Frist Art Museum in Nashville: Kid-Friendly, Mother-Approved
We often spend time visiting our family in Nashville, Tennessee and are always on the lookout for fun things to do and experiences to have. There are, of course, a lot of things to do in Nashville, but we’re always looking pretty specifically for attractions in Nashville for families. On our last trip, I came upon the Frist Art Museum and was bowled over by how kid-friendly it is. The Frist Art Museum has a fantastic experiential education area geared towards kids and caters to the very young children on up to the teenagers and beyond.
Looking for fun things to do in Nashville for kids? Add this to your list ASAP. This also makes for a great indoor activity for kids in Nashville for when it’s too hot outside or rainy.
Get ready to plan your family-friendly adventure to Frist Art Museum in Nashville:
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Basic Info
- Address: 919 Broadway, Nashville, Tennessee
- Hours: Monday: 10:00am ~ 5:30pm; Thursday: 10:00am ~ 8:00pm; Friday – Saturday: 10:00am ~ 5:30pm; Sunday: 1:00pm ~ 5:30pm
- Admission: Adults: $15.00; Guests 18 and younger are FREE.
- Website: https://fristartmuseum.org/
What To Know
When you come to the Frist Art Museum, the first thing you’ll notice is the beautiful architecture of the building and the white Georgia marble of the exterior. While the Frist Art Museum was opened in 2001, the building itself has been at its present location since 1934.
Originally the main post office in the area, the building features a lot of Art Deco details and the “starved” expressions of classicism which were popular during the Depression era. Step inside and you’ll see a gorgeous lobby with even more Art Deco accents and they’ve carried that forward into the museum spaces as well. It’s a very special space for an arts museum as it is really its own exhibition.
What To Do
Art Exhibitions
The museum hosts a rotating selection of world-class art exhibitions, featuring a wide variety of styles and periods. Check the museum’s website for current and upcoming exhibitions to see what interests you and your children the most. The Frist Art Museum often features exhibitions specifically curated for families.
These exhibits are designed to be engaging and interactive, providing educational experiences tailored to younger visitors. For example, in the art exhibition itself, we found the standard placards of information with everything we could want to know, but every few installations, there was something for kids to touch, move, or engage with in some way. They make it very obvious which things are for kids to touch and then which aren’t so if your kids are still learning how to visit museums appropriately, fear not.
Child-Friendly Frist
Did you know that Frist Art Museum has consistently been ranked one of the most family-friendly museums in the United States? We’ve been to a ton of museums in the US and abroad and can say with certainty, we agree. The opportunities to enjoy art, have experiences, and the opportunities for education are really well thought out here. To top it off, they have amazing volunteers and staff that are really interested in getting people engaged throughout the spaces.
ArtQuest
After perusing the well-curated exhibitions, you’ll come upon ArtQuest. We were ushered in by enthusiastic volunteers who really wanted us to experience the full potential of the space and we are so thankful we did. The Martin ArtQuest Gallery is an interactive artmaking opportunity for children and even the adults that accompany them, and even adults without kids. After visiting the exhibition, with kids or not, step in to get creative.
Inside the space, there are various stations. It seemed as though there were at least 12 or more things for people to partake in and they included drawing, working on animation projects, printmaking, painting, playing with blocks and puppets, and more. We visited with a one year old and an 8 year old and there was enough for each of them to do for two hours… well they could have stayed longer I’m sure, but we had other things to get to.
How often does the ArtQuest space change?
The great thing about ArtQuest is that it changes so you can take your kids again and again. They reimagine the space three times a year and the activities go along with the exhibition that you’ve just visited so it’s a continuation of the learning opportunities from beginning to end.
How long should we plan to be at ArtQuest?
Honestly, we were there for about two hours and still only did half of the experiences. Plan to spend plenty of time there but of course, know your kid, and if a shorter visit is required, you do you. You could potentially spend a few hours there though and have plenty to do during that time.
Tips to plan your visit to Frist Art Museum
- Check the museum’s website for any special exhibitions, events, or programs happening during your visit.
- Go early or on a weekday if you can. The museum can get busy, especially on weekends. Arriving early will give you more time to explore and enjoy the exhibits.
- Bring along some snacks and a water bottle which you can enjoy in the halls on benches, as exploring the museum can be tiring. There is also a café located on-site where you can grab a bite to eat.
- Use the Frist Art Museum Resources: I usually check out what the exhibitions will be and if possible get a book or two the week before about the artist or on a similar topic which just makes my daughter flabbergasted when she sees something she can relate to at the museum then. If you want to do this, but don’t know where to start, you’re in luck because Frist provides some fantastic info on their website. There are plenty of things to download to expand the learning opportunities.
- Encourage your children to ask questions, share their thoughts, and express their feelings about the artwork. It’s a great opportunity for them to develop their artistic appreciation.
The Frist Art Museum offers a wonderful experience for both children and adults alike. With its child-friendly features, engaging exhibitions, and interactive activities, you and the children with you are sure to have a memorable and enriching visit. Enjoy exploring the world of art together!
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