The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has awarded $25,000 to the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art for its popular Objects and Their Makers: New Insights (OMNI) educational kits for area schools. The program introduces schoolchildren and their teachers to the arts of other cultures, including those of China, Africa, South America and Japan.

"These kits go to schools throughout the Southern Tier [of New York state] every year, and thousands of schoolchildren visit the museum as part of the program," said Franklin Robinson, museum director. "Through OMNI, these schoolchildren are introduced to distant cultures through fascinating and engaging activities."

More than 4,000 schoolchildren in 16 area school districts participate in OMNI each year. The program also is supported with funding from the New York State Council on the Arts.

The Johnson Museum is considered one of the finest university museums in the country. Its collection of 30,000 works includes major holdings in Asian, American and European art. Located on the Cornell campus, the museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Public admission is free.