Columbus Museum of Art Free Sundays, $5 BAM Thursdays, & more

Columbus Museum of Art is a gem to explore in Columbus, and they have reopened with precautions in place.

They offer FREE Sundays and other discounts at Columbus Museum of Art, such as $5 Thursday evenings, Blue Star Museum discounts, and more. 

Free Sundays at CMA

Take a day to appreciate art at Columbus Museum of Art during Free Sundays at CMA, open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. The free admission also includes most exhibitions, as well as Center for Creativity, Big Idea Gallery, and much more during free Sundays at CMA.

Free Sundays are made possible by the Free for the Future initiative to provide free access on Sundays for the next five years.

You can also pay just $5 for admission on Thursdays from 5-9 pm. Reservations are required; read below for details.

Exhibitions and Galleries at Columbus Museum of Art

Families will enjoy The JPMorgan Chase Center for Creativity featuring the Big Idea Gallery to encourage imaginative play for everyone. You’ll also enjoy the art and exhibitions featuring world-renowned artists.

See the current exhibitions and galleries here. Explore art throughout the Museum galleries through hands-on activities, puzzles, and “Join the Conversation” stations. Safety and sanitation kits are provided for hands’ on activities.

Regular Events at CMA

BAM Thursdays: Bar, Art, Music. Thursdays starting May 5 from 5 pm – 9 pm
BAM Thursdays (Bar, Art, and Music) are back! Every Thursday will bring fresh libations, great art, and music at the Museum. Sip and vibe with friends in our garden space, with limited seating also available inside Schokko Café.

Admission is just $5 on Thursday evenings!

The first Thursday of the month have enhanced festivities with local Craftin’ Outlaws exhibitors and a featured live artist from 6:00–8:00 PM. This marketplace will give you access to shop unique, one-of-a-kind, items from local and regional artists, makers, and retailers.

Open Studio: Every Saturday from 11 am – 2 pm. Engage creative thinking through material exploration with local community partner, Ohio Alliance for Arts Education (OAAE). There will be an enhanced session each month with a teaching artist who will lead a program based on prompts and provide creative instruction.

Individuals of all ages are welcome to step into the Studio to explore and experiment with our wide range of materials and supplies. Open Studio experiences are included with admission to CMA.

Teen Open Studio: 2nd and 3rd Saturday of each month from 11 am – 2 pm. FREE, drop-in program for ages 12–19. Located in the Innovation Lab, teens can learn from local artists, experiment with technology and art supplies, or just hang out with their friends. Teen Open Studio will be held the second and third Saturday of each month from

Art for Wellbeing: Join CMA for a free, thirty minute mindful-looking exercise that will help you slow down, process emotion, and quiet anxieties. Participants will be guided through a slow-looking protocol coupled with a mindful breathing exercise. You will have the opportunity to reflect and share or quietly look and process.

April 28: 12:30 – 1:00 PM
May 26: 12:30 – 1:00 PM
June 23: 12:30 – 1:00 PM

Art of Rest: CMA’s partnership with The Yoga Carriage at replenish returns with a new series of monthly collective community care gatherings. The Art of Rest incorporates curated mindful and restorative practices to invite in spaciousness and curiosity. Program is $20 for online and in-person sessions.

May 1: 11:00 AM–1:00 PM In-Person at CMA
June 5: 11:00 AM–1:00 PM In-Person at CMA

Yoga @ CMA with Replenish. Whether you are a beginner or advanced student this practice will allow you to reset the body, move at a slower pace and experience the practice of relaxation. Program is $10 and is In-Person at CMA

April 14: 6:00–7:00 PM
May 12: 6:00–7:00 PM
June 9: 6:00–7:00 PM

Art and Empathy Talks: Monthly conversation in partnership with Empathize With Me, an initiative created by storyteller Donte Woods-Spikes to find ourselves within each other through storytelling and documentation.

The season’s theme is Building Community Through Art. Each month will feature a new guest creative. This program is free. Space is limited. Registration is encouraged.

April 28: 6 pm – 7:30 pm
May 21: 11 am – 12:30 pm
June 30: 6 pm  7:30 pm

2022 Art Book Club: Join CMA Executive Director Nannette Maciejunes for Art Book Club. Every Art Book Club includes a conversation with Nannette. Art Book Club selections are available for purchase in the Museum Store. Art Book Club is $5 for nonmembers and free for members, the virtual zoom session is free for everyone. See book club dates and selections here. 

Special Events at Columbus Museum of Art

Summer Art Workshops for Students

Reservations Open March 1 and End May 15. Workshops are Mondays–Fridays from 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
$300 Non-Member / $255 Member
 
Each workshop is 5 days of in-person instruction at the Columbus Museum of Art for students entering 1st-8th Grade. Classes will be offered each week with the same theme split by grades/age. Students will be able to explore the galleries through private tours, have downtime outside on the gardens and have access to a variety of creative materials.

See themes, registration and more on website. 

Admission, events, and discounts at Columbus Museum of Art

Reminder: all visits should have a ticket reservation to ensure admission. See all discounted admission.

Color your own CMA Masterpiece for free admission: Use one of the coloring sheets depicting some of the museums most iconic works of art to create your own masterpiece. Bring in your artwork to get 1 free general admission to the Museum for the day, and you can see these actual artworks and more that we hope will inspire you! 

Print the coloring sheets from the website, or pick one up at local restaurant partners, Forno (and order the breakfast pizza!) or Urban Meyer’s Pint House. Program end date unknown; check link above to see if it’s still available. 

Shop in the Short North, get free admission!

Spend $5 or more in the Short North Arts District within 24 hours and show your receipt for complimentary admission!

Free Sundays at CMA

Everyone can enjoy free Sundays at CMA from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. The free admission also includes all exhibitions, as well as Center for Creativity, Big Idea Gallery, and much more during free Sundays at CMA.

While Sunday admission is free, all visitors should reserve a dated, timed admission ticket to enter. Special exhibition fees may apply on Sundays. A small amount of day-of admission tickets may be available for visitors who arrive without reservations, but cannot be guaranteed.

$5 Thursdays evenings at CMA

Thursday is a perfect night to head to CMA with friends or a date! Admission is just $5 from 5 – 9 pm. (Closed Christmas Eve)

WonderPass admission for youth and CCS Families

Free summer admission for children 17 years and younger (tba for Summer 2022). This includes our special exhibition, Raggin’ On: The Art of Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson’s House and Journals. Free summer admission extends to caregivers and families for those who attend Columbus City Schools with code CCS2021.

Blue Star Museums Program

CMA is also part of the Blue Star Museums Programs, so active duty, retired military, veterans and their families get free admission. Simply show your active-duty military personnel or military family I.D. at the admission desk for free entry.

Columbus Member Advantage Program

If you’re a member of select Central Ohio attractions, you can save $3 on general admission to CMA through the Columbus Member Advantage program.

No coupon is necessary. Simply show your valid participating membership card when you visit! Limited to 4 discounts per membership per day; can’t be combined with other discounts.  

Member Advantage partners for 2022 include:

• Columbus Museum of Art and Pizzuti Collection (see our article)
• Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (see our article)
• Dawes Arboretum (see our article)
• Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens (see our article)
• LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Columbus (see our article)
• National Veterans Memorial and Museum (see our article)
• Ohio History Center & Ohio Village (see our article)
• Wexner Center for the Arts (see our article)
• COSI
• The Works: Ohio Center for History, Art and Technology (also qualifies for ASTC reciprocal admission) 

Reciprocal memberships with the North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Association® are accepted. Please call 614.221.6801 to reserve your timed admission tickets using your reciprocal benefits. See list of NARM institutions here.

Columbus Metropolitan Library Culture Pass

Columbus Museum of Art has a partnership with Columbus Metropolitan Library to offer free visits through their Culture Pass program. This program aligns with our mission to create great experiences with great art for EVERYONE.

As part of the Culture Pass program, CML customers can borrow a one-time pass (which must be checked out in person) to visit the Museum. These passes can be found at all 23 Columbus Metropolitan Library locations.

More details and information about the Culture Pass program can be found by clicking here.

General Admission for Columbus Museum of Art

Adults • $18
Seniors (60+), Students (18+), Children (4-17) • $9 
Note: Children 4-17 are free from June 1 to September 3 with WonderPass
Thursdays (5:00PM – 9:00PM) • $5
Children (0-3) • FREE
Members • FREE
Sundays • FREE
Veterans and active military and their families • FREE

Open Tuesday – Sunday from 10 am – 5 pm. Special evening hours of Thursdays from 5-9 pm.

Closed July 4, Thanksgiving Day, December 25, and all Mondays. Closing at 3:00 PM July 3, September 23, Thanksgiving Eve, December 24, and December 31. Open on Easter and New Year’s Day.

Membership

Individual memberships start at just $75 and members can bring a guest. Family memberships are $100 and include a guest and children under 18. 

Parking at CMA

CMA operates a parking lot off East Gay Street where members can park for free and all other visitors play a flat fee of $5. Visitors are encouraged to pay for parking at the gate. Members still receive validated parking from the Admissions Desk. Visitors to the Museum Store and Schokko Café enjoy free parking. Just bring your Museum ID or receipt to the admissions desk.

Columbus Museum of Art
480 East Broad Street
Columbus, OH 43215
614.221.6801
website

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Seasonal Events TBA for 2022 at CMA

Annual Holiday LEGO® Exhibition at Columbus Museum of Art: TBA 2021/2022. Columbus Museum of Art’s annual holiday celebration of the creative potential of LEGO® bricks returns. Bring your friends and family and celebrate the season by connecting with LEGO® and each other. Think Outside the Brick features an enormous collaboratively-built model of Columbus. Don’t forget – everyone can enjoy FREE ADMISSION at CMA every Sunday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., and $5 admission on Thursdays from 5-9 p.m.

CCS Free Family Admission with the WonderPass

WondowPass gives access to the creative experiences and resources for imagination, curiosity, critical thinking, and play – at the CMA and at home. 

What does WonderPass include?

• Free summer admission for children 17 years and younger (from June 1 to September 3). 
• Free summer admission extends to caregivers and families for those who attend Columbus City Schools.
• A resource guide for in-gallery and at home creative learning. A new one unveiled each season!
• Community Days – these creative, play filled days at the museum will happen quarterly. The first celebrates Columbus’ own Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson on Saturday, August 14, featuring maker activities from 11 AM-1 PM, and a performance by Urban String in collaboration with Mark Lomax.

Free admission with WonderPass is automatic. Reserve your ticket now. Families in Columbus City Schools can redeem the offer with code CCS2021. More details here. 

Craftin’ Outlaws Pop-Up Markets: Saturdays from 10 am – 3 pm, May-September 2021. Up to 9 makers will display their items along the outdoor pathway leading up to the entrance of CMA each week. You’ll find different vendors and makers each week, so make sure you check it out regularly! TBA for 2022

Dia de los Muertos at the Columbus Museum of Art

Community Ofrenda at CMA
October 27 – November 5: An ofrenda is an altar, built to honor lost loved ones. Visitors may add a memento, photo, or word to remember and celebrate someone special from their lives. The ofrenda was created by Renee Zamora, a Columbus artist who works with printmaking, mixed media and found objects. Artist Renee Zamora shares her story and one of her favorite parts about Dia de los Muertos, the ofrenda. Follow along and build your own.

Community Conversation on Grief at CMA
Saturday October 30 at 2:00 pm: Join CMA and community partners in an honest and meaningful conversation about grief, loss, healing, and the origins of Día de los Muertos. This event is free and open to the public. 

Celebrate Dí­a de los Muertos at CMA
November 6: Celebrate the rich origins of Día de los Muertos at CMA with day-long offerings to connect, and honor our loved ones who have departed. Enjoy $5 admission all day, children 3 and under are free. From 1:00-4:00 PM, enjoy live music by local salsa band Al Son del Iya, art activities, and add to a community ofrenda. Schokko Café will feature an inspired menu all day. Details and registration on the Columbus Museum of Art website.  

Craftin’ Outlaws Holiday Craft Market

Sunday, December 5 from 12 pm – 5 pm. Shop your holiday list at the Craftin’ Outlaws Holiday Market featuring 30 artists with handmade items. Buy local, support these makers, and finish your holiday shopping. Admission is FREE to explore the museum on Sundays too! Special exhibitions required tickets.

Winter Art Breaks: December 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30 from 10 am – 3 pm.
Stop by the Studio for creative activities for young families and teens while school is out for winter break. Winter Art Breaks is a drop-in program that is included with admission.

Valentine’s Day with CMA
February 11 at 6:00, 7:00, and 8:00 PM

Celebrate Valentine’s Day at CMA! Explore the galleries at night, and experience unique, guided activities at your leisure. Connect with loved ones and enjoy a spread of light bites with refreshments. Tickets include a complimentary drink; cash bar available. There will also be live music and a pianist to set the perfect mood for you and your guest.

Tickets are $60 for nonmembers and $50 for members.

Wednesdays @ 2 Behind the Scenes Talks: Now be a hybrid experience with an in-person talk at the Museum and a virtual Zoom session. Register to attend the event in-person and check back to the CMA website to tune-in to the virtual experience on the event date. 

In-person tickets are $5 for CMA Members, $20 Non-Members. Virtual Zoom session is free. You can also view past Wednesdays@2 talks on YouTube such as The Artist’s Eye: CMA’s Modern Art Masterpieces, and Aminah Robinson & The Spirit of Home, and more.

Spring Art Breaks at CMA

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from March 15-April 12: 10 am – 3 pm. Families on Spring Break or days off school will enjoy creative activities for youth and teens. This drop-in program is included with admission. Spring Art Breaks are in addition to Saturday Open Studio sessions on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 AM–3:00 PM, from March 15–April 21.
Made possible by funding from Battelle STEM Grant Program

Mother’s Day events and specials 

May 8, 10:00 AM–3:00 PM: Mother’s Day Brunch
Schokko Café has created a delectable menu for Mother’s Day, see it here!
Capacity is limited; reserve your timed slot in advance for tables up to 4 or 6. Outdoor patio seating is weather dependent and available on a first come, first served basis.

May 8, 2:00–3:30 PM: Tony Hagood Quartet presents: Ella Sings Cole Porter and Jazz Standards
Treat the mother in your life to a concert presented by the Tony Hagood Quartet featuring the music of Cole Porter. This performance includes the vocal stylings of Sydney McSweeney, Tony Hagood on piano, Bradley Mellen on bass, and Reggie Jackson on drums.

Tickets include admission to the special exhibition, Roy Lichtenstein: History in the Making, 1948–1960. Cost is $20 for members and $25 for nonmembers in advance; $30 for everyone at the door.

Discounted Gift Memberships: Museum membership has lots of perks, including free admission, invites to special experiences, free parking, discounts at the Schokko Café and the Museum Store. Through the month of May, gift memberships are 15% off with the code MAY15 for Individual, Family and Reciprocal levels.

Museum Store Specials: The museum store has TONS of great gift options, including art, jewelry, housewares, clothing, books, and more! The month of May we are having a special at the Museum Store with 20% off of all jewelry, this deal is exclusive to museum members. Shop online or in person at the Museum Store. Gift wrapping and parking are always FREE when you shop, and shipping is available (and typically very fast!). 

Wonderball 2022

Friday, May 13, 2022 from 8:00 PM – Midnight
Inspired by the 2022 theme of FUTURE, Wonderball is moved further into the FUTURE and will hold Wonderball in May.

Wear your favorite black & white attire and join us for a fashionable evening of local food, music, performances, and interactive, unexpected experiences. Wonderball celebrates creativity at Columbus Museum of Art and throughout the Central Ohio community. This fundraiser is a splurge event, with tickets typically over $100 – available starting in March.