FABULOUS FIVE

These five museums are among Atlanta's best and offer an array of art, from millennia-old to right-up-to-the minute.

Atlanta Contemporary Art Center. Local, national and international cutting-edge artists. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays. $3; $1 senior citizens, students and children. 535 Means St. N.W., Atlanta. 404-688-1970, www.thecontemporary.org

Michael C. Carlos Museum. Ancient art, including mummies, on permanent display; temporary exhibitions from throughout art history. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays; until 9 p.m. Thursdays; noon-5 p.m. Sundays. Free; $5 suggested donation. Emory University, 571 S. Kilgo St. N.E., Decatur. 404-727-4282, www.carlos.emory.edu/COLLECTION

High Museum of Art. Atlanta's signature museum. Features works from the Renaissance to the present, including folk and decorative arts. Closed for renovation until Aug. 30, 2003. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays. $8; $6 senior citizens and students; $4 ages 6-17; members and under 6 free. Fulton County residents free 10 a.m.-noon first Saturdays. Toddler Thursdays: crafts for ages 2-5 at 1-4 p.m. Thursdays. Woodruff Arts Center, 1280 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 404-733-4444. www.high.org

Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia. Devoted to art from this state.

10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays; noon-5 p.m. Sundays. Free. 1447 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 404-881-1109, www.mocaga.org

Spelman College Museum of Fine Art. Changing exhibitions of African-American art. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays; noon-4 p.m. Saturdays. Free. Camille Olivia Hanks Cosby Academic Center, 350 Spelman Lane S.W., Atlanta. 404-215-2583.

MORE WORTH SEEING

APEX (African-American Panoramic Experience) Museum. Exhibits depict the cultural heritage of African-Americans and their contributions and achievements. Continuous videos "Sweet Auburn: Street of Pride," narrated by Cicely Tyson and Julian Bond, and "The Journey," about African history, narrated by Ossie Davis. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays; 1-5 p.m. Sundays. $3; $2 senior citizens, students and children; under 4 and members free. 135 Auburn Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404-521-2739, www.apexmuseum.org

Atlanta International Museum. Arts, crafts and cultures from around the world. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays. $3; free 1-5 p.m. Wednesdays. Marquis II Tower, 285 Peachtree Center Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404-688-2467, www.atlantainternationalmuseum.org

Booth Western Art Museum. Movie posters for westerns, paintings, memorabilia and Austin Barton's 11-foot bronze statue of a bucking horse. Cartersville. Scheduled to open in August. 770-607-6361, www.boothmuseum.org

Callanwolde Fine Arts Center. Offering tours of the 1920 Gothic/Tudor home built for Charles Howard Candler, son of Coca-Cola founder Asa Candler. Center houses visual and performing artists. By appointment Mondays-Fridays for groups of 10 or more. $1.50; 50 cents students; add $5 for tea and refreshments. 980 Briarcliff Road N.E., Atlanta. 404-872-5338.

Center for Puppetry Arts Museum. Puppets of all kinds in "The Power of Wonder" convey the magic of the medium. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays. $4-$5; free with show admission. 1404 Spring St. N.W., Atlanta. 404-873-3391, www.puppet.org

Clark Atlanta University Art Galleries. The institution's historic collection of African-American art. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays; noon-4 p.m. Saturdays. Free. 223 James P. Brawley Drive S.W., Atlanta. 404-880-6102/6644, www.cau.edu

Georgia Museum of Art. A general-interest museum. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays (until 9 p.m. Wednesdays); 1-5 p.m. Sundays. Free; $1 suggested donation. 90 Carlton St., University of Georgia, Athens. 706-542-4662, www.uga.edu/gamuseum

Hammonds House Galleries & Resource Center of African-American Art. Specializes in contemporary African-American art. 10 a.m.6 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays; 1-5 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays. $2; $1 senior citizens and students. 503 Peeples St. S.W., Atlanta. 404-752-8730, www.hammondshouse.org

High Museum of Art Folk Art and Photography Galleries. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays. Free. Georgia-Pacific Center, 133 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 404-577-6940, www.high.org/visitor_information/folkart_photography/folkart.html

Jacqueline Casey Hudgens Center for the Arts. A children's arts museum and adult galleries. 1-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays; 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays. $5; under 3 free. 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth. 770-623-6002.

Madison-Morgan Cultural Center. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays; 2-5 p.m. Sundays. $3; $2.50 senior citizens; $2 students; under 6 free. 434 S. Main St., Madison. 706-342-4743.

Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art. American art is the specialty. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays; 1-5 p.m. Sundays. $5; $3 students and senior citizens; under 6 and members free. 30 Atlanta St., Marietta. 770-528-1444.

Oglethorpe University Museum. Realism is the specialty. Noon-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays. Free. Philip Weltner Library, 4484 Peachtree Road N.E., Atlanta. 404-364-8555, museum.oglethorpe.edu

Omenala-Griot Afrocentric Teaching Museum. Exhibits include an Ancestors Pavilion and "Black Indians," recounting the relationships and interactions between Native Americans and African-Americans during the exploration, colonization and development of North America. Also "Black Music," a study of various forms of musical expression from early Africa to New World developments and modern explorations. Tours available. 1-5 p.m. Fridays-Sundays. $4; $1 under 16. 337 Dargan Place S.W., Atlanta. 404-755-8403.

Sparta-Hancock Museum. Gullah and local crafts. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays. $3; $2 senior citizens; $1 children. 719 Boland St., Sparta. 706-444-7462.

Steffen Thomas Museum and Archives. Devoted to the late sculptor's work. 1-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays; 2-5 p.m. second Sundays. Free. 4200 Bethany Road, Buckhead, 60 miles east of downtown Atlanta. 706-342-7557.