Flint Institute of Arts Museum + Art School

This is a surprising gem to find in the city of Flint. The FIA is truly an amazing oasis filled with stellar exhibits. The entrance fee is quite reasonable. If this museum were bigger its only local rival would be the Detroit Institute of Art. The one thing this place has that Detroit does not is an adjacent section dedicated to blowing glass. I think its worth the drive from the Detroit area to visit and I believe this is the areas newest modern museum.

My first visit to the Flint Institute of Arts Museum was a fantastic experience. The highlight for me was the documentary on Martin Luther King Jr. and the FBI—it was incredibly informative and thought-provoking. The event was even more enjoyable with live music and a delicious dinner, making for a well-rounded and engaging evening. The atmosphere was great, and I had a lot of fun. I’ll definitely be attending again!

We went to see the “Enchanted: A History of Fantasy Illustration” exhibit, which was great and fun for the whole family. We didn’t know that they had an ongoing glass blowing presentation by the UM-Flint students, so we were all delighted to sit through their expressive performance. Had a wonderful afternoon. Will come back again.

Such a nice museum, loved the exhibits which are very inspiring and intricately put together. Visited on a weekend and the entry was free. Moreover they have art school and different programs for engagement of the visitors. The gift shop had very cute things to shop for. The highlight would be their glass exhibit with exceptional masterpieces!

A gem of an art museum! For a small town, this is an incredible art museum. The variety of exhibits the day we visited, the incredible quality of various sculptures dispersed throughout the building, and even a live glass-making demonstration made for a very memorable visit. The standard that this art museum presented was a very pleasant surprise! Definitely worth your visit if you’re around the area and looking for an enriching experience!

Super friendly staff and an amazing amazing collection. Had no idea Flint offered such diverse art, literally from all around the world and from every century. The placards are also super helpful and detailed

This was my first time visiting the museum, though my husband had visited in the past. We were both very impressed by their expansion; both the design and acquisition of new exhibits. The galleries were impressive and well cared for. We attended today primarily to see the traveling Art in Fantasy exhibit, and it did not disappoint. A particularly moving exhibit on display, which we hadn’t anticipated seeing, chronicled the Flint Water Crisis. I was truly moved. Additional surprise perks of the visit were the lovely gift shop, which contained pieces by local artisans and student works. It also featured a wonderful eatery with surprisingly delightful food options. If you live near or plan to visit the Flint area, be sure to set apart some time to see this wonderful museum.

Great place to look at fascinating art. The exhibits are laid out beautifully, they have an amazing collection from glass, to paintings, to carpets. We felt very welcome here as well and somone who contributed to that was a man named James Lewis. He was very kind and even took a picture of my family and I. He told us about some of the art, and showed us some hidden things in the artwork.

Great art museum in flint featuring top quality contemporary, classic, and modern art! I was really impressed with the featured show as well as works from the permanent collection. They have art from different parts of the world as well... and its grouped by region.. and in some cases art movements. Very happy i got to check it out before my trip back home! An added bonus is that there is free admission on Saturdays!

I've been meaning to check out this art museum for a while, and finally had the chance to make it up here to see what all the excitement's about. Let me tell you, it was totally worth it! While it's no DIA, it actually is super cool. For starters, every Saturday is free admission thanks to Huntington Bank. If you don't come here on a Saturday, that's fine, admissions only like $10 which is super cool. Staff here was friendly and helpful, and we did the whole museum in about an hour and a half. They have plenty of cool artwork here and there's LOTS to see and do. What we loved about it was the different styles of art, and it wasn't just painting. Glass sculptures, a beautiful horse made out of wood, and a library! The library was cool but we didn't go in and check out any books. They also have a QR audio guide if you want additional info about the specific piece of art that you're viewing. Lots of modern art along with historic art from several hundred years ago. They also have a glass blowing section where you can watch artists make glass art forms and they have a person giving descriptions of what their doing and why. We watched for about 15 minutes and really enjoyed the experience. Worth watching and checking out. You don't get to see glass blowing all that often, so that was a lot of fun as well. There's a gift shop and a cafe here, which had a nice variety of products. We weren't hungry so we didn't eat anything especially since had lunch immediately before coming here. I would have stopped to have a coffee if I wanted, but we were not needing coffee or snacks so we passed. Art museums are always worth the trip and if you want a wonderful experience come check this place out. It's also immediately next door to the planetarium, so you can easily walk next door (as long as the weather is cooperative) and check that out as well. It's also across the street from the Sloan Museum but I think their still closed for remodeling from what I understand. Overall a really great day trip to come up and do. Easy to find and a lot of good fun for all!

The Museum is very well run with a good selection of Paintings as well as Statues. It has some very popular art works from around the world.

I have a hunch that this will have been my best art museum experience of 2019. Driving around the much-maligned Flint area, the visuals of a city that has been devastated over recent decades can't be ignored. There are pockets of hope sprinkled about -- new homes and businesses -- but it will take a lot more and a long time for this city to heal. The arts are a healing force and, fortunately, the Flint Institute of Arts is a core institution that plays an integral role. The boldly colorful entrance hints that there's good stuff inside. The large and minimalistic light-filled lobby leads to a number of individual galleries. I was most impressed by the Art of Americas and African collections because of the quality but also how well the items are displayed. An earthenware bowl from Mexico, circa 600-900, is haunting. The head of a man perches out from the bowl's edge and a black paint mark drips between his eyebrows and down his nose. A late 19th or early 20th century N'Tomo mask from Mali is one of the more unusual I've seen. Comprised of wood and metal, it looks like an almost industrial relic of the machine age. The two galleries of contemporary glass are gleaming. It's an absolutely beautiful presentation of the collection. The use of light to reflect through and off each piece makes it all so satisfying as a visitor. I didn't expect to see a gallery of gigantic tapestries and it exemplifies the surprising depth of the overall collection. It's a wonderfully soothing room. Too bad there are no chairs to sit down and spend more time. What sealed my experience is the recently-concluded 'Miracles and Glory Abound' exhibition. Vanessa German's mixed media assemblage of her take on the iconic (and mythical) scene of George Washington crossing the Delaware River overflowed with an abundance of color and imagery. It's too bad that this installation can't make its way to more art museums in the US. I wish I had known about the Flint Institute of Arts long ago. It's assuredly worth the drive from Detroit and I'll gladly return.

Fantastic morning strolling through the museum Glass making observations as well as phenomenal glass selection as well as others Got lost for a few hours Highly recommended

I had heard this is a pretty cool museum, and finally had the opportunity to visit in early February 2020. I was blown away by the glass displays and all of the special exhibits. My dad and I wandered around for a good three hours and easily could've stayed a couple of more. There is also a fun opportunity to vote for one of three fine arts pieces that the museum had on loan and was looking to purchase. They gave each visitor a token to vote with upon entry, and it was gratifying to feel that you had a say in which artwork they would keep. I am looking forward to going back once the quarantine is over.

I am BLOWN AWAY at how cool this art museum is. Extensive collections given by people after they pass. I have never seen a better art museum and I cant believe it's in flint! The glass art is my personal favorite. The realistic old guy in the glass haunts my dreams LOL but I take everyone who visits here!

This experience will definitely be on repeat! Enjoyed myself thoroughly as I took my time walking around viewing pieces of beautiful art. This place is without a doubt a jewel in the city of Flint. If you have not been I strongly suggest you visit; wear your walking shoes there's a lot to take in!! I spent 3.5 hours here myself and I still feel as if I rushed through. I love that the exhibits change so I'll have something new to view next visit. The glass blowing demos are pretty cool and the pieces are sold in the gift shop if you want to take a lil art home with you. Thank you FIA you'll be seeing me again soon.

It's a nice place to come for art lovers. They have a nice glass gallery that is regularly updated along with some Flint area art specialties saved from risk of damage.

It's one of the best museums in Flint they have so much to look at and I used to go here as a child on field trips it was fun. And very educational. Another place to venture to would be The Planetarium. They have really cool and educational shows to watch.

I love the FÍA. They have great exhibits, I enjoy the glass blowing exhibition on Saturdays and they are always friendly to my service dog.

The Best of the Best in the USA! The exhibits are world class all the time every time. they ring the bell it is a $200 million enterprise of love for the Flint Community and it's worth every penny don't miss it!

Very Interesting! Well-worth visiting! It is about an hour from Detroit, it is absolutely worth your time. Their collection is fascinating. The contemporary, ceramic and glass sections were my favorite. Check out their website to get an idea of their holdings. Bonus - their staff is very friendly and happy to answer questions.

You know how everyone strives to "exceed expectations" for the customer ... FIA does it! I visited the museum this past Saturday to be certain it would be a place I could take my granddaughter to for an "adventure". I was blown away by the glass-blowing presentation (which occurs each Saturday). I certainly didn't expect to find such a thorough demonstration and explanation. The girls and I went on Sunday (a little early, since it opens at 1 pm on Sunday). The galleries are thoughtfully and chronologically laid out which makes the visit feel like a walk through time ... with the room of tapestries absolutely mesmerizing. A surprising/fascinating/captivating experience was the film, The Way Things Go, which is showing during the month of March 2019. My granddaughters and I walked in during the middle of its 31 minute showing, left to see more galleries & came back, at their request, later to see more of it. Don't walk by with out going into the little theater. The staff was awesome and available for suggestions and explanations throughout our visit. We left with smiles on our face, things to talk about on the way home, and the expectation of visiting again ... soon!

Perhaps I'm biased because I have taken several photography courses at FIA Art School but I LOVE this place. The exhibits are amazing and always fresh. I find myself visiting often and even when they have nothin new, I seem to have new experiences. It is as if with each day I live provides new perspective to art...allowing me to see something in a new way. This is true of all things but it really stands out with art. I particularly enjoy the beginning galleries. To view items that at thousands of years old and experience the artisans of the age speaks to deeply personal feelings. Everything is well displayed and excellently curated and I love every minute I spend here.

While this museum/art gallery is on the smallish size compared to much larger ones in Detroit, Chicago, NY, and Boston, etc, it's a high quality venue housing an excellent and extensive collection of primitive art, as well as a great display of gorgeous glass paperweights (my favorite) and a terrific graphic arts/print section. I love their cool little library, where you can read for hours about your favorite artists and genres. They have just about the nicest gift shop, featuring items made by local artisans and lots of art materials and books, jewelry, handbags, magnets, stationery and more. They offer free Wi-Fi in the Palette Café. You can take art classes here as well. FIA offers several interesting lectures and sponsors a ton of awesome events, like art receptions and the like. Sometimes they have free music on certain dates and their FIA Film Series is the best, featuring indie and foreign language films at a low price. You can always count on their rotating displays in the Hodge Gallery to be superb, ranging from the works of Jackson Pollack and Lee Krazner to Marthe Orant and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec to something totally different like the Art of Video Games (a novel idea) and International Cartoons. Admission to the Hodge Gallery is always free on Saturday (and daily to museum members). Perhaps the best part of Flint...

My brother and I decided to stop by since we both love museums and it was my first time visiting Michigan. We came in through the back entrance and made our way to the front. College students get in free, so we only had to pay $10 for my brother. We didn't get to see all of the museum since we came around 4 PM and it closed at 5 PM, but we saw the temporary exhibits and some of the permanent collection. Everything was beautiful and superbly placed. We noticed that the layout of the museum was very complimentary to whatever was being displayed and the collections were all cohesive. The museum was very easy to navigate and the ladies working at the front were very helpful with tips on what to see in the amount of time we had (they said we could probably get through the whole museum, but my brother and I enjoyed everything so much that we took our time and have decided to come back). The gift shop was also nice and had fairer prices than what we've seen in other museums. The lady working there was also nice and helpful. There's something for everyone in the museum and I would highly recommend it for anyone nearby.

Being a Detroit native, and one who has visited the DIA many times, all proud that it's a word class institution, I didn't expect all that much from the FIA. It well exceeded my expectations. It's more on the smallish size, which is to be expected, given it's in a smaller city, but the FIA contains a lot of great artwork to feast ones eyes on. I could almost give it 5 stars, but that would seem somehow disloyal to my beloved DIA. The staff was kind and welcoming. I had a roast beef sandwich from the cafe upon arrival, and while it was nothing earth-shattering, it really hit the spot after my drive up. The galleries start with primitive art and go chronologically to contemporary art at the end. They wrap counterclockwise around a film theater in the middle. My favorite galleries were the post-impressionist and the modern. They also have this crazy medieval painting of a beheading based on some bible story that just looked like a bonkers Game of Thrones scene to me. Then there's this uncanny statue of a high school student leaning against a wall that tricked me into thinking it was a real human when I spied it through my peripheral vision from a couple of rooms away. He looks like a somewhat sad misfit trying to fit in, and I found it very affecting. My favorite part, and the one thing they have bragging rights over the DIA with, was their library. It's a beautiful room, chock full of glorious art books, many of them lush and oversized. There's comfy, classy-looking furniture to sit and pore through them if you're a visitor like me who's not really in a position to check them out. And I probably could have sat in there for hours if their website wasn't wrong about their Friday hours, leaving me with just about enough time to properly cover the galleries. I knew there was a reason I knocked them down a star. I was able to come back to see a film in their auditorium. It was a period piece called The Experimenter and it was pretty good. Just the kind of thoughtful arthouse fare you might expect. It's a great space, with a 70's mod look. They have orange chairs and red carpet with a cool FIA logo incorporated into the design. The outside of the building, too, has a mid-twentieth century funky modernistic look. Being a child of the 70's I really like that kind of thing. Not to mention it's such a 180 from the DIA that Icouldn't find it lacking in comparison, as it has an entirely different style. To sum up I found the FIA surprisingly charming and I want to go back. Especially cause, you know, they're going through some tough times up there. There were signs above the water fountains saying not to use them, and that there's bottled water for sale at the cafe. Hmm, who can I give a one-star review for that whole debacle?

Came up to Flint to the FIA, to see the work of Jerry Pinkney. He's a graphic artist primarily of children books, think the lion and the mouse. We are members of the DIA and they have a members exchange with the FIA. We still end up on Target free Saturday. It still wasn't crowd, maybe 20-30 people in total for the 90 minutes we were in the museum. The FIA has 4 galleries, a good sized theater and an outside sculpture garden. There is also an attached learning annex for all ages. So beyond the featured gallery, there is a section on modern art and then another on "Masters", and finally some interesting glass works. No real signature pieces, an interesting Singer Sargent. The Pinkney exhibition was large and varried, besides the children book illustrations, he has also done stuff for the national parks service and a number of jazz related drawings. So it's an interesting place to visit, if you are in the area, it's worth supporting the Arts.

One of my favorite places. It's an inspiring place. Some of the instructors are brilliant. The library and art gallery are amazing. The library also has 5$ bag sales sometimes and you can walk away with over 10 books usually!

This place was so cool, I am not art knowledge but this seemed more serious than any local art gallery I have seen. The gift shop had cool stuff, the Cafe had delicious bakery items. It was free on a Saturday, even being out of town, and we saw glass blowing in action which is pretty atypical.

The upgraded facility features many prominent exhibits. It's a hidden jewel hidden in the city.

Need to come more often. Nice and peaceful. Came out and spent the day here. Soaking up different artist and my take on them. Definitely going to be coming g back more often

This is my first Yelp review and I am so excited to say that I learned today of a treasure that has been so close for so long. Yes, I'm embarrassed that it has taken me 24 years to finally attend the Flint Institute of Art. There are no excuses worth making to not go, this place is FANTASTIC. It is everyone's loss to not spend not just one afternoon but many exploring and taking in this masterpiece. The quality of the art, the variety of the art and the mood of the people is something extraordinary. Take yourself. Take your family. Take you friends. Go often. I know I will. PS. The executive director,John B. Henry is also the most personable and generous museum director I've ever met. (And yes I have met a few.). No pretense just well deserved pride. Thank you.

The FIA has a surprisingly extensive collection. It seems to be a little gem in Flint that everyone forgets about, as it is not usually very busy. The tapestry room is INCREDIBLE. I know nothing about art and that room blows my mind every time. Hardcore. There's art for almost every taste, ranging from old Native stuff to cubism to modern weirdness to awesome glassworking stuff to samurai swords to enormous tapestries to minimalist blobs to steampunky gear sculptures and stuff. Plus there is a rotating temporary gallery that constantly changes and often has very interesting stuff; the most recent exhibit was a series of (read: enormous room covered in) political cartoons, which viewers could then post notes of thoughts next to. Very cool. Come if you've never been! You'll be surprised at how much cool stuff there is.

This museum was such a pleasant surprise to our Flint lay over. What a gem! It was contemporary, clean, and their Edvard Munch collection was dynamite. I couldn't believe it was completely free of charge on Sundays. Lucky us!

I visited here just a shy of an year ago. Going along with the consensus here, 4 stars. The admission is free, and only a few more dollars for the special exhibits. It was very sparse and quiet when I was there. The securities dozed bout at their sentries. It had some very engrossing and stimulating painting that required a few hours for the whole museum. It had a mixture of classical and modern artworks, and many local artists were featured. It is a worthy stop for a day trip in Flint. I would love to revisit here next time I am in Flint.

Ever since my brother started working as a guitar instructor i became a member and started attending the events..... Best decision i have made for 2013. Wine tastings, gallery events, foreign films etc.....

Although small, they have a great collection of items. I visit once or twice a year while visiting family in the area and they always have some nice temporary exhibits. I am looking forward to the new additions that are going in for 2017-18. We always find great items at the shop and the cafe serves beer which is nice!

Always something festive, innovative and local artists are really growing in the area!

Thought I would go to see the exhibit https://flintarts.org/events/exhibitions/isabelle-de-borchgrave-fashioning-art-from-paper. It was excellent. Well worth the trip. I was pleasantly surprised by the museum itself. Easy to park, I used my Detroit institute of Arts reciprocal membership perk. Staff helped guide my visit. Easy to find works of art. Nicely arranged. Will go back!

What a great find in Flint. This museum has a surprising collection of great art. There was a print show going on when we visited which was very extensive and included lithographs, silkscreens, woodcuts, monographs from several centuries and some contemporary digital printmaking artists. A very thorough and complete show. Their modern art collection is very good. They have an outdoor sculpture court in the middle of the museum which included one of Deborah Butterfield's fantastic horse sculptures.

Exceptional facility. What an incredible, beautiful and accessible institution. From point of entry - to the museum staff and security guards, a 5 star experience. The museum's curation is on point -- showing contemporary, modern, old masters, native american, african, glass, a glass blowing facility, plus outdoor space and special exhibitions. I cannot give it a higher rating -- was so inspired to see such beautiful pieces as well as new acquisitions from the 21st century. Thank you! : ) I will be back!

This is a great little museum,. Collections are not large but they seem to have high quality items . We went on Saturday when admission is free, apparently due to a grant from Target. Nice people, cool sculpture courtyard, interesting travelling exhibits. You might be shocked that this gem is in the heart of Flint!

Every time I visit family in SE Michigan I make a point of visiting this gem of a museum. They offer interesting exhibitions in the main gallery, (this time it was Point of View, contemporary African American art from the Elliot and Kimberly Perry Collection) as well as their smaller spaces and have a wonderful collection of their own. Be sure to check out their American primitives and glass paperweight collections. A nice gift shop and coffee cafe make this a wonderful spot to spend an afternoon.

If you and your significant other like museums and are on a budget these days like I am (unemployed), the FIA is a great place for a cheap date night full of culture. My SO and I have a date night pact where every other week we each take a turn planning a date night. We also include a DN relationship/intimacy building activity of some sort. It was my turn last week and I saw free admission being promoted on the FIA website which was right up my alley. They have a Picasso exhibit going on through the end of Feb. 2010 and I called up to double check if the $7 admission price applied to this particular exhibit. The lady on the phone said everything was free till the end of the month. They also have a free admission promotion sponsored by Target. I would call ahead if you want to make you have the right 'free' attendance schedule. I picked Thursday night as our DN night because the museum was open till 9pm. We arrived a little after 7pm and, as I suspected, we had the place almost all to ourselves which was very, very cool. The quiet solitude gave the evening a bit more of a romantic feel. The museum has onsite parking and is located in a cultural center that includes other museums, a planetarium and performance arts center. I liked this because I've had the occasion to travel around Flint and some of the locations there can be pretty/scary sketchy during the DAY (and I was born and raised in the South Bronx). The cultural center is also conveniently located close to the Downtown Flint area near U of M. My SO had no idea where we were going and he didn't know till we got to there. I like to add an element of surprise to Date Night. :-) We left the house very soon after my SO got home from work and decided to grab dinner after the museum. The FIA does have a museum cafe that brews Starbucks and we grabbed 2 flavored coffees for a little energy before we self-toured. They also sell cold drinks and pastry-type items. I did see a microwave if you wanted to heat something up. The cafe area has plenty of seating and the museum has free Wi-Fi available as well. After our coffee break, we checked out the museum store. A good place to grab a commemorative art magnet for $4 as a special DN reminder, if you feel so inclined. Then we grabbed a map at the main desk and they offered us a 'talking stick' of some sort that gave audio details on the artwork. We declined and took sweet our time walking around checking everything out. It was cool to see our first Picassos. The FIA art collection was diverse as well. From ancient art to sculpture to modern to old America and Europe, local artists, etc. We were done and ready to go at the FIA about 10 minutes till 9pm. We headed to Wize Guys Pizza on S. Saginaw afterwards just under 2 miles away to grab some dinner. It's right next door to the 501 Bar and Grill, which I would have loved to have gone to, but it was too expensive for my DN budget. I checked out the pics online on Yelp and it seems the may be connected somehow as the decor seemed sorta similar. Wize Guys was a good choice for a cheap date night because it offered 'pizza joint' prices, but did not have a low-end pizza joint look. My SO did not know we were headed to WGP to eat until we got there either. I spent just under $22 + a 1/4 tank of gas for this date night (2 medium coffees w/$1 jar tip, free admission at FIA, a pitcher of Budlight and a Hot-N-Now medium pepperoni pizza + $1 jar tip + tax for less than $14). The whole evening seemed to be a hit as the SO said (unprompted, might I add), "You know, this was a good idea," a number of times throughout the evening. I look forward to going back to the FIA to catch one of their low-cost movie nights ($6) non-members for a future date night. One Feb. 2010 movie on their list was Waiting for Superman. Per their website, the FIA also has wine and beer tasting events, a holiday walk, art fairs, etc. They also offer all kinds of child (from age 2-1/2 and up) and adult art classes. I got yet another date night idea when I saw the planetarium in the cultural center offers laser light shows ($5 ticket). I just texted my SO the selection of bands/music and to pick one. He has no idea why. :-) So it looks like we're going to see the Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon show. Although I would have preferred the Metallica or Tool show, but my man is not as hard rock as I am. The cultural center also offers discounted combo tickets prices for the Sloan museum and planetarium ($9 ticket) or back to back laser light rock shows ($8 ticket). I would definitely say the FIA, and cultural center in general, are cool and unexpected Flint finds. I look forward to exploring Downtown Flint more too and their On the Bricks events (car cruise and motorcycle shows, etc.) when the weather finally gets warmer.

Great for weddings or partys, great lighting, open and airy lobby area, clean restrooms, local artists display

FIA is small however is has some truly beautiful collection of art.I just love the outdoor sculpture in the courtyard.FIA is free on Sunday has a nice little gift shop,they offer art classes to adults and children.

One of my favorite places. Always a pleasure to visit. Everyone in flint owes themselves a trip to the FIA.

Target FREE Saturdays every Saturday bring the family out to see some wonderful works of art for FREE!!

This place is awesome! I love the little cafe, the cool atmosphere and of course the art itself! The only reason I did not give it 5 stars is because I found the security guard very annoying! I know they need security, but do they have to watch you like you are going to snatch a painting from the wall and make off with it? It was hard to feel comfortable looking at things the way I wanted to and to read the plaques with him watching my every move. Just creeped me out! Maybe just put him in there but tell him not to stare please!

Fantastic place to see independent films! I've been here countless times, and I can say it's one of the great treasures Flint has to offer.

We drove 5 hours from Ohio and were looking forward to our visit to the FIA. Exhibits beautiful. Lovely grounds. Gift shop sells trash from China. My friend bought a bracelet, employee said it was made in Michigan. Skeptical, we went home and found it on a manufacturer website, mass produced from CHINA. SHAME ON THE FIA! I would think, Flint being a huge victim of job outsourcing, would choose to sell products made in America, or better yet, help your State's manufacturers and artists and buy MICHIGAN. It is obvious that FIA chooses to be part of the problem. I will not be back, nor will my friends, we do not choose to support an organization that sends jobs overseas. Perhaps their funding sources need to be made aware of the choices being made, and insist the gift shop do the right thing?