we welcome group submissions.
If you are interested in submitting a proposal, please include a bio of the artist, links to any of your work that is available online, and a description of how the work relates to our mission and vision. Proposals can be emailed to info@maringarden.org.
The Garden School
Applications for children ages 2 through 5 for full- or part-time enrollment are accepted year-round and may be submitted at any time. Due to the size of the preschool, we cannot guarantee admission to any child but actively maintain a wait list. We encourage families to place their child on it as soon as possible.
Please complete this online application form using this link. We look forward to hearing from you!
Please reach out directly to gardenschool@maringarden.org for all inquiries.
Yes! Families who live outside the county are welcome to apply to the Garden School. You do not have to reside in Marin County to qualify as an applicant.
Yes. The Garden School offers financial aid to families in need of assistance through the Garden School Scholarship Fund. Please reach out to gardenschool@maringarden.org for more information.
Friends of the Garden
There are a number of ways to support Marin Art and Garden Center including volunteering at events, attending fundraisers and donating. Learn more by visiting our Friends of the Garden page.
The Garden is free and open to the public every day from sunrise to sunset, and all are welcome to visit. If you’d like to become a supporter, we invite you to become a “Friend of the Garden,” which offers a variety of benefits at different donation levels, including great swag, program discounts and free tickets. Learn more about all of our great benefits here.
Visit our main office to pick up your eligible swag: car magnet, hat, water bottle, tote bag, and/or picnic blanket. Our office is open on weekdays from 9am-5pm.
desired program. See our Calendar page for an at-a-glance view of upcoming events. Once on the registration page, click the red Sign Up button. After, you will be prompted to login to your account. Once logged in, the program’s ticket price will automatically be displayed as the discounted Friends of the Garden price.
Your membership begins on the date of your most recent donation to Friends of the Garden and is active for one year. You will receive an email offering to renew your membership one month before your membership end date.
Friends of the Garden membership cards are currently available only as a digital e-card through the Membership Anywhere app.
To download the Membership Anywhere app, select your desired device below to navigate to the Apple or Google Play app store:
Once the app is downloaded to your device, follow these steps to login to your Friends of the Garden account:
- Click to open the Membership Anywhere app.
- Type “Marin Art and Garden Center” into the search bar. Click on the corresponding result with our logo to continue.
- Then, enter your email associated with your Friends of the Garden membership and last name and click Find.
- On the next screen, click Download my cards.
- If you’re an Apple iPhone user, you can tap “Add to Wallet” at the top of this screen for easy access.
Navigating in the Membership Anywhere App
- Show My Membership Cards
- Card View: This page of the app displays your name, membership number, level, and membership expiration date, and barcode image to be used by participating gardens within the reciprocal American Horticultural Society network. Friends of the Garden memberships of all levels last one year with the option to renew at any time before the end date.
- Simple View: Use this page to view your membership number, level, expiration date, and barcode image.
- Add To Wallet: If you are an Apple iPhone user, there is also an option to add your digital e-card to your Apple Wallet for quick and easy access.
- Membership Benefits
- My Membership Benefits: This page shows you the benefits you’re eligible for at your membership level.
- See All: This page shows you all Friends of the Garden membership levels and their corresponding benefits. Consider matching your donation (link to corporate matching question) to maximize your benefits and impact.
- Reciprocal Benefits: This page will direct you to the American Horticultural Society’s website where you can browse the entire network of participating gardens.
At the $100 level, Friends of the Garden receive a membership into the American Horticulture Society. Through this membership, Friends of the Garden can gain admission to hundreds of other gardens nationwide, including San Francisco’s Conservatory of Flowers, Botanical Garden, and Japanese Tea Garden. To see a map of all participating gardens across the country, click here.
To access your AHS membership, simply show your membership e-card at one of the participating gardens.
Download the eMembership Card app on your mobile device to view and access your digital e-card. See above for instructions on downloading your Friends of the Garden digital e-card.