The Columbus Museum of Art is an art museum located in downtown Columbus, Ohio. Formed in 1878 as the Columbus Gallery of Fine Arts, it was the first art museum to register its charter with the state of Ohio. The museum is dedicated to collecting and exhibiting American and European modern art and contemporary art along with folk art, glass art, and photography. In 2011, the Museum opened The Center for Creativity, an 18000sqft space that includes galleries, gathering areas, and places for workshops that allow visitors to engage in hands-on activities. In 2013, the Museum was awarded the National Medal, the Nation’s highest honor for museums, from the Institute of Library and Museum Services.BuildingIts original building was the Sessions Mansion. It was replaced on the same site by the current building, which opened on January 22, 1931. It was designed by Columbus architects Richards, McCarty and Bulford. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 19, 1992, under its original name.The museum launched a massive reconstruction and expansion in 2007. The first phase opened January 1, 2011, after 13-months of construction. On October 25, 2015, the new Margaret M. Walter wing was opened to the public, adding 50,000 square feet to the Museum.Center for CreativityThe JPMorgan Chase Center for Creativity is a hub for creativity on the first floor of the museum, which includes Creativity Lounge, The Studio, The Wonder Room, Big Idea Gallery, and Open Gallery.
