The Bessie Smith Cultural Center and Chattanooga African American Museum would like to make your visit as pleasant as possible. While personal use photography is encouraged at the Museum, it must be conducted without disruption to Museum operations or visitors and with the safety of the collection in mind. Photography for personal use is permitted except in special exhibitions and where specifically prohibited. This includes cell phones, handheld cameras, and video cameras that are set to take non-flash photos. Flash photography is strictly prohibited. Monopods, tripods, and selfie sticks are not permitted. Rights and Reproductions Photographs are permitted for personal, non-commercial use only. Photographs may not be published, sold, or otherwise distributed for commercial purposes. Visitors may post images from their visit on personal social media sites, so long as they are not used for profit. However, we ask that you do not post photographs of the Museum’s entire permanent collection online. 

​

While at the Museum, visitors may be photographed or videotaped by Museum photographers for educational and promotional purposes. These images may be used to publicize the Museum in print, online, and display materials, and may also be distributed to the media. Attendance on Museum property is implied consent for the use of visitors’ likeness for marketing purposes. Art objects appearing in images may be protected by copyright, publication rights, or related interests. In photographing an art object, it is the visitor’s responsibility to obtain copyright or other permissions that may be required from an artist, agent, estate, or other third-party rights holder. Photography of works on loan is not permitted. BSCC reserves the right to withhold or withdraw permission to photograph on the premises. BSCC staff has the authority to approach and verify the intent of photography and to enforce the BSCC Photography Policy. Photography of the exterior of the Museum is permitted.