Program areas at CMA
Special exhibitions the Museum is a significant international forum for exhibits. The improved and expanded special exhibition spaces makes Cleveland a desirable destination for preeminent loan exhibitions, bringing the best Art from around the world to the people of the region. Historically, the Museum has showcased between 13 and 17 special exhibitions per year, staging temporary exhibitions that draw from its permanent collection as well as showcasing international loan shows.
Using its collection and other resources, the Museum has a commitment to serve a variety of audiences, always seeking a dynamic interaction between the visitors and the works of Art. Museum staff endeavor to create a range of programs that enlighten and delight both a broad audience and visitors with more specific interests. Information on the collection and the continuing research thereon by the professional staff is disseminated through educational activities and publications. The Museum presents programs in related areas such as music and film since they can contribute to a broader understanding of the arts. Education & community programs Cleveland Museum of Art's education and academic affairs team creates dynamic programming, thoughtful content, and meaningful collaborations that teach, inspire, and support visitors and the community to engage with the Museum's collection, feel a connection to it and, ultimately, enhance their lives through Art. In the galleries the Museum offers a number of ways to connect with Art and each other. The artlens app allows visitors to learn about the artwork on their own, or visitors can take a free tour led by trained docents. Visitors can also handle genuine works of Art from the education Art collection in our Art carts, and participate in activities like scavenger hunts on our family days. In the studio our artists teach classes for people of all ages. We offer classes for our 'littlest learners' beginning at 18 months, for adults, and everyone in between. In the classroom, the Museum's connie towson ford teacher resource center serves educators working with various grade levels, disciplines and audiences. The center offers a variety of workshops throughout the year for educators. In the community visitors can explore the Museum programs at locations around northeast Ohio and onsite at the Museum. The Museum is committed to public arts education and hosts many educational events throughout the year, including family days, school tours, intergenerational studio arts classes and the distance learning and Art to go programs. Annual community arts festivals include: springtime's parade the circle, the autumn chalk festival and a winter lights lantern festival. A new offsite local community arts center was established during fiscal year 2021 housing the Museum's community arts staff and education outreach program. The community arts center features a range of arts programs while collaborating with neighborhood partners to enrich the transformative experiences offered to all audiences. Music, performing arts and film music at the Cleveland Museum of Art has a history nearly as long as the institution itself, and the initial program has grown into an extensive performing arts season that includes international music, dance and theatre artists. The Museum's annual summer solstice festival is a celebration of Art and music. Guests have an opportunity to enjoy dynamic and cutting-edge music from around the world, and explore Museum galleries late into the night. In addition, the institution plays host to a year-round film program that is one of the oldest of any Museum in the united states. The Art and fiction book club is another example of a Museum based event organized by the department of education and interpretation for Art and literature enthusiasts throughout the community. Members of the public can download materials created by our educators, such as family guides and Art projects for home or school use, interpretative resources that add perspective to objects in the Museum's collection, and a host of teacher online resources. Cma-cwru joint program the joint program in Art history and Museum studies offered by case western reserve university in association with the Cleveland Museum of Art provides students the opportunity to study the history of Art and prepare themselves for careers in the Museum field using the resources of a major research university, one of the country's finest general Art museums, and the ingalls library, the third largest Art Museum library in the country. The ingalls library provides research consultation and use of the library seminar room for the students and faculty in the joint program. In 2002, the Museum embarked on a $350 million capital campaign to dramatically modify the institution's blueprint while reorganizing and renewing the presentation of its unrivaled collection. The renovation and expansion project reaffirmed the vision of the institution's founders, who believed that a great city like Cleveland should be endowed with the finest of cultural assets, including an Art Museum that is accessible to the public free of charge. The project transformed outdated Museum spaces and prepared the institution to meet the future needs of the public. The integrity of the original 1916 building was restored including upgraded mechanical structural systems with the latest environmental controls throughout. An expansion to the east and west with two new wings restored symmetry and provided spectacular views of rockefeller park. The new 39,000 square-feet enclosed atrium is Cleveland's largest free public space. The Museum increased 33 percent in gallery space, with enhanced interpretation of the collection through state-of-the-art technology as well as installations that engage the first-time visitor and the long-time devotee. Artlens exhibition is the primary and most recently renovated artlens gallery space. Artlens gallery is a 12,000-square-foot interactive learning center. The Cleveland Museum of Art's museum-wide app includes every object on view and connects to the artlens gallery experience. Artlens app enhances the visitor's Museum experience by providing the option to design individual tours, offering tools to better understand artwork through augmented reality, and guiding users with interactive real-time maps. Artlens app may be used on-site or from anywhere in the world. Artlens wall is a 40-foot multitouch, microtile wall that displays in real time works of Art from the permanent collection currently on view in the galleries. Artlens studio encourages engagement with the collection through movement and play. As of january 23, 2019, the Cleveland Museum of Art is an open access institution. This means the public now has the ability to share, collaborate, remix, and reuse images of public-domain artworks from the cma's world-renowned collection-all without asking permission. In addition, portions of collections information (metadata) for artwork records, both in the public domain and those works with copyright or other restrictions, are now available. Open access is an outgrowth of the Museum's inclusive mission "to create transformative experiences through Art, for the benefit of all the people, forever." By expanding access to the collection, we proudly contribute to best practice, both in the quality of images and the wealth of data we will release.