Frequently Asked Questions

How do I buy tickets?
You can buy tickets online here or over the phone by calling us at (412) 622-8866. Our box office is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
You may also be able to purchase tickets on site the day of the event, but know tickets occasionally sell out.

Does Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures offer any free events?
We sure do! With the exception of Ten Evenings and New & Noted, all of our lecture series are free and open to the public.

Additionally, discounted or free tickets to Ten Evenings and New & Noted lectures may be available. Learn more here.

How soon can I purchase tickets or register for an event?
You can typically register or purchase tickets for a lecture at least two months prior to the event in question, with the exception of Ten Evenings events, which are typically available the summer before the new season begins. Subscriptions to the upcoming Ten Evenings season are available starting in the spring.

Where do I pick up tickets?
We don’t offer physical tickets for free events. For Ten Evenings or New & Noted, you can have your tickets sent to you in the mail, or you can pick them up at Will Call on the day of the lecture. Will Call is located in the foyer of the Carnegie Music Hall.

Can I subscribe to any of your lecture series?
We offer subscriptions to our Ten Evenings lecture series; we do not currently offer subscriptions to our other series. You can subscribe to Ten Evenings in-person or virtually here. You can also purchase subscriptions over the phone by calling us at (412) 622-8866, Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Note that all in-person subscriptions come with a virtual subscription.

I’m seeing added fees on my ticket purchase. What are these for?
We charge a $2 processing fee for all tickets purchased via telephone, and a $7.50 fee for all tickets purchased online.

Can I choose my seat?
All Made Local, Poets Aloud, and Words & Pictures lectures are General Admission, meaning seats are first-come-first-served. If you require accessible seating for a General Admission event, please call us at (412) 622-8866 Monday through Thursday between 10 and 4, and we can reserve seats for you.

General Admission seating is available for Ten Evenings and New & Noted lectures, but you may also choose specific seats for these events. Our seat map is currently unavailable on our website, but if you have seating preferences or requirements, please call us and we can work with you to try to find seats that meet your needs.

I accidentally bought the wrong tickets, or I can no longer attend an event I registered for. What is your return/exchange policy?
All tickets sales are final. Online tickets may be exchanged for an in-person ticket for the same lecture, subject to availability. No refunds or exchanges are given. If you’re no longer able to join us in person, we encourage you to turn back your in-person ticket to the Box Office.

I lost my ticket! Can I still come to the event?
Have no fear! If you’ve lost your ticket, please call Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures at (412) 622-8866 or email info@pittsburghlectures.org, and we will leave a copy of your ticket for you to pick up at Will Call on the night of the event.

I can’t attend a Made Local event in person, but I don’t see tickets for online access. How do I get online tickets?
Online access to Made Local events is publicly available on our YouTube about a week after the event. To ensure you’re notified when a Made Local event recording is posted, sign up for our newsletter.

How soon after an event will the recording be available for viewing?
Ten Evenings virtual attendees have access to the livestream of the lecture for seven days following the event.

Made Local and Poets Aloud events are free to the public, with livestreams available for viewing starting seven days after the event. You can access our archive of recordings indefinitely on our YouTube channel.

Do you offer any discounts or free tickets to students, seniors, groups, etc.?
We are proud to offer discounts for Ten Evenings and New & Noted events to students, underserved community organizations, groups, and anyone with a RAD Pass. Learn more here.

Do you sell gift cards?
Yes! Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures gift cards make the perfect token of affection or appreciation. They can be redeemed for any Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures performance. Gift cards can be purchased online here or by calling (412) 622-8866, Monday through Thursday between 10 and 4.

Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures gift cards are redeemable at the box office, over the phone, or online. You must log in to purchase gift certificates.

Where do your events take place?
Ten Evenings lectures are held in Carnegie Music Hall. Made Local, New & Noted, Poets Aloud, and Words & Pictures lectures are held in the Carnegie Library Lecture Hall.

What time do your events start?
Ten Evenings lectures begin at 7:30 p.m. ET; doors open at 6:30. Made Local, New & Noted, Words & Pictures, and Poets Aloud lectures begin at 6:00 p.m. E.T.; doors open at 5:15 p.m.

When do doors open? When should I arrive?
Doors open approximately 45 minutes to an hour before the event. Please budget appropriate time for parking, finding our venues, and picking up your tickets.

What do your events typically involve?
Our events involve a lecture by the author about the inspiration, research, writing, and behind-the-scenes stories involved in publishing their work, followed by a moderated Q&A. Often, our authors will stay after the lecture to greet guests and sign books.

Can I ask the author a question?
Please do! All of our lectures involve an audience Q&A. For events at Carnegie Music Hall, we provide question cards prior to the lecture for audience members to write down their questions. For lectures at the Carnegie Library Lecture Hall, authors take live questions from the audience. We also take questions in advance via email here.

Can I buy the author’s book at the event?
We are proud to partner with a local independent bookstore for each of our events. Books are usually pre-signed by the author, and available for sale before and after each lecture (cash or credit card accepted). 20% of your purchase price supports Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures!

I’d like to eat before or after the event. Are there restaurants nearby?
There are many dining options within walking distance in the Oakland area, specifically around Forbes Ave. or South Craig St.

Are there concessions at the event?
There is a concession stand and bar available at Ten Evenings events; however, keep in mind all food and beverages must be consumed in the foyer and may not be taken into the Music Hall.

For Made Local, Poets Aloud, and Words & Images events, we do not typically offer concessions.

Can I bring a camera to an event?
Yes, but please—no videorecording or flash photography. If you’re on Instagram, feel free to tag us in your photos after the event! We’re @pghartslectures.

I lost something at an event! Does PA&L have a Lost and Found?
If you lost an item at Carnegie Music Hall, please call the Carnegie Music Hall Special Events Office at (412) 622-3360. If you attended an event at the Carnegie Library Lecture Hall, please call the library at (412) 622-3114. Knowing your seat location may be helpful.

How do I get to the venue?
See the Parking & Directions section for information about getting to the event and where to park or be dropped off.

How do I find my way around?
See the Wayfinding section for information about navigating the Carnegie Library Lecture Hall and Carnegie Music Hall.

Is there accessible seating at PA&L events? Can I reserve an accessible seat?
All our venues have accessible seating locations. If you anticipate needing an accessible seat, please contact us in advance of your visit so we can be sure to reserve one for you. You can reach our Development Manager and Accessibility Coordinator, Lisa Doan, by phone (412)-578-2464 or email at ldoan@pittsburghlectures.org.

Are there accessible restrooms?
All our venues have accessible restrooms. Further wayfinding details can be found here.

Is there American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation or Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) captioning offered at events?
We are happy to provide ASL (American Sign Language) interpretation or CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) services upon request. Please reach out to us in advance of your visit to request these services. You can reach our Development Manager and Accessibility Coordinator, Lisa Doan, by phone (412) 578-2464 or email at ldoan@pittsburghlectures.org.

May I bring a service animal to a PA&L event?
Service animals are welcome at all our events! If you would like to bring your service animal to the lectures, please inform us in advance of your visit so that we can work with you to provide seats with appropriate room. You can reach our Development Manager and Accessibility Coordinator, Lisa Doan, by phone (412) 578-2464 or email at ldoan@pittsburghlectures.org.

Are assistive listening devices available at PA&L events?
The Carnegie Music Hall and Carnegie Library Lecture Hall are both equipped with assistive listening devices. Please reach out to us in advance of your visit to request these services. You can reach our Development Manager and Accessibility Coordinator, Lisa Doan, by phone (412) 578-2464 or email at ldoan@pittsburghlectures.org.

Can I access the Ten Evenings program book on an e-reader?
Yes! The Ten Evenings program book is available as a screen-reader-friendly PDF.

I really love Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures and want to support their mission. How can I get involved?
Donating and volunteering at our events are both ways you can help make a difference and support the PA&L mission. Make a donation here, or call us at (412) 622-8866, Monday through Thursday from 10 to 4. Learn more about volunteering and apply to be a volunteer here.

How do sponsorships with Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures work?
We are proud to partner with local organizations, businesses, schools, and universities as sponsors of our lecture series. You can learn more about partnering with PA&L as a sponsor and take steps to get involved here.

Can I place an advertisement for my business in PA&L’s program? 
We include ads for many local businesses in our Ten Evenings and Words & Pictures programs. To learn how to place your own ad in one of our programs, check out our advertisements page here.