ToonSeum

The ToonSeum: Pittsburgh Museum of Cartoon Art was a museum devoted exclusively to the cartoon arts, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded in 2007 by professional cartoonist Joe Wos, it operated as one of only three museums in the United States dedicated solely to cartoon art during its active years. The institution emerged from Pittsburgh's deep historical roots in cartooning, which included prominent editorial cartoonists such as Cy Hungerford, who chronicled local and national events for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and its predecessors for over four decades, and John A. Johns, a caricaturist for the Pittsburgh Press from 1952 to 1969. The ToonSeum sought to preserve and promote comic strips, editorial cartoons, illustrations, and animation as a universal art form, with particular attention to diversity, social influence, and education. After more than a decade of operation, the museum closed its permanent physical location in February 2018 to pursue a community outreach-focused model, though subsequent activity appears to have been limited.

The ToonSeum first opened in October 2007 in a small gallery space within the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh on the city's North Side, occupying a modest 200-square-foot area. Joe Wos, who had been collaborating with the Children's Museum and was known for his storytelling program "Once Upon a Toon," envisioned the institution as a dedicated space to celebrate cartoon arts. The debut exhibition, "From Illustration to Animation: Picture Books Come Alive Through the Art of Animation," launched that October and showcased how static illustrations evolve into animated works, featuring pieces from comic books, strips, and related media with connections to Pittsburgh-area artists.

On November 8, 2009, the ToonSeum relocated to an independent 1,000-square-foot storefront at 945 Liberty Avenue in Pittsburgh's downtown Cultural District, aided by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and supported by a grant from the Grable Foundation. This move allowed the museum to curate more provocative exhibits, such as political cartoons, that had been limited by the family-oriented venue of its previous location. By 2011, growing attendance prompted further expansion; the museum connected its space to the adjacent building at 947 Liberty Avenue, tripling its footprint to over 6,000 square feet and adding dedicated areas for research, storage, offices, and an outdoor courtyard reading room featuring sculptures by artist James Simon. This renovation was funded through private donors, local foundations, businesses, and a successful Kickstarter campaign called "Real Superheroes."

In 2009, the ToonSeum established its NEMO Award, given to notable individuals "for excellence in the cartoon arts." Recipients included veteran comic-book artist Ron Frenz, editorial and comic-strip artist Dick Locher, and comics artist, editorial cartoonist, and artists' rights advocate Jerry Robinson. In May 2013, the museum hosted the two-day North American Conference of the National Cartoonists Society and announced plans for further expansion.

On February 16, 2018, the leadership announced via the organization's Facebook page that it would close the physical location on Liberty Avenue as of February 24, 2018, to focus on direct community outreach. The stated intention was to transition to a nomadic "roaming museum" model featuring pop-up exhibits, lectures, and community events across the Pittsburgh region, with a year-long planning period focused on fundraising, expanding partnerships, and developing inclusive programming. However, following the closure, the organization did not conduct notable roaming activities and appears to have become inactive, with its last tax filing showing no revenue as of fiscal year 2021.

The ToonSeum's collection and exhibition program spanned multiple forms of cartoon art, including comic strips, editorial cartoons, illustrations, and animation. Under Joe Wos's direction until 2014, the museum hosted over 70 exhibits highlighting the history, social influence, and diversity of cartooning. The programming emphasized works by Pittsburgh-based African American artists and themes tied to civil rights and popular culture icons such as Wonder Woman. The museum incorporated interactive elements including drawing stations and educational programs for all ages, positioning comics as a medium for education, literacy, and social good. During its operation, the ToonSeum also developed partnerships with national institutions, including the Charles M. Schulz Museum in California, which provided financial and advisory support to bolster the collection of original cartoon art. After the 2018 closure announcement, the organization expressed intentions to engage underrepresented communities including people of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and local students through its planned outreach programming.

The ToonSeum's exhibitions featured original sketches, comic strips, and animation cels. Specific notable holdings and exhibited works included production cels and sketches from Sesame Street and related children's television programs. The museum displayed 40 production cels and sketches from a Keith Haring-inspired segment on Sesame Street, as well as production cels from Muppet Babies and Open Sesame. The museum's "Drawing Board of Fame" included a sketch by Caroll Spinney, the performer of Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on Sesame Street, along with sketches by various animators who had worked on Sesame Street segments. In 2010, the ToonSeum presented "The Art of Caroll Spinney," an exhibition that ran from November 6, 2009, to January 30, 2010. The museum also exhibited "Animating Haring!," featuring the animation of Bill Davis and animated cels and drawings for his Keith Haring-inspired segments "Exit," "1-10," and "What Comes Next?"

The ToonSeum occupied two primary locations during its operational history. From its founding in 2007 until November 2009, it operated within the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh on the city's North Side, in a 200-square-foot gallery space designed to engage visitors of all ages. On November 8, 2009, the museum moved to its own independent space at 945 Liberty Avenue in Pittsburgh's downtown Cultural District, a location aided by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. This initial storefront measured approximately 1,000 square feet. Following growth in attendance, the museum expanded by connecting to the adjacent building at 947 Liberty Avenue, tripling its footprint to over 6,000 square feet. This expanded space included dedicated areas for research, storage, offices, and an outdoor courtyard reading room featuring sculptures by artist James Simon. The renovation cost an initial $15,000 plus $25,000 in annual rent. The 945 Liberty Avenue location served as the museum's final physical home until its closure on February 24, 2018.

The ToonSeum was located at 945 Liberty Avenue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the downtown Cultural District. The museum was founded by Joe Wos, who served as its leader through 2014, and later directed by John Kelly. During its operation, the institution was supported by grants from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, the Grable Foundation, and fiscal sponsorship from the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, along with private donors, local foundations, businesses, and crowdfunding campaigns. Annual fundraisers such as the "Comics 4 Comics" series, starting in 2010, and "Ka-Blam! The Return of Saturday Mornings" helped sustain programming. The museum maintained an active presence at events such as New York Comic Con in 2010, where its booth hosted autograph signings and talks. Following the closure of its physical location on February 24, 2018, the ToonSeum announced plans to shift to community outreach and a nomadic exhibition model, though these plans appear not to have been realized in a sustained manner. The organization's website remained active at http://www.toonseum.org/ during its operational period.