It is easy to spot one of Target’s many commercials when they appear on television. They are always filled with various shapes, vivacious colors, and catchy music that is sometimes matched with a short choreographed dance. There is no question that Target understands the importance of the arts to their business and overall expansion as a global superstore. On Target’s website, they categorize working with art organizations as their corporate responsibility, highlighting these collaborations as a necessity for their company. To underscore their commitment, Target sponsors multiple “museum nights” where free admission is offered to the public at some of New York City’s popular museums. They have partnered with the Children's Museum of Manhattan, Brooklyn Museum, and Studio Museum in Harlem to provide complimentary access to these world-renowned exhibition spaces.

Target collaborates with the Children’s Museum to bring Free First Fridays, providing free admission on the first Friday of every month. This program brings art and interactive activities to children, for some, their first encounter with the arts.

Target’s Free First Saturdays is a collaboration with the Brooklyn Museum where on the first Saturday of every month (except September), Target sponsors free admission for the public from 5 to 11 p.m. Each First Saturday is replete with art of different mediums. Events range from video presentations and curator tours of the exhibits, to live music and hands on activities to get patrons more involved with the featured exhibitions.

The Studio Museum in Harlem is unlike the other museums that only have free admission on the first day of every month. It is host to Target’s Free Sundays, and is free each week. At the museum, there are gallery pieces from the likes of Alma Thomas and Richard Hunt, and hands-on activities for kids and adults to create mosaics using glue, paint markers, and cardboard.    

Make sure to check out the Children’s Museum on the first Friday, the Brooklyn Museum on the first Saturday of the month, and the Studio Museum in Harlem every Sunday to take advantage of these great opportunities to explore world-class institutions. Usually in New York City, nothing comes free, but with Target’s support of art museums, they are actually inviting the public to close their wallets and open their hearts and minds to the arts.