Little Thinkers, Big Imaginations

At the Cleveland Museum of Art, we take pride in creating experiences “for the benefit of all the people.” This includes providing opportunities for our younger visitors and littlest thinkers to engage more deeply with our world-class collection in new ways. This fall, the CMA and Akron Children’s introduce Little Thinkers labels, inviting children and their favorite adults to explore the museum together.

“Exposure to the arts plays a key role in how children learn and grow,” says Chris Gessner, Akron Children’s CEO. “It gives them ways to express themselves and better understand the world. Working with the CMA on projects like Little Thinkers is a natural extension of the work we do to support children’s overall well-being. Together, we are inspiring creativity and joy.”

Installed throughout the museum’s permanent galleries, these labels, written at a 5th-grade reading level, highlight artworks from a variety of cultures, geographic locations, and time periods. Each label includes ways to explore an artwork, tips for looking closely, and information to help visitors (big and little) learn more about the objects. Guiding questions inspire discussion between families and groups, encourage sharing multiple points of view, and create personal connections with the collection.

Be sure to take a special Little Thinkers guide to find the labels throughout the museum. Look out for the Little Thinkers logo featured on each label. Guides are located at the KeyBank Information Center in the Ames Family Atrium and at the Akron Children’s Welcome Desk in the Susan M. Kaesgen Education Gallery and Lobby.

Little Thinkers is a collaboration between the Cleveland Museum of Art and Akron Children’s. This partnership brings together pediatric health and arts engagement through family-centered museum experiences, adaptive arts programs, and wellness-focused initiatives designed for children across Northeast Ohio. Have fun—and think big!