CINCINNATI – March 3, 2015 – The Cincinnati Art Museum’s new family-friendly interactive space for children of all ages, the Rosenthal Education Center (REC), opens March 7. The public is welcome to attend a ribbon cutting and community dedication on March 7 at 11:30 a.m.

Made possible by a generous donation from Lois and Richard Rosenthal, the new space encourages families to discover the Art Museum’s collection in a fun, immersive, hands-on and safe manner through a variety of experiences. The REC is free and open to the public every day that the Art Museum is open, Tuesday - Sunday, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

The REC will be staffed with an art education specialist as well as volunteers with the goal of “Shaping Future Artists.” The space will feature rotating installations based on our permanent collection and special exhibitions. These interactive installations will appeal to diverse age ranges and learning styles, while inviting entire families to play and learn together. The first installation, COLOR, will explore the science of color mixing through a series of fun games and experiences.

“The Cincinnati Art Museum brings together our entire community. With the opening of the Rosenthal Education Center we now provide a full-time place for families and caregivers to write the next chapter of the story of art,” said Cameron Kitchin, Cincinnati Art Museum Louis and Louise Dieterle Nippert Director. “As a father of young children, I see in my own experience the unbounded sense that all things are possible in a child’s eyes. The REC celebrates, amplifies and grows creativity through hands-on activities that anchor the museum experience.”

The new facility is located in the heart of the Art Museum off to the left of the Great Hall. The 2,300 square-foot space surrounded by newly created and renovated galleries is a part of the Make Room for Art renovation initiative which moved staff offices to the Longworth Wing and relocated painting storage to an offsite facility. The REC replaces the former education space on the Art Museum’s ground floor called ArtWorld, which was only open during select weekend hours.

“After years of planning and construction, we are so excited to share the REC with the community,” said Emily Holtrop, Cincinnati Art Museum’s Director of Learning and Interpretation, “We are proving that we are a family-friendly institution and taking steps to bring art to life for children and their caregivers.”

The Cincinnati Art Museum gratefully recognizes the past and present contributions of our sponsors who continue to be closely involved with the following areas; The Learning and Interpretation Department (The Alpaugh Family Trust, The Patricia A. Vance Foundation Endowment for Education and Community Outreach, A Friend of the Art Museum) and the Rosenthal Education Center (Charles H. Dater Foundation, William A. and Martha H. Hillenbrand Foundation, and funding for early-educational programs provided by PNC Grow Up Great®).

For more information about the museum and children’s programming, please visit cincinnatiartmuseum.org.

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 our members.

General admission to the Cincinnati Art Museum is always free. The museum is open Tuesday – Sunday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. and is closed Monday.