In its proof-of-concept phase, which began in 2018, the Museum presented 17 exhibitions, 10 of them with partners including the Parsons School of Design, Rockefeller Center, and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden; held 355+ events—including panels, workshops, performances, and more; and welcomed 166,000+ visitors.

Dominant narratives about climate are disempowering and pessimistic. Most of us feel worried and powerless, resulting in a spiral of anxious silence. Mobilizing the popularity and public trust held by museums, the Museum’s work invites visitors to join a lively, palpable community of climate talkers and doers. We spark vibrant civic dialogue and action on a difficult subject, without avoiding hard truths.

The Museum’s pioneering methodology combines art, learning, and action. The arts touch our deepest emotions and elevate our sense of possibility, capability, and community—our sense of what we can accomplish together. Our programming breaks the climate silence, empowering visitors to see their own agency, creating a ripple effect and moving us toward a public culture that elevates the priority of climate action at scale.