The American Folk Art Museum is a devoted institution that expresses the appreciation of creative folk art. The museum can be found at 2 Lincoln Square Columbus Avenue or on 66th Street New York City, NY. The museum welcomes all visitors from abroad to experience and understand the quality of folk art today and the history of the art dating back to the 18th century.
 

History of the Museum
The museum was founded back in 1961. Its mission was to put on display the reflection of the country’s history in a cultural manner that would be appreciated. It wasn’t until 1963 when it opened up to the public and welcomed visitors from all over the USA and other countries. As soon as the museum opened it wasted no time to start with the collection of the tales in which Americans lived. Function, Symbolism, Community and Individualism were the four main focuses that were empathized throughout.
 

In 1997 the museum acquired the Contemporary Center. This was due to the huge response of interest sought out by self-taught artists of the 20th and 21th century. This is a center that focuses on taking the leadership role within the international field of development for self-taught artists exclusively revolving around the semantics and scholarship quality issues.
 

One of the most noticeable artists of the twentieth century is Henry Darger. Henry lived in Chicago’s Lincoln Park area while renting a room for more than forty years. This is where his imaginary world satisfaction was discovered. After Henry passed away his artwork was discovered and brought to the public’s eyes. In 2000 the Henry Darger Study Center opened up displaying more than three thousand archives of Darger’s materials and more than 25 of his double-sided paintings.
 

What to Expect
The collections highlights are extraordinary and include folk art that has been traced back to the old world predecessors ranging from portraiture, early landscapes and seascapes, early works on paper, early objects and sculpture, trade figures, signs and weather vanes, furniture, pottery, needleworks and rugs, quilts and coverlets, Henry Darger and all of the self-taught artists in alphabetical order.
 

The museum offers more than just the great collections from remarkable artists. They offer tons of educating programs that are made available to the public such as Exhibition and Collection Programs, Families and Folk Art Programs and Free Music Guitar Lessons. There is even an unpaid opportunity for interns that are interested in pursuing museum careers to help out at the museum and learn and start their career at a professional level.
 

Visiting the Museum
The museum is open daily with the exception of Monday’s. Public transportation is accessible such as subway and bus. Free live entertainment is offered on Friday’s and group tours are available for hands on experiences and a more intense understanding of the art. A museum shop is open during business hours offering a wide variety of gifts such as hand crafted jewelry, toys, frames and other personal accessories. For more information please visit the museums official website.
 

American Folk Art Museum
The American Folk Art Museum is New York City’s most appreciated museum for its contemporary artists that are self-taught, sculptures, quilts, exquisite paintings dating back to the 18th and 19 century and for its profound history and teachings.

The Asia Society is an educational global institution that is non-profit bringing together a better understanding of Asia to the United States and strengthening the relationship between the two with business, culture, arts, policy and education. It was founded in 1956 with providing an understanding, promoting partnership and generating ideas to create a future that is shared with challenges to make the world a better place within the two cultures with exhibits, museum and people.
 

Mission and History
Asia Society’s mission is to promote a mutual understanding when it comes to partnerships among leaders, people and institutions of the United States and Asia in a global background that creates a future with the shared challenges. With institutions around the world in Hong Kong, Sydney Australia, Washington DC, Shanghai and in New York this mission can be addressed with the collection of works with exhibitions, leadership initiatives and lifestyle.
 

History started back in 1956 when John D. Rockefeller the third founded the Asia Society. It was established to bring together a more comprehensive acknowledgement of Asia and the US. The programs have expanded throughout the years to connect Asian American issues and what effects it has on globalization, urbanization and the environment.
 

Museum
The museum is an exhibition that provides contemporary and traditional Asian arts. It is located in New York City at Park Avenue and 70th St. It is known for a few masterpieces with one being Mr. and Mrs. Rockefeller collections. Its Contemporary Art collection consists of new media and videos by both Asian and Asian American artists. There are permanent collections available as well. The museum was the first of American museums to start a program with Asian contemporary art in the 1990’s. It announced the establishment of the Contemporary collection in 2007. Many programs are offered in the form of film, literature, performing arts and visual arts.
 

There are many resources that include Arts, Education, Past and Present Exhibitions, Policy, Business and Publications for Kids to learn the initiatives behind the relationship of Asia and United States. It is an ongoing learning process that will create the understanding needed between the two.
 

Visiting Asia Society
Plan your visit to Asia Society by visiting their website. There are different business hours for the museum and the society. Admission prices differ for seniors and students, more information can be found on the homepage or by calling the visitors bureau. There are many accommodations for visiting which include the Asia Store, a museum shop that features souvenirs and other merchandise. There is a Garden Court Café, Leo Bar and Space Rental as well to accommodate visitors.
 

Daily exhibition tours are available as well as group tours. Sketching and copying the art is permitted in pencil only. The museum reserves the right to adjust the sketching policy at any time to not hinder traffic flows through the museum.
 

Visiting Asia Society is a must for all. The history behind the founding and the objectives to create the partnership needed for globalization is remarkable. Plan your visit today to the Asia Society.