Families in Auburn will soon have expanded access to free arts and history programming through an expanded Creative Explorers initiative at the West End Arts Campus.
Officials announced that the program, which began at the Cayuga Museum of History & Art in 2023, is now being extended to include the neighboring Schweinfurth Art Center. As part of the expansion, admission to both institutions will be free for families every Saturday they are open.
The Creative Explorers program originally featured a children’s gallery, hands-on science activities in the Case Research Laboratory, and monthly family events. Organizers say the expanded partnership is designed to give families more opportunities to explore art, history, and science together.
“We are really excited to be working alongside the Cayuga Museum on this program” Schweinfurth Program Director Julia Banfi said. “We hope this collaborative program encourages more families to explore the West Ends Arts Campus.”
Cayuga Museum educator Dylan Brown said the expansion will help spark young people’s interest in multiple fields.
“By making both museums accessible to families, I hope that we are able to increase the interest of kids in history, art, and science,” Brown said.
Under the expanded program, families will be able to take part in special activities at the Cayuga Museum each Saturday, with themed scavenger hunts offered on the final Saturday of each month. The Schweinfurth will be closed until 4 p.m. on the final Saturdays of March, May, August, and October.
Several themed Family Day events are planned in the coming months, including:
Black History Month Activities on Saturday, Feb. 28, featuring paper lantern crafts honoring Harriet Tubman and gallery scavenger hunts.
Women’s History Month Activities on Saturday, March 28, including scavenger hunts and paper megaphone crafts.
Spring Poetry Day on Saturday, April 25, celebrating National Poetry Month with poetry-writing activities and museum exploration.
Admission is free for families on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tours of the Case Research Laboratory are offered at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m., and 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30 p.m.
The West End Arts Campus is located at 203 and 205 Genesee St. in Auburn. More information is available through the Cayuga Museum’s website.
Officials said the expanded program is supported by funding from the Guido & Ellen Palma Foundation.
photo provided
