Children's Museum of the Arts New York

Children’s Museum of the Arts highlights

The museum has a rich collection of exciting artwork made in the 20th and 21st centuries. There are over 2,000 pieces of artwork on display in the museum, which has one of the most extensive collections of children’s art in the world. The center has the purpose of serving children through its exhibitions, classes, and activities, including art camps, after-school classes, private art lessons, and art pods.

At the museum, children and families can view the artwork and get their hands dirty by creating their own work under the CMA guidelines. The central Cynthia C. Wainwright Gallery features a rotating display of work from top artists in New York and worldwide. Also, there are lots of interactive art designs that change according to the exhibition themes.

History of the Children’s Museum of the Arts

The museum is one of the largest art museums for children in the United States. Kathleen Schneider founded the museum in October 1998. The art center started modestly to serve the needs of children. As the museum grew in popularity, it had to abandon its original site in SoHo’s Manhattan neighborhood on Lafayette Street.

In 2010, the CMA expanded and built a state-of-the-art facility on a former loading dock west of its initial location. The new building was created to accommodate more children up to 15 years old, to involve more communities, and to increase its programs. The new building that opened in 2010 is a massive, 10,000-square-foot space for art. Hundreds of thousands of children have enjoyed the museum’s benefits since 2011. 

Good to know when visiting the Children’s Museum of the Arts

Schools visit the museum for a customized tour experience under CMA teaching artists’ supervision and tutelage. The summer break and school holiday periods are the best time to visit with your children. They get to participate in CMA Live and art camp sessions. Touring the extensive museum and participating in creating artwork are 2 activities to do when you visit. It takes about an hour or 2 to tour the whole building.

Close by is Hudson River Park less than 6 minutes away by foot. Additionally, the New York City Fire Museum and Color Factory are lovely places to visit. It takes less than 4 minutes to walk from the CMA to reach these spots. When you get hungry, you can grab a bite at the Blue Ribbon Sushi and Piccola Cucina Osteria restaurants.