Columbus has wonderful news for students, teachers and families. The Columbus Museum of Art has received a $1 million gift from Battelle to strengthen its Fund for Learning, the museum’s effort to bring innovative art-based learning to K-12 students and educators.
The gift, announced on October 6, opens the second phase of the fund. Battelle launched the initiative with the museum in 2023 with an initial $1.2 million investment, continuing a partnership that now spans 50 years. Battelle made its first gift to the museum in 1977, and in the 1990s it funded an interactive exhibition for children and families that helped shape the museum’s award-winning approach to learning inside the galleries.
The results so far are impressive. Since 2023, the Fund for Learning has reached more than 120,000 young people, trained more than 1,300 teachers and shared resources with more than 30,000 educators across the country. This new phase will expand programs for K-12 students, build new partnerships with schools and community youth organizations, and broaden the museum’s creative teaching framework.
“Since 1977, Battelle has given us the freedom to experiment, evolve, and think boldly about what learning in a museum can be,” said Brooke A. Minto, the museum’s Executive Director and CEO. The museum, at 480 East Broad Street, is also expanding access with free admission for visitors 25 and under — one more reason for a family visit, as Happy City News happily reports.
Photo: Columbus Museum of Art
