COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — The Columbus Museum of Art’s East Broad Street campus will offer free daily admission to visitors 25 and under, along with an adult caregiver accompanying children 16 and under, beginning July 1.
The change is part of ‘Access 150,’ a five-year initiative supported by a $4 million lead gift from the Walter Foundation. The museum said it is the largest investment in access and education in the Columbus Museum of Art’s history and is intended to broaden access and turn first visits into lasting relationships with the museum.
“This gift from the Walter Foundation is a defining moment for CMA and for our community,” Brooke A. Minto, executive director and CEO of CMA said. “Free admission has consistently shown us that when we remove cost as a barrier, we reach new audiences: families, young adults, and first-time visitors who might not otherwise walk through our doors. Access 150 helps us build something lasting for the next generation.”
Beyond free admission for visitors 25 and under, the initiative includes investment in programming, community partnerships and staffing. The Walter Foundation gift will support new and expanded offerings including youth and teen programming, strengthened partnerships with schools and community organizations, and new pathways for creative exploration, leadership development and career discovery.
A new Teen Arts Council will provide stipends and resources for teens to help shape programming and future initiatives, positioning young people as active contributors within the museum.
To support the expanded work, the museum will add two new staff positions: a school and groups coordinator to manage increased demand from educators and community partners, and a teen and university programs manager focused on building programming for older youth audiences.
More information about the museum’s expanded access programs is available at columbusmuseum.org.