“First Mess” Marks Grand Opening of The Art Barn

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“First Mess” Marks Grand Opening of The Art Barn

Cape Cod’s First-Ever Children’s Art Museum Launches in Downtown Hyannis

HYANNIS, MA — On Friday, June 6, 2025, the Cultural Center of Cape Cod and the Town of Barnstable will proudly celebrate the grand opening of the Art Barn, Cape Cod’s first and only children's art museum, with an exuberant “First Mess” celebration—an afternoon of glitter, giggles, glorious paint splatter, and the delightful chaos that only young artists can create.

A joyful, hands-on creative environment designed for kids ages 4–10, The Art Barn is the centerpiece of the Cultural Center of Cape Cod’s Hyannis campus, located in the heart of HyArts Cultural District, the MassDevelopment Transformative Development Initiative (TDI) District, and Hyannis Business Improvement District. The museum offers year-round, visual learning experiences tailored to young children, their families, and early childhood educators.

Admission is free for all families living below the poverty line, underscoring the Cultural Center’s unwavering belief that every child deserves access to creativity—no matter their zip code, language, or income—having never turned away anyone with an inability to pay.

A Museum Built for Mess, Magic, and Meaning

“This is more than a museum—it’s a movement,” says Molly Demeulenaere, Executive Director of the Cultural Center of Cape Cod. “At The Art Barn, children are not told what art should be. They’re invited to create freely, communicate visually, and explore their imaginations without limits.”

The museum’s screen-free, ever-changing studios alive with color, texture, movement, and sound center on messy, tactile exploration: paint, paper, sculpture, texture, motion, and sound. Designed as a visual language learning environment, The Art Barn is especially vital in a neighborhood where many children speak Portuguese, Haitian Creole, or Spanish at home. Here, art becomes a universal language—inclusive of all abilities, all cultures, and all stories.

Public-Private Vision, A New Cultural Landmark

The creation of The Art Barn was made possible through a visionary collaboration between the Town of Barnstable, ArtsBarnstable, and the Cultural Center of Cape Cod, which together transformed a historic space into a next-generation cultural institution.

The museum also benefits from its location within the Commonwealth’s TDI District and Business Improvement District, where strategic investment has brought new life to underutilized cultural assets and seeded a creative economy corridor along South Street in downtown Hyannis.

More Than a Museum: A Full Creative Campus

The Art Barn anchors a larger ecosystem of imaginative, inclusive spaces at the Center’s Hyannis campus, including:

• Flameworks: A working hot glass studio

• Sketchpad: Live/work artist residencies

• Birdhouse: A gathering space for community exhibtions

• Quad: A flexible outdoor learning zone

• Patch: A playful asphalt-meets-astroturf courtyard for art, games, and movement

Together, these spaces embody the Cultural Center’s mission: All the Arts for All of Us.

Event Details: “First Mess” Grand Opening

Date: Friday, June 6, 2025

Time: 1:00 3:00 PM with Presser at 1:30pm

Location: Cultural Center of Cape Cod, Hyannis Campus 250 South Street, Hyannis

Activities include:

• Art-making stations

• Kid-friendly refreshments

• Interactive exhibit tours

• Official ribbon-cutting & media availability with Cultural Center leadership, educators, and local officials at 1:30 PM

Media RSVP & Coverage Opportunities

Members of the press are warmly invited to attend, tour the new facilities, and speak with the leadership team, including Executive Director Molly Demeulenaere and community partners from the Town of Barnstable.

“The Art Barn: Where Every Masterpiece Starts with a Mess.”

The Art Barn: Where Every Masterpiece Starts with a Mess, because creativity isn’t a luxury—it’s a public good. And now, it’s available to every child on Cape Cod. Join us—and be part of the joyful mess where Cape Cod’s next generation of artists begins their journey.