Since 1996, the CMA has provided children, their families, and educators a creative environment with interactive exhibits and programs. Located in Downtown Lafayette, LA, the CMA serves over 45,000 annual guests who visit from the Acadiana parishes, south and central Louisiana, out-of-state, and international locales. At the CMA, children and their families explore and make discoveries that de-mystify everyday experiences, cultures, and human differences. In addition to field trips on offer to school and summer camp groups, throughout the year the CMA hosts workshops, camps, seasonal paid events, and birthday parties – all of which include art activities. Daily, an art activity using recycled materials that is designed and produced by CMA arts educators, is on offer in the ReUSEum Exhibit. Monthly, the CMA produces the “Only One You” Literacy Program for children ages 4-7 in which participants engage in reading and arts activities, and the monthly “Mornings at the Museum” Program includes art activities curated specifically for children with developmental differences. Other regular programing includes “Toddler Tech,” “Work of Art Wednesdays,” and “Members Day of Play.” Special events – the “Egg-stra Special Easter Party, a “not so haunted” “Spooktacular” Halloween event, the “Twinkle Light Night” (TLN) Christmas party, and the “New Year’s Noon Carnival and Countdown” – always include a holiday-themed art activity. In collaboration with other organizations including Acadiana nonprofits - such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Club of Acadiana, Hope for Opelousas, Healing House, Foster Friends, and Miles Perret Cancer Center to name a few - that promote missions to benefit children, the CMA serves developmentally different, underprivileged, and at-risk children . As a private, 501(c)3 non-profit organization, the CMA receives no funding from local, state, or federal governments except in the form of periodically awarded grants.
