Columbus Museum of Art introduces free 25 and under admission program starting July 1

Helena Hennessy
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 10:47:30 +0000
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An attendee of the Columbus Museum of Art strolling through an exhibit. Credit: Megan Leigh Barnard

The Columbus Museum of Art is expanding their programming and activities for young adults — anyone 25 and under will get in for free, any day of the week.?

The museum’s new free admission program was announced June 9, and beginning July 1, includes the cost-free admission to the museum — located at 480 E. Broad St. — for anyone under 25 and for one adult caregiver accompanying a child under 16, according to a statement from the museum.??

“We realized that the cost of admission is still very much a barrier for young people,” said Lydia Simon, director of marketing and communications for the Columbus Museum of Art. “By removing that as a barrier, we are welcoming more young people to develop a relationship with the museum and to grow that next generation of museum goers.”?

The program is part of Access 150, the museum’s five-year initiative funded by a $4 million gift received from the Walter Foundation — founded by Cardinal Health founder Bob Walter, and his wife, Peggy Walter, according to the CMA statement. The initiative is designed to expand access and establish lasting relationships with the Columbus community.?

“Beyond free admission, this gift, Access 150, also supports expanded programming for young families, college students and teenagers,” Simon said.?

Jen Lehe, deputy director for learning and engagement at the Columbus Museum of Art, said that Access 150 is providing the museum with an opportunity to deepen their investment in young people, beyond free admission.?

“We want young people to see the museum not only as a place to visit, but as a place where they can learn, create, contribute ideas, develop leadership skills, and explore future careers,” Lehe said in an email.?

The museum will continue the CMA Free Sundays program, where all attendees are offered free general admission on Sundays, in addition to the free 25 and under program, Simon said.?

The free 25 and under program will also incorporate free Open Studio sessions. The studio is a weekly Saturday event hosted in the JPMorgan Chase Center for Creativity, Simon said. Attendees can create art using supplied materials and monthly themes inspired by the museum’s special exhibits, according to the website.?

“The first Saturday of every month will be reserved for CMA members as a member benefit, but then the rest of the month will be open to anyone that comes to the museum, and it will be free now for those that are 25 and under,” Simon said.?

The goal of the program aims to build on their existing relationships with young people in Columbus, and establish new ones entirely, Simon said.?

“We know that young adulthood is a very formative time in life, and you are figuring out who you are and figuring out how to connect to your community,” Simon said. “We, as a museum, decided that we want to be a part of that journey in a young person’s life.”?

Simon said offering free admission goes hand-in-hand with building those relationships, as ticket prices can often be a barrier between those eager to learn and actually exploring their community.?

“Our mission is to provide transformative experiences with art, and we seek to do that in a myriad of ways, whether that be through exhibitions or certain programs,” Simon said. “Making museum visits as easy as possible is definitely of the utmost importance to us.”?

Simon said the CMA is especially excited to welcome Ohio State students, and hopes to make the museum a part of students’ Columbus experience — whether it be spontaneous visits after class, on free weekends or to see an exhibition of interest.

“[We’re] just making visits easier and more spontaneous, and a place that students really see themselves coming to again and again,” Simon said. “College is a time in which you are learning about the world. You are understanding and experiencing others’ perspectives, and the museum is a great place to experience that outside of the classroom.”?

In an increasingly digital world, Simon said the museum offers connection. She said people come to the museum to find connections in many different forms, such as through having a quiet moment to reflect by yourself, or to socialize and build relationships with those around you.?

“The museum can be a wonderful place of respite — coming by yourself, and just taking a deep breath, and walking around, and connecting to stories, and to histories, and to perspectives that you may have never thought of before, but it can also be a place to connect with others,” Simon said.?

The CMA also encourages Ohio State students to form a deeper connection with their community, Simon said.?

“Downtown is very close to campus, but it can feel far and not accessible,” Simon said. “There’s so many exciting things happening downtown, and so if students want to get out of campus, the museum can be part of a larger outing.”