Creativity, curiosity, and conversation are always flowing at the Frist Art Museum!
Housed in Nashville’s former main post office — an Art Deco landmark that first opened in 1934 — the museum pairs beautiful architecture with an ever-changing lineup of exhibitions that make every visit feel fresh. For families and guests of all ages, the fun can be as easy and accessible as playing an artistic seek-and-find activity in the galleries, creating a take home collage or watercolor together, and enjoying a delicious meal from Café Cheeserie in the tranquil courtyard.
Admission for visitors ages 18 and younger is always free and access to Martin ArtQuest®, Nashville’s premiere destination for creative exploration, is included. The award-winning intergenerational creative space is a beloved place for families to learn about art and engage in hands-on activities with approximately 20 interactive stations — drawing, painting, printmaking, collage, and even animation — staffed by art educators and volunteers. Many of the stations are aligned with the exhibitions on view, so guests can experiment with new techniques and ideas each visit. Whether your child is a first-time doodler or a budding artist, ArtQuest makes museum-going fully interactive.
Beyond ArtQuest, the Frist’s gallery spaces are also welcoming and comfortable for guests of all ages. No need to whisper in the galleries! Conversation and questions are encouraged and every stroll through the gallery can be turned into an adventurous game.
This summer, the exhibitions on view are International Surrealism from Tate: Fifty Years of Dreams, Anila Quayyum Agha: Interwoven, and An Indigenous Present. Mesmerizing, colorful works and immersive installations in the exhibitions will surprise and delight and offer opportunities to learn about history, culture, and design from all around the world as well as abstract art created by contemporary Native North American artists.
Regular family-focused programming adds even more reasons to return. On the second Sunday of each month, the Frist hosts Family Sundays with drop-in art activities, family tours, and multi-sensory experiences that help guests connect with what they’re seeing. On select Sundays, the museum also opens an hour earlier to offer a Sensory Sunday hour when crowds are lighter and sound levels are lowered throughout the exhibitions. Architecture Tours, offered every Saturday and Sunday afternoon, spotlight the building itself — perfect for STEAM-minded kids who are curious about architecture, engineering, and design.
When it’s time to refuel, the onsite Café Cheeserie from The Grilled Cheeserie, offers seasonal, family-friendly options, making it easy to grab lunch or a sweet treat during your visit. The menu is thoughtfully curated with local, organic ingredients and features salads, baguette sandwiches, scratch-made soups and more. Pair your meal or snack with a selection from their full coffee bar menu or a refreshing fresh-squeezed lemonade. Dine in the café space or go alfresco in the courtyard.
Save plenty of time for exploring the wonderful Gift Shop for creative souvenirs that keep the inspiration going at home from high quality art supplies and stationery to playful keepsakes, toys, jewelry, books, decorative arts, and much more!
For guests of every age and background, the Frist is more than a museum, it’s a shared experience that leaves you seeing Nashville — and the wider world — in new ways.
For more information about the Frist Art Museum, visit fristartmuseum.org.
