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Policies

General Policies

  • Last entrance at 4:30pm
  • No smoking on the grounds and firearms are prohibited
  • Pets are not allowed on the grounds and should not be left in your car. However, as provided for by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Arizona State Law, service animals and service animals in training are welcome. We ask that you and your service animal check in with Admissions when you arrive. While a license or documentation is not required, we are allowed to ask whether the animal is needed because of a disability and what work or task the animal has been trained to perform for you. Please note that most of our grounds are natural Sonoran Desert that may be unsuitable for some animals. Temperatures can rise above 100° with correspondingly high surface temperatures that can be harmful to a dog’s feet. Spiny cactus and other plants as well as potentially dangerous (coyotes and javelina) or venomous (rattlesnakes and scorpions) animals may also be encountered along the trails.
  • Tohono Chul does not allow therapy or emotional support animals, not defined as service animals under the ADA.
  • The exhibits and grounds are mostly wheelchair accessible
  • A limited number of complimentary wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis

Artist Policy

To contact the Director of Visitor Services, please call (520) 742-6455, ext. 218, Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm

Tohono Chul welcomes artists who wish to sketch, paint, or draw on the grounds. Artists must register at Admissions and pay the normal admissions fee.

Art classes and artists who are working with clients or groups must make advanced arrangements with the Director of Public Programs and Visitor Services and pay admission when utilizing the gardens. A 10% discount off regular admission prices is available for classes with 10 or more participants, payable with one payment instrument (check or credit card).

Times are limited to the operating hours of 8:00am to 5:00pm, daily and location is dependent on scheduled activities. Staff and volunteers will monitor artists on the grounds. Booking the desired time slot with the Director of Public Programs and Visitor Services in advance is important to avoid conflicting schedules and the inconvenience of being asked to return at a later date.

Artists are fully responsible for their behavior and for that of their clients, students and guests while on the grounds. No nudity is allowed. No inappropriate behavior as deemed by staff is allowed. Tohono Chul will not be responsible for the loss of any property or any other liability sustained by guests while on the premises.

Reproduction of material that is subject to copyright restrictions is prohibited.

Artists agree to:

  • stay on designated trails
  • not block designated trails or garden paths
  • not damage, injure or remove any botanical specimens, wildlife or any item on the property
  • leave the area in the same condition in which they found it (i.e. no trash, litter or spills of any kind, this includes wiping watercolor brushes on trees or shrubs when cleaning them). Please help keep the grounds clean for the next artist by cleaning up after yourself.
  • be courteous to other visitors that may come upon your activity
  • limit the use of electrical equipment, easels, umbrellas, etc. so as to provide easy access for other visitors without possibility of injury

Tohono Chul reserves the right to refuse permission to any artist. This policy may be changed by Tohono Chul at its discretion.

Commercial Photography/Filming Policy

To register and obtain permission and a pass from the Director of Marketing and Communications, please email marketing@tohonochul.org, Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm

Tohono Chul welcomes commercial filming and photography (“professionals”) on the grounds.

Professionals in this category are:

  • advertising agencies, public relations firms, marketing groups, corporate communications offices, commercial photographers and other professional groups shooting photography or filming for use in display advertising, television and electronic commercials, feature films, brochures, product literature, annual reports, collateral publications, training videos, other industrial/commercial/promotions/advertising projects
  • other persons or entities as determined by management

Photography and film classes are not subject to the following fees, but must make advanced arrangements with the Director of Public Programs and Visitor Services (see Artist Policy above) and pay admission when utilizing the grounds.

Professionals must register with and have their projects approved by the Director of Marketing and Communications to obtain a Commercial Photography/Filming Pass. Professionals are required to wear the pass in plain view at all times. Professionals who are part of a pre-approved special event need not obtain a pass.

The fee for using Tohono Chul is $100 per hour and must be paid prior to commencement of filming or photography. General liability insurance in the amount of $1,000,000 for bodily injury and $100,000 for property damage is required and must name Tohono Chul as an additional insured party. A copy of the certificate of insurance must be on file with the office prior to any photographic or filming session. A review of the script by the Director of Marketing and Communications is required prior to the session, and Tohono Chul may or may not require identification in the piece. Tohono Chul also requires a copy of the finished product for filing. Written requests must state the location within the gardens for the proposed session, the number of people expected, the anticipated time of the session and the amount and type of equipment being used. Tohono Chul has the right to limit the portions of the gardens that may be used. Equipment for transporting cameras and other equipment will not be provided by Tohono Chul.

Photography or film taken of material that is subject to copyright restrictions may not be used for publication or any commercial purposes without prior written authorization.

The grounds are available from 8:00am to 5:00pm, daily. Sessions are limited to these operating hours unless prior arrangements have been made. Staff and volunteers will monitor professionals on the grounds. Professionals are fully responsible for the behavior of their clients, guests and/or employees while on the grounds. No nudity is allowed. Tohono Chul will not be responsible for the loss of any property or any other liability sustained by guests while on the premises.

Participants agree to:

  • stay on designated trails
  • not block designated trails or garden paths
  • not damage, injure or remove any botanical specimens, wildlife or any item on the property
  • leave the area in the same condition in which they found it (i.e. no trash, litter or spills of any kind)
  • be courteous to other visitors that may come upon the professional activity
  • limit the use of electrical equipment, strobes, cameras, tripods, easels, umbrellas, etc. so as to provide easy access for other visitors without possibility of injury

Tohono Chul reserves the right to refuse permission to any artist. This policy may be changed by Tohono Chul at its discretion.

Portrait Photographer Policy

To contact the Director of Visitor Services, please call (520) 742-6455, ext. 218, Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm

Tohono Chul welcomes portrait photographers (“professionals”) on the grounds. We consider these professionals to be those who intend to sell their photographs or are contracted to produce photos taken at Tohono Chul.

Professionals must register with the Director of Public Programs and Visitor Services to arrange the time and location of the shoot.

Fees for using the gardens are due prior to commencing work and are as follows:

  • A $50 fee is charged for photographing a group of 1 – 10 people in addition to park admission for all participants.
  • Special arrangements must be made for groups larger than 10 people and special fees may apply

Photography classes are not subject to the above fees but advanced arrangements must be made with the Director of Public Programs and Visitor Services and pay admission when utilizing the grounds. A 10% discount off regular admission prices is available for classes with 10 or more participants, payable with one payment instrument (check or credit card).

Sessions are limited to these operating hours (8:00am to 5:00pm, daily) unless previous arrangements have been made. Location is dependent on scheduled activities. Staff and volunteers will monitor professionals on the grounds. Booking the time slot in advance is important to avoid conflicting schedules and the embarrassment of being asked to return at a later date.

Photographs taken of material that is subject to copyright restrictions is prohibited.

Professionals are fully responsible for their own behavior and that of their clients, guests and/or employees while on the grounds. No nudity is allowed. No inappropriate behavior as deemed by staff is allowed. Tohono Chul will not be responsible for the loss of any property or any other liability sustained by guests while on the premises.

Participants agree to:

  • stay on designated trails
  • not block designated trails or garden paths
  • not damage, injure or remove any botanical specimens, wildlife or any item on the property
  • leave the area in the same condition in which they found it (i.e. no trash, litter or spills of any kind)
  • be courteous to other visitors that may come upon the professional activity
  • limit the use of electrical equipment, strobes, cameras, tripods, easels, umbrellas, etc. so as to provide easy access for other visitors without the possibility of injury

Tohono Chul reserves the right to refuse permission to any artist. This policy may be changed by Tohono Chul at its discretion.