Museum of Arts and Design

Museum of Arts and Design is also known as the American Craft Museum. An acronym, MAD is widely used to refer to this museum. The museum contains a large variety of collection that represents the cultural icons of the New York City. There is a large range of artistic ornaments is put into display that is made from variety of material such as clay, stone and glass.

History

Aileen Osborn Webb is the famous craft creator in the United States. She is the one who sets up the American Craftsmen's Council in 1942. She has the honor to come up with the suggestion of museum. She always wanted to establish a museum to remind the people about the importance of the crafts.

The MAD was established by Aileen Osborn Webb in 1956. It relocated to the present location, i.e. at 40 West 53rd Street. The architect of present design of the building was Roche Dinkeloo.

Visiting the Museum

The museum remains closed on Monday and also on all the major holidays such as Christmas, New Year, and Thanksgiving. The museum remains open from Tuesday to Sunday and the opening hours of the museum on these days are from 11am to 6pm. On Thursday, the opening hours of the museum are from 11am to 9pm.

The Mad gift store remains open from Monday to Saturday and the opening hours of the store are from 10am to 7pm. The store timing on Sunday is 10am to 6pm.

Pay What You Wish Day is celebrated on every Thursday and the timing for this event is 6pm to 9 pm.

Handicapped facilities are provided in the museum for disable people. Signing language Interpreters are available and some wheelchairs also.

Things to Do and See

There is a lot of art work put for exhibition in the museum. When you enter the museum, you will see several galleries that features variety of crafts made from metal, wood and clay. Some galleries also feature fiber and glass ornaments.

The Permanent Collection

The museum offers more than two thousand art objects for exhibition. Most of the work displayed in permanent collection is made by American artists. However, you will get the opportunity to see the work of some Australian, Asian and European artists also in the permanent collection section.

Changing Exhibitions

Here you will come across the Contemporary Netsuke, masterful miniatures that provide information about the history of miniature carvings in Japan and also the Radical lace and Subversive knitting exhibition which help you understand how fibers are used to create artistic craft. The collection in this exhibition changes from time to time.

Daily Tours

You can participate in the guided tour of the museum from 11am to 1pm. Guided tour is for anyone who wants to participate in it.