I recently checked out this event at the Newport Art Museum with a few of my girlfriends and we had such a fun night. It was the perfect excuse to get dressed up and try something new, with a twist of course... delicious cocktails. The Edgar Allan Poe experience itself was really well done. The actors were fantastic and fully committed to their roles. I loved the costumes and the dramatic personalities. It made the whole evening feel immersive without being over the top. I'm actually at the museum about once a month for meetings, so it was fun to see the space used in a completely different way. My only wish is that we had a little more time to wander and take in the current exhibits, because it's such a beautiful setting. My one real downside is parking. With the recent changes, it has become pretty difficult to find a spot that is easy to get in and out of, especially during a New England winter. Definitely something to plan ahead for. Overall, such a unique and memorable night. I would absolutely recommend grabbing your friends and checking this out if it comes back around. read more

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A great little art musuem in Newport. Maybe a little overpriced given the size, but considering its all local it can be overlooked. Its a little wonkey in that you have to go outside through a courtyard to get to the 2nd part of the musuem, which I would imagine is a major inconvenience during colder or inclement weather. No staff or docents other than the person at the front desk. A goodbye quick time. read more

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I when for Edgar Allan Poe, speakers here and it was awesome I highly recommend it. They did four of his stories with four drinks. It was amazing read more

I haven't been here in a while, but came tonight for a special event. I forgot how beautiful of a museum this is and how much it offers the Newport community. I was a member here for many years before the pandemic and always loved coming in for a visit or an event. read more

Beautiful space to view some art. I believe the whole place is a historic mansion rennovated for the museum. There are actually 2 buildings and both were beautiful with some stunning pieces. Small, but lovely, and still somehow incredibly grand. I didn't get to go into the main/large room because they were installing a new exhibit but there is a good amount to see beyond that one space anyway. The gift shop was small and no one was manning it so I didn't get to buy a souveneir but I enjoyed walking around the history and art that was everywhere. Also worth mentioning, but they had some good pieces by woman artists (c. 1940s) which I feel can be extremely hard to find. For this museum, the women tended to be friends of the original owners or at least ran in the same circles and some were even founding members of the museum's art association. Always so nice to see women's art (and some were my favorite pieces!) That being said, most of the art was very high brow white upper class with an emphasis on orientalism, which I feel simply encourages conversations about the zeitgeist of the early 1900s. I did really enjoy the pieces they had from Edward Mitchell Bannister which were on loan from the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society. There was also a members juried exhibit which brought some breath into the traditionalist art space. Well worth the visit!! read more

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Holy smokes, I was expecting the new money of Newport to bring art to this museum but I didn't expect Dale Chihuly glassworks, Gilbert Stuart portraits, and a complete (temporary) exhibit of Georgia O'Keeffe's works. There is a lot of art to see in this converted home. Expect 90 minutes or so to properly appreciate what's on display in both buildings. [Review 18650 overall - 70 in Rhode Island - 2172 of 2022.] read more

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Was in town for a couple of days and we went to visit this museum. I really liked it a lot. Entry pricing was fair. It also wasn't too crowded and we went on a Friday afternoon. Not sure what the building used to be before it was a museum but it seems to have been around for a long time and also very well kept. On the outside it looked smaller but is actually a lot bigger once you are in. Love the layout of it and the variation of the art pieces. read more

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A very small collection for a high admission fee of $15. The building was the most interesting part of the visit.

I'm so glad I made the trek to this museum. it was so spacious and had so many different pieces of art on display from different eras. I also love that the museum is located in the former Griswold House which was the first mansion in Newport, R.I. the museum does a great job of persevering the house and the history of its former owners. I'm looking forward to visiting this museum again for future exhibits. read more

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I LOVE this museum! We are so lucky to have a small but wonderful museum like this in Newport! There's not a huge collection of artwork on display, but the fact that it's housed inside of the John NA Griswold House from the 1800s makes the historical relevance all the more interesting and fun to visit. Currently, they have a Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney exhibit on display, and I had the pleasure the other day of viewing amazing sculptures by one of the first well known female sculptors. They also have an interesting modern art exhibit up right now, and the room with the electrical flower installation is the best. I won't give away any more, but you should definitely check it out before it goes away! The museum also hosts a variety of fun events, such as Thursday evenings where the museum is open late and they do everything from showing movies in the gallery to scavenger hunts around the grounds, all with munchies and a cash bar. It's an affordable way to experience the musical and have a unique night out without breaking the bank. I also love attending the Artist's Ball benefit gala every summer, where the outdoor lawn is transformed into a summery paradise for dinner and dancing under the stars with Newport's creative finest. Finally, be sure to attend Murder At The Museum, which happens every Saturday evening. It's an interactive historical murder mystery show where the audience gets to interact with actors who pretend they're from different time periods. It's really fun when you try to take an iPhone picture and the actor pretends they don't know what it is! :) After the "murder" happens, you get to search the museum for clues and question the suspects. It's so neat how they're able to stay in character! The Newport Art Museum is a great addition to the community, and must visit for the vibrant and fun events! read more

Newport Art Museum - Art Museums Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

I'm not an avid art connoisseur so YMMV but I found little exciting during a recent visit. It was great to have the whole place to ourselves, I didn't feel rushed in the least bit. Unfortunately there just weren't a lot of interesting works being exhibited either. Place was kind of one-dimensional, if you want a specific time period and place then I'm sure this is the place for you. Otherwise, nothing jumped out at me. read more

A gem on Bellevue Avenue. Knowledgeable staff. Nice collection of well known 19th & 20th century American artists as well changing contemporary artists exhibitions. Housed in historic home and separate exhibition building. Small art school nearby. read more

This was such a great experience and a very refreshing visit. Not your typical art museum, this museum's architecture stands out so differently than most others, but it was fascinating to step inside of. I was expecting a larger collection of pieces over all, but the ones they do have do not disappoint. read more

Very charming old house converted to a museum. Be sure to check out the 2 dog heads on the fireplace- now this is a good way to immortalize your pets! Lovely and varied collection of paintings, sculpture and glass work. I was thirlled to find 2 Chihuly pieces upstairs and another fantastic bowl made up of thin glass threads. I say good for kids because kids of any age should be exposed to art. Support the Arts and visit! read more

Really nice but pretty small and more of a focus on Gertrude Vanderbilt's artwork and other American artists. More than the house that held the American artists, I enjoyed going to the separate house that holds all of Vanderbilt's artwork. There was a lot more information there on the background of the artwork and the cultural context surrounding the pieces. On average you might spend about an hour here, so plan accordingly. read more

This was a nice small museum. I can't say I would pay much for this but it definitely fits in with the Newport vibe. We were there for an art auction so admission was free that day read more

While the William Morris Hunt-designed Griswold House is lackluster relative to the other Newport Gilded Age mansions, its permanent collection offers incredible insight into life in Gilded Age Newport. I was pleasantly surprised to learn about Howard Gardiner Cushing and see so many of his paintings at NAM. It was also nice to see so much of the museum's permanent collect on display. read more

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This review is of the Murder at the Museum event, performed by the Marley Bridges Theatre Company. While the show was well developed and the museum served as a great set piece, it was really the acting that sold me on it. The characters have charm and wit, with jokes ad-libbed throughout the show. The show was really interactive, but it moves along perfectly well whether you would like to participate or you prefer to watch from a distance. The whole night would have been perfect, if not for the poor woman who was murdered. :( They even got mad at me when I called the police. read more

Had a terrible, horrible experience here. My partner and I had received an "admit two" voucher from his uncle while we were visiting RI for the holidays. We're avid travelers and art lovers and were excited to check out this space. When we presented our voucher to the elderly woman sitting at the front desk she proceeded to make a loud, shaming, ridiculous show of how old the voucher was. It was over the top and completely classless. She even went so far as to say she would accept it, but didn't know what "the management upstairs" would say and that we should leave a donation for the museum (???). I was aghast and wanted to leave immediately. Totally unwelcoming, unprofessional, and elitist. Skip it. read more

A wonderful small museum. Definitely worth the stop, anytime you are in Newport. Great permanent collection and always something new and interesting on display. read more

Pleasantly surprised to find that this museum has a really interesting collection, with diverse exhibits featuring a wide range of art. The house itself is beautiful and was fun to explore - we especially liked the varied patterns in the hardwood floors. Highly recommend, even for art novices and families looking for something to do in Newport on a rainy day. read more

Attended Art After Dark. This is a new free event for the museum which was a lot of fun. When we arrived at around 6 PM there was live music playing by the Newport String Project and the early evening children's tours were finishing up. The guy doing the kid's tours was terrific. We toured the special and permanent collections in the main building and then took in the special exhibit in the Cushing Building. Adults and children were doing a Red Poppy corsage making craft which looked very pretty and tied in to Veterans Day. There was a bar set up with reasonable prices and a free sampling of the local Sons of Liberty whiskey.The staff was very knowledgeable about helping us decide which whiskies to sample, and they were delicious. In another room Harvest Kitchen offering tastings of their applesauce, hot carrots and dill green beans all of which were yummy. Harvest Kitchen works with at risk youth in RI and I thought the partnership with the museum during this event was nice. Overall a great way to explore the museum in the evening, especially for those enjoy art or want to get their kids interested in art. TIP: Don't miss the galleries upstairs on the second floor.The lights come on when you enter the rooms and I thought they were closed as the lights were off and missed them. read more

This review is about the workshop I was supposed to attend next week. Be forewarned about signing up here. After I purchased all the materials, they just gave me a notice that it will be canceled due to low attendance. Sure, I can get my money back, but I don't think I will sign up for any more at this venue with this policy. read more