The 81st Street Studio is The Met’s new drop-in discovery and play space for kids ages 3–11 and their families and caregivers. Through an art and science focus, the 81st Street Studio encourages exploration of the scientific properties of materials in the world and in works of art in The Met collection.
The 81st Street Studio is located in the Ruth and Harold D. Uris Center for Education on the Ground Floor. Enter The Met through the 81st Street and Fifth Avenue entrance to the left of the main steps. This is also the accessible entrance. If you need help finding the 81st Street Studio when you arrive, ask Museum staff.
The 81st Street Studio opens September 9, 2023 at noon.
The 81st Street Studio will be open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday through Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm. The Met and the 81st Street Studio are closed on Wednesday, Thanksgiving Day, December 25, January 1, and the first Monday in May.
It’s free! No Museum admission is required to visit. Just drop in. Be prepared for a possible wait on weekends.
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.
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. Ask Met staff for details. Storytime is offered on weekends and Monday mornings starting September 16. See our event calendar for the full Storytime schedule.
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 under 12 with an adult.)
The 81st Street Studio is a drop-in space rather than 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 Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings during the school year. Learn more about group visits.
Yes! A limited number of miniresidencies, 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.
Learn more about the 81st Street Studio.
