Family Tour of Puppets of New York Private Guided Tour Sunday, March 27, 2022 10 AM to 12:30 PM Museum of the City of New York 1220 5th Avenue, New York, NY, USA Media Inquiries: adam@culturalcounsel.com RSVP Lamb Chop photographed by Asya Gorovits Children's Museum of the Arts families are invited to enjoy a private guided tour of Puppets of New York followed by a paper puppet-making activity at The Museum of the City of New York . Puppets of New York explores the extraordinary, surprising, and diverse history of New York City’s quirkiest residents. Puppets traveled with migrant communities from across the globe as they made their way to the city. Like other New Yorkers, they both enriched the metropolis and were transformed by it, as they encountered the heady mix of other puppetry traditions, practices, and languages that also made New York City home. From Punch and Judy to Oscar the Grouch; from Lamb Chop to The Lion King ; from Lunar New Year to the Thanksgiving Day parade, the marionettes, shadow figures, and rod and hand puppets of New York have regaled our stages, studios, and streets. They have been broadcast all across the globe, and over time have reshaped the puppetry traditions of many cultures. Programs at Children's Museum of the Arts are supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Donate Now

6/28/19 News Remembering Barbara Hunt McLanahan (1964-2019) Click to expand media gallery. Children’s Museum of the Arts is deeply saddened by the loss of its Executive Director Barbara Hunt McLanahan , who passed away on June 25, 2019, after a hard-fought battle with cancer. She was 55 years old. Appointed to the position of Executive Director in February 2013, Barbara was a driving force in the museum’s programmatic growth and its move to the current 10,000-sq-ft state-of-the-art facility in SoHo. Most recently, Barbara conceived of and championed the museum’s 30th anniversary CIVICKIDS: Make Art. Make A Difference , a year-long series of exhibitions, community events, and digital art calls that foster civic engagement and shared community pride through artmaking. Barbara dedicated her career to nurturing and showcasing artists through her wide-ranging accomplishments as a curator and arts administrator on both sides of the Atlantic. Her position as the Executive Director at CMA reflected her steadfast belief in the transformative power of art and commitment to making art accessible to all. As she stated in a 2016 interview, “Side-by-side, non-judgmental art making encourages the celebration of individual identity, alongside empathy and respect for difference, for others who look different and who express themselves differently.” Barbara consistently fought for equal access to arts education, particularly for children from underserved communities, such as those in foster care, on the Autism spectrum, those living in transitional housing, and children with physical disabilities. Barbara will be remembered by all who knew her for her off-the-charts energy, personal warmth, contagious laugh, and rigor in fundraising and advocating for the arts. William Floyd , President of the Board of Directors at CMA, states, “Barbara was a remarkable leader, truly a force of nature: dynamic, brilliant, passionate and above all deeply devoted to her family, of which she considered CMA to be a part — and we, her. She has left an indelible mark that can be seen in every aspect of the museum.” Barbara is survived by her husband, Michael, and daughter, Jade. The Barbara Hunt McLanahan Memorial Fund at CMA, initiated by her family, will support the Arts for All Initiative, a program for children with disabilities. A memorial will be held at CMA on Monday, October 7, 2019 at 6:30pm. Born in Manchester in 1964, Barbara began her career in the UK, working at Camerawork Gallery + Darkroom in London (1992–96) before moving to New York in 1997. She worked first at Visual AIDS (1997–2000), and later served much-admired tenures at Artists Space (Executive Director, 2000–13) and Judd Foundation (Executive Director, 2006–13), before joining the CMA in 2013. Throughout her career, she made time to volunteer and shared her time and expertise with countless organizations and individuals. She sat on the boards of the African and Asian Visual Arts Archive (AAVAA), Leisure Services Committee for the Royal National Institute for the Blind in the UK, and the Satellite Academy’s Arts Benefit All Coalition Alternative (ABACA). She also participated in Godzilla, a coalition of Asian-American artists and curators. Barbara joined the board of the Jerome Foundation in Minneapolis in 2007 and later assumed the role of Chair of the Board of Trustees at the Carmago Foundation in Cassis, France in 2017. As a panelist and lecturer at museums, conferences, and universities all over the U.S. and the UK, she spoke consistently about strategies for emerging artists, promoted diversity and inclusion in the arts, and championed less commercial paths, such as artist-run alternative spaces. For her many achievements, she was named Chevalier de L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the Republic of France in 2006. NEXT Emergency Exhibition: New Training for Future Artists and Art Lovers Take a Virtual Tour on Bloomberg Connects Donate Now

Our First Art Fair at NADA New York Exhibition Thursday, May 5, 2022 11 AM to 7 PM Pier 36 299 South Street, New York, NY, USA Media Inquiries: adam@culturalcounsel.com RSVP Children’s Museum of the Arts partners with New Art Dealers Alliance (NADA) to present Our First Art Fair, the first experiential exhibition of brand new artworks created, priced, and sold entirely by children, on view at NADA New York from May 5-8, 2022 at Pier 36. As part of CMA’s belief that all children are artists, and adults have as much to learn from them as they do from us, the exhibition aims to give young artists the agency to participate in the wider world of art at every level. For the exhibition, kids around the world are invited via an open call to create their own original artworks, set their price, and showcase their work at CMA’s booth at NADA New York. If their work sells at NADA, children will receive the money, however, any artworks that do not sell will automatically become part of CMA’s one-of-a-kind permanent collection of art made by children from around the world. The partnership between CMA and NADA further exemplifies both organizations’ shared commitment to radical, community-focused initiatives. CMA will be one of over 100 galleries, art spaces, and non-profit organizations participating at NADA New York. Programs at Children's Museum of the Arts are supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Donate Now

4/12/24 Artists in Schools Zine Making: The Final Creations! Dispatches from CMA Resident Artist Noormah Jamal's fifth grade class at Children's Workshop School. Click to expand media gallery. Noormah Jamal's fifth graders at Children’s Workshop School completed their zine projects and donated their finished creations to the school library for future students to see. Round of applause to these budding writers, illustrators, and publishers! Noormah’s work at Children’s Workshop School is supported by the Emergency Arts Education Fund , which provides free arts education to NYC school communities whose art programs have been decimated by recent budget cuts. Children’s Museum of the Arts’ three Residents Artists are currently implementing ambitious arts curriculum at each of our partner sites throughout New York City: Hudson Guild in Chelsea, Sid Miller Academy in Crown Heights, and Children’s Workshop School in the East Village. Come spring, our residents will showcase their students' work through exhibitions and installations across the city. Learn how you can support the work of our residents here . NEXT Emergency Exhibition: New Training for Future Artists and Art Lovers Take a Virtual Tour on Bloomberg Connects Donate Now

See More Children's Museum of the Arts 7/19/23 Reflections Rendering Urban Landscapes in Chalk NEXT IN

Mark Thomas Gibson Artist & Professor Tyler School of Art & Architecture Philadelphia, PA Donate Now Since 1988

See More Children's Museum of the Arts 12/17/23 Artists in Schools Artists in Schools: Niousha Kiarashi CMA Resident Artist Niousha Kiarashi begins her school year at Sid Miller Academy in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. NEXT IN

3/22/24 Artists in Schools Viewing Steffani Jemison at Greene Naftali CMA Resident Artist Maria D. Rapicavoli visited the Steffani Jemison's exhibition with her after school students from Hudson Guild. Click to expand media gallery. Students had the absolute pleasure of meeting artist Steffani Jemison for a behind-the-scenes tour of her exhibition Bound at Greene-Naftali last month. It has been humbling to witness so many Chelsea galleries (some only a mere block from Hudson Guild!) welcoming our students into their spaces and providing them with extraordinary encounters with art. Students particularly enjoyed learning about Jemison's jungle-gym-inspired Untitled (Projection) sculpture, which showcases the artist's interest in bodies in motion. Of course, they loved seeing their distorted reflections in Jemison's silvered glass sculptures! At the end of the visit, students gathered to sketch their own interpretations of the artworks in Jemison's exhibition. Observing how each child interacted with the different media was fascinating, resulting in a diverse array of inspired creations. In the words of one of our staff members, "Steffani is the person that gave me the courage to start calling myself an artist. She’s another-level brilliant." Thank you Steffani, Janavi, Alice, and everyone at Greene-Naftali for this unforgettable visit! Maria's work at Hudson Guild is supported by the Emergency Arts Education Fund , which provides free arts education to NYC school communities whose art programs have been decimated by recent budget cuts. Children’s Museum of the Arts’ three Residents Artists are currently implementing ambitious arts curriculum at each of our partner sites throughout New York City: Hudson Guild in Chelsea, Sid Miller Academy in Crown Heights, and Children’s Workshop School in the East Village. Come spring, our residents will showcase their students' work through exhibitions and installations across the city. Learn how you can support the work of our residents here . NEXT Emergency Exhibition: New Training for Future Artists and Art Lovers Take a Virtual Tour on Bloomberg Connects Donate Now

See More Children's Museum of the Arts 6/16/23 Artists in Schools Visiting Maysha Mohamedi at Pace Gallery CMA Resident Artist Clare Kambhu visited Pace Gallery with her fifth grade students from Children's Workshop School. NEXT IN

Open Studio with Guest Artist Alex Alpert [June 15] Free Community Artmaking Thursday, June 15, 2023 3 PM to 5 PM Pier 57 Pier 57, 11th Avenue, New York, NY, USA Media Inquiries: adam@culturalcounsel.com RSVP Alex Alpert Artist Alex Alpert ’s bold and illustrative designs inspire Open Studio at Pier 57 on Monday, June 12 and Thursday, June 15 . Children will work alongside Alex to create graphic canvas patches. Completed pieces will be woven together to create a large-scale patchwork picnic blanket on view during Sinergia's Annual Autism Initiative Picnic on Wednesday, June 28 in Morningside Park. About Alex Alpert Alex Alpert is a New York City-based visual artist and creative director who counts Doja Cat, The Weeknd, American Express, Michael Phelps, Red Bull, and Formula 1 among his collaborators. Alex frequently works with charities and nonprofits; teaching and creating art. What To Expect Sessions are led by veteran CMA Artist Instructor Emma Waldman and are inspired by historic and contemporary New York City artists. Each session includes hands-on artmaking, storytelling, and plenty of interactive communication and fun. Children will have ample time to express their ideas and explore their creativity through multisensory-focused projects and materials. The program’s curriculum is rooted in accessible artmaking practices and Children’s Museum of the Arts’ pedagogy of Look, Make, Share. Take a peek at one of our virtual Inclusives lessons, catered to children with Autism, that families can try at home: here ! While caregivers are welcome to stay with their children, families are encouraged to enjoy the extraordinary setting of Pier 57 in the adjacent Family Living Room for the duration of the session. Children's Museum of the Arts' Open Studio at Pier 57 is generously supported by the Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation, Ruth Foundation for the Arts, William Talbott Hillman Foundation, First Republic Bank, The LeRoy Neiman and Janet Byrne Neiman Foundation, Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation, Google Community Grants Fund, Amazon, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Harriet Ames Charitable Trust, The Cowles Charitable Trust, Hammitt, and the Viniar Family Foundation. Donate Now