81st Street Studio
Come explore what things are made of in our free art and science discovery and play space for kids ages 3-11 and their families.
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Know Before You Go
The 81st Street Studio is free to children and their caregivers—no Museum admission required. Please note that due to space restrictions, entry is first come, first served. During especially busy times, we will need to enforce 30-minute limits for playtime.
It’s free! No Museum admission is required to visit the 81st Street Studio. Due to high demand, entry is first come, first served and subject to capacity limitations. When you arrive, sign up for a time slot. Advance and online reservations are not available.
The 81st Street Studio is designed for children ages 3–11 and their families, though children beyond this age range may enjoy many of the activities. Adults must be accompanied by a child to enter. Adults must chaperone their children in the space; Met staff are not responsible for looking after visitors' children.
The 81st Street Studio offers dynamic, self-directed, hands-on, and high-tech experiences that encourage art and scientific investigation, critical thinking, problem-solving, and appreciation of the diverse dimensions of materials and their properties. Kids can also ask for a free 81st Street Studio Family Field Guide to explore works of art in our galleries as Met Field Scientists. The kit has instructions that guide discovery, and includes useful tools, a Look it Up reference booklet, and a field notebook for recording data and drawing conclusions. As part of their adventure, kids can collect stickers and earn a Met Field Scientist button. The Field Guide is best suited for children ages 7 and up.
It’s free! Anyone wishing to use the 81st Street Studio Family Field Guide in The Met galleries will receive a pass that provides free admission for the holder and four accompanying visitors. (Admission is free for children 12 and under with an adult.)
The 81st Street Studio is not a drop-off space. Children must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of their visit.
The 81st Street Studio is designed to accommodate people of all abilities. If you have specific questions about accommodations, please call 212-570-3961 or ask a Met staff member.
Sorry, but we don’t allow eating or drinking in the 81st Street Studio. There is a nearby area where families can enjoy a snack and a drink. Please ask Met staff for assistance.
Restrooms are located across the hall from the 81st Street Studio entrance, with a family restroom on the left and additional restrooms on the right.
Yes! Schools and community groups can book a time to visit the 81st Street Studio on Friday mornings during the school year. Learn more about group visits.
Yes! A limited number of mini residencies, consisting of both in-school and in-Museum programs, are available free of charge for New York City Title I and District 75 schools. We can also work with you to codevelop customized and long-term school partnerships. Please contact 212-570-3985 or educatorprograms@metmuseum.org for more information.
No, it is a noncirculating selection of children’s books that will remain in the space at all times. Check back each season to find new favorites as the books rotate throughout the year.
For families visiting the 81st Street Studio, limited stroller parking is available, first come, first served. Please note stroller parking is only available during your time in the Studio. We ask that you make room for others once your time in the Studio is complete. Jogging strollers and wagons are not allowed.
Strollers and front-facing baby carriers are welcome in the Museum unless otherwise noted. Check the related exhibition page for more information.
Activities and Events
Head in for hands-on and high-tech discovery
Investigate the scientific properties of materials like wood, metal, and clay. Experiment at interactive stations: create a drum and learn about sound; try your hand at digitally printing from a woodblock; play around with light as you activate objects inspired by The Met collection.
Make materials sing
Explore how material affects sound on an organ, castanet wall, marimba, wave boards, drum station, and guitars custom built by Yamaha for the 81st Street Studio.
Become a Met Field Scientist
Pick up a free 81st Street Studio Family Field Guide to explore our galleries—and the world beyond—as a Met Field Scientist. The kit has instructions that guide discovery, and includes useful tools, a Look it Up reference booklet, and a field notebook for recording data and drawing conclusions. After your gallery adventure, collect stickers and earn a Met Field Scientist button! Best for kids ages 7 and up. Ask Met staff for details.
Dive into books
Explore a children's book collection designed to spark curiosity about materials and cultures around the world, delight, and ignite thinking about the intersections of art and science.
Storytime at The Met
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Storytime at The Met—Rediscovering History
Family Membership
Enjoy unlimited free admission, Member Mornings at the 81st Street Studio, early access to children’s camps and classes, and more.