NYC Arts: The Complete Guide to Art and Culture

The National Academy maintains one of the foremost collections of American art, including paintings, sculpture, prints and drawings, as well as European art ranging from Old Master drawings to paintings by contemporary artists. The academy's Annual Exhibition, the oldest juried show in the country, showcases new work. Lectures, symposiums, gallery talks, tours and other educational programs that complement special exhibitions are presented regularly and provide insights into the creative process from the artist's perspective.

The School of Fine Arts, the oldest art school in New York, offers a full range of instruction for both professional artists and talented amateurs. Modeled after London's Royal Academy and other notable European art academies, the school emphasizes traditional instruction in the fine arts, including painting, sculpture, drawing, anatomy, perspective and printmaking. The faculty is drawn from the ranks of New York's most accomplished artists, many of whom are academy members.

The National Academy is located in a turn-of-the-century Beaux-Arts townhouse, one of the few remaining mansions on Fifth Avenue that is open to the public, on Manhattan's "Museum Mile." This elegant and stately six-story structure is the former home of businessman and philanthropist Archer M. Huntington and his wife, sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington.

• Landmark Status: Museum Mile
• Directions: Subway: 4, 5, 6 to 86th Street

• Disability Access: Fully accessible
• Reference Center: Contains titles on the decorative arts, prints, antiques, costumes, museum collections, artistic technique, art history, architecture and other subjects; access by appointment

Get involved with National Academy Museum and School

• Donations through NYCharities.org
• Volunteer Opportunities: Friendly outgoing volunteers are needed to help in the Visitor Services area of the National Academy Museum. Please visit our website for contact information.
• Memberships: Join the National Academy Museum & School as a Friends Member. Your membership contribution supports year-round exhibition and education programs highlighting American art and architecture, historic and contemporary. With a host of attractive member benefits as well as special studio visits and gallery openings, a joy for any art enthusiast.