Museum of Arts and Design Museum

Address: 2 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10019, USA

Website: https://madmuseum.org

Hours: Tue-Sun 11am-6pm, closed Mondays

Admission: $16 (adult)

Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) is a Manhattan museum focused on contemporary craft, design, and material innovation, located at 2 Columbus Circle near Columbus Circle and Central Park. The institution traces its origins to 1956 and moved into the Columbus Circle building in 2008.

Galleries present work by contemporary artists and designers working in glass, ceramics, metal, textiles, and mixed media, alongside thematic exhibitions that explore craft techniques and design thinking. The museum also runs education programs and artist residencies.

MAD’s mission centers on the intersection of art, craft, and design, documenting both historical craftsmanship and contemporary practices. Its site at Columbus Circle places it on the western edge of Midtown Manhattan, close to major cultural institutions.

The museum is a short walk from Central Park and is served by multiple subway lines at Columbus Circle.

• Founding and relocation: Founded in 1956 as the Museum of Contemporary Crafts and later renamed the Museum of Arts and Design; it relocated to 2 Columbus Circle in Manhattan in 2008.
• Specialty: Concentrates on contemporary craft, design, and material-based art with rotating exhibitions, artist commissions, and educational programs.

Museum of Arts and Design is at 2 Columbus Circle in Manhattan. The nearest subway is 59th Street-Columbus Circle (serving the A, B, C, D and 1 lines); the museum is an immediate short walk from that station at the corner of Broadway and 59th Street.

• Museum of Arts and Design is located at 2 Columbus Circle; arrive via the 59th Street-Columbus Circle subway station to enter from the plaza and avoid circling for access.
• Go early in the day or late afternoon to avoid peak Midtown foot traffic and to have quieter viewing of the main galleries and craft-focused permanent collection.
• Check the museum's website for current rotating exhibitions and any timed-entry requirements-special installations can be compact, so prioritize the galleries you most want to see.