Since 1971, the Bronx Museum of the Arts has been a celebration of the cultural and artistic life of New York’s northernmost borough. Originally founded in collaboration with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Bronx Museum has distinguished itself with a focus on making art, especially art by under-served populations, available to those it represents. Feel the spirit of the borough and its aspirations with a trip through its thoroughly modern collections.
Appreciate the architecture first, the result of a series of renovations, some more controversial than others, that have taken place on what used to be a synagogue. On a summer day, notice the sun glinting off the fan-like exterior, beckoning those coming from afar.
Enter the airy, two-story lobby, where friendly staff provide guidance on how to approach the collections and the many educational initiatives that take place here.
Walk slowly through the two main exhibition rooms, which display a rotating selection of the museum’s more than 800 paintings, sculptures, photographs and works on paper as well as special exhibits by some of the borough’s and the country’s most exciting new artists.
View calligraphy, post-modern painting and street photography of rarely seen aspects of the Bronx and New York, all designed to be accessible to people for whom museums may be a new experience.
Join in the obvious enthusiasm of the staff and visitors for making art an endeavor that all can participate in, with an ethos that reflects the community-first commitments of the Bronx.
Find the Bronx Museum of the Arts in the borough’s Concourse district, a 10-minute walk from Yankee Stadium. Arrive via the subway stop nearby. The Bronx Zoo is a 15-minute drive or 45-minute subway ride away. Take the subway or drive from Midtown Manhattan in 30 minutes. Though not controlled by the museum, metered parking is available right across the street.
Visit the museum from Wednesday to Sunday from late morning to early evening. There is no admission fee.
