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CINCINNATI — December 10, 2024 — The Cincinnati Art Museum (CAM) has been awarded federal funding from The Kennedy Center Office of Access & VSA to further expand arts programming to students with disabilities.

The federal funding comes from the Kennedy Center’s Access/VSA International Network as part of the VSA EZ Program which aims to provide unique arts education experiences for pre-Kindergarten through 12th-grade students with disabilities.

With the funding, CAM will partner with Linden Grove School to offer individualized resources to over 100 students who will visit the museum throughout the 2024–2025 school year. Linden Grove serves students who do not fit mainstream education systems by meeting the increasingly diverse needs of individuals with autism spectrum disorder and related learning needs.

“Many of the students we have met from Linden Grove have never been to the museum. We are excited to welcome these kiddos here, provide a multisensory experience in the galleries and help them create art about what inspires them,” shares Sara Birkofer, Assistant Director of Gallery & Accessibility Programs. “The children will walk away from the visit with artwork they made and materials to make more art at home. Hopefully, they will also walk away with a positive feeling about the museum and want to come back with their families.”

The award will strengthen CAM’s commitment to accessibility by continuing to eliminate barriers and striving to accommodate the individual needs of all visitors. Learn more about CAM’s accessibility accommodations.

This VSA program is provided in 2024-2025 under a contract with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

About the Cincinnati Art Museum

The Cincinnati Art Museum features a diverse, encyclopedic art collection of more than 73,000 works spanning 6,000 years. In addition to displaying its own broad collection, the museum conducts extensive research and creates and organizes several exhibitions each year. It also hosts national and international traveling exhibitions. Through these critical projects and art-related programs, activities, and special events, the museum contributes to a more vibrant Cincinnati by inspiring its people and connecting its communities.

The Cincinnati Art Museum is supported by the generosity of individuals and businesses that give annually to ArtsWave. The Ohio Arts Council helps fund the Cincinnati Art Museum with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence, and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. The Cincinnati Art Museum gratefully acknowledges operating support from the City of Cincinnati, as well as its members. Free general admission to the Cincinnati Art Museum is made possible by a gift from the Rosenthal Family Foundation. Exhibition pricing may vary. Generous support for the museum’s extended Thursday hours is provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program. Parking at the Cincinnati Art Museum is free. More information is available at cincinnatiartmuseum.org.

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