Abstract Through a review of the scholarly and non-governmental organization (NGO) literature, this paper seeks to contribute to an emergent dialogue on the cultural citizenship of children in art museums. A comprehensive search of the current literature on this topic reveals a paucity of attention and understanding in this area, despite an increasing focus on children's services in art museums. In order to bridge this gap, the United Nations' Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is highlighted as an international vehicle for entrenching the participatory rights of children in cultural life and the Arts from birth. Lundy's model for participation based on ‘space, voice, audience and influence’ is interpreted for an art museum setting. Promoting children's cultural rights shapes museums into more democratic institutions, thereby activating the public art museum's founding principles.