American Folk Art Museum

Mission Statement

Since 1961, the American Folk Art Museum has been a major center for the exhibition, study, and preservation of folk art. The only institution in New York City devoted to the field, it is home to one of the world's preeminent collections of folk art dating from the 17h century to the present, including paintings, sculpture, textiles, ceramics, and other decorative arts, as well as the work of contemporary self-taught artists. In addition to exhibitions, the Museum provides a wide variety of educational programs and serves as a major source of information and scholarship by publishing Folk Art magazine and scholarly catalogs and by operating the Folk Art Institute, which offers courses in folk art, including a graduate-level certificate program.