By Beginning July 1, 2026, theColumbus Museum of Art’sEast Broad Street campus will offer free daily admission to visitors 25 and under and an adult caregiver accompanying children 16 and under—removing one of the most persistent barriers to museum access for young audiences.
The change is part of Access 150, a major 5-year initiative supported by a $4 million lead gift from the Walter Foundation, the largest investment in access and education in CMA’s history. The initiative is designed 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,” said Brooke A. Minto, Executive Director and CEO of CMA. “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.”
Access 150 builds on the success of CMA’s Free Sundays program, which has significantly increased attendance among families, first-time visitors, and more diverse audiences. Access 150 extends that momentum by making access for young people a daily commitment. The initiative reflects a broader shift across the museum field, as institutions increasingly invest in access as a strategy for reaching and sustaining the next generation of audiences, regardless of socioeconomic status.
Research shows that eliminating admission fees can increase overall attendance by 30 to 150 percent while diversifying audiences. Access 150 takes its name from this benchmark, reflecting the museum’s ambition to grow participation at scale.
In addition to offering free admission for visitors 25 and under, Access 150 is designed to expand audiences with sustained investment in programming, community partnerships, and dedicated staffing.
The Walter Foundation gift will help support a range of 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 position young people as active contributors within the museum, offering stipends and resources for teens to help shape programming and future initiatives.
To support this work, CMA 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.
This gift will also support the reconceptualization of the Wonder Room, CMA’s hands-on, and experiential family gallery. The reimagined space will deepen intergenerational engagement and strengthen the connection between early creative experiences and life-long participation in the arts. Planning will begin in 2026, followed by implementation and design of the reimagined Wonder Room, with the new space opening in 2028.
“CMA has long believed art should be for everyone,” said Peggy Walter, who has volunteered at CMA in a variety of capacities, from docent to honorary trustee, since the 1970s.
“We are proud to support an institution that is not only opening its doors more widely but investing thoughtfully in artistic educational opportunities for young people. We hope these creative young minds will be inspired to use what they learn to build a thriving arts and cultural community moving forward.”
Access 150 builds on CMA’s longstanding commitment to access. The Free for the Future Campaign provided initial support for Free Sundays from 2018 through 2023, and the Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program has extended that program through 2026. This new investment expands those efforts into a sustained, long-term strategy for access and audience development through June 2031.
The Columbus Museum of Art connects people across central Ohio with inspiring art, ideas, and creative experiences. CMA’s collection spans late 19th- and early 20th-century American and European modern works, alongside dynamic contemporary acquisitions, and the museum is home to the world’s largest collections of works by Columbus-connected artists Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson, Elijah Pierce, and George Bellows. To learn more about the Columbus Museum of Art, its exhibitions, and public programming, please visit columbusmuseum.org and follow @columbusmuseum on Instagram.
Founded by Bob and Peggy Walter, the Walter Foundation leverages transformational giving to uplift people, strengthen nonprofit organizations, and inspire others to give. Through early investments and active partnership, the foundation provides financial support, expertise, and resources to help nonprofits build capacity and advance their work in a more strategic and sustainable way. The foundation focuses its grantmaking on education, children’s health and well-being, and family stabilization, with a commitment to lifting up the most vulnerable and strengthening the organizations that serve them.
Support the New Americans magazine to continue to serve our community with precise news that affect the new American, immigrant and refugee community. https://paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=8LHFS78NRNJJY&source=url
