Columbus Museum of Art Will Offer Free Admission for Visitors Aged 25 and Under as Part of New Initiative
5June 11, 2026
Starting July 1, theColumbus Museum of Artin Ohio will begin offering free admission to anyone the age of twenty-five and under, as well as to any adult accompanying a child who’s 16 years old or younger.
The major shift in accessibility, announced by the museum in a press release on Wednesday, is the result of a $4 million lead gift from the Walter Foundation, a philanthropic body run by Cardinal Health founder Bob Walter and his wife, Peggy. The gift, which the museum called “the largest investment in access and education” in its history, will be used to implement a 5-year initiative focused on reaching and sustaining an upcoming generation of museum visitors and art enthusiasts.
“CMA has long believed art should be for everyone,” Peggy said in a statement. “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.”
The initiative, dubbed Access 150, will build on the success of a pre-established Free Sundays program, the museum said. Research indicates that the institutional elimination of admission fees can increase overall attendance by 30 to 150 percent, as well as diversify audiences, the museum’s statement continued.
The Access 150 initiative will include the hiring of two new staffers: a school and groups coordinator and a teen and university programs manager. The $4 million gift from the Walters will also help the museum realize its goal of reconceptualizing the Wonder Room, its in-house experimental gallery and play space for families.
“This gift from the Walter Foundation is a defining moment for CMA and for our community,” Brooke A. Minto, the executive director and CEO of the Columbus Museum of Art, said in a statement. “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.”