The Cleveland Museum of Art at 110: What You Need to Know

One of the world's leading art museums turns 110 in 2026 — still free, still growing, and now drawing record crowds.

by Sponsored Content | Jun. 1, 2026 | 1:29 PM

Courtesy Cleveland Museum of Art

The Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA), founded in 1916, is one of the world's leading comprehensive art museums — home to more than 68,000 works spanning 6,000 years, free to the general public, and located in Cleveland's University Circle neighborhood. In 2025, it welcomed more than 800,000 visitors, the highest attendance in its 110-year history.

68,000+ Works in the collection

6,000 Years of art history

800K+ Visitors in 2025

31,000+ Member households

What is the Cleveland Museum of Art known for?

The CMA holds one of the most significant art collections in the United States, covering ancient Egypt, medieval Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas through to contemporary work. Within the museum field, the phrase "Cleveland Quality" has become an informal standard — shorthand for exceptional collecting, scholarship, conservation and exhibition design.

The museum has received national recognition from major outlets. The New York Times has called it "one of the nation's most important art institutions," and The Washington Post has described it as "a cultural powerhouse." It is considered a peer institution to museums in New York, Chicago and Boston.

Critically, the CMA offers free general admission — a deliberate, founding-era commitment that sets it apart from many comparable institutions and makes it one of Northeast Ohio's most important public resources.

"Museums create extraordinary public value. They inspire artists, families and entrepreneurs and contribute to the cultural and economic vitality of their cities."— William M. Griswold, Sarah S. and Alexander M. Cutler Director, Cleveland Museum of Art

A couple people viewing a sculpture at the Cleveland Museum of Art

Courtesy Cleveland Museum of Art

Is the Cleveland Museum of Art free?

Yes. General admission to the Cleveland Museum of Art is free, every day. This policy has been central to the institution's mission since it opened in 1916 with the stated purpose of serving "the benefit of all the people, forever." Special exhibitions may carry a separate ticketed admission, but the permanent collection galleries — which hold the vast majority of the museum's 66,500 works — are free to all visitors.

What makes the CMA significant beyond its collection?

The museum has been a national leader in using technology to make art more accessible. Its ArtLens experience — an award-winning digital platform — allows visitors to interact with the collection in ways that go beyond traditional gallery viewing. In 2026, the museum will debut ArtLens Reimagined, a substantially updated version of the experience.

Membership has reached an all-time high of more than 31,000 households, a figure that reflects sustained community investment. Strong philanthropic support and long-term institutional planning have positioned the CMA as a model for other cultural institutions at a time when many face financial and attendance challenges.

Director William M. Griswold frames it in civic terms: "For Cleveland especially, the CMA is both a source of pride and a global ambassador for the region's creativity, ambition and resilience."

What exhibitions are at the Cleveland Museum of Art in 2026?

The museum's 110th anniversary year brings a full slate of major exhibitions, from Impressionist pairings to medieval Korean art. Here is what is on view and coming up:

Manet & Morisot — Now Open Through July 5

Martin Puryear: Nexus — Now Open Through August 9

2026 ArtLens Reimagined — updated digital experience debut

Spectacular Freedom: Andrew Wyeth and the Modern American Watercolor — September 20

Ten Kings of Hell: The Afterlife in Medieval Korea — October 11

A light show projected onto the exterior of the Cleveland Museum of Art

Courtesy Cleveland Museum of Art

Why does the CMA matter to Cleveland specifically?

The museum is the cultural anchor for Cleveland. For a city that has navigated decades of economic change, the CMA represents a form of civic permanence — a world-class institution that has remained rooted in and committed to its community across 11 decades.

The museum's record attendance and membership figures in 2025 reflect not just institutional health but genuine community engagement. More than 31,000 local households are members — a figure that, in a city of Cleveland's size, represents meaningful civic participation, not just patronage.

"The museum's strength today reflects decades of ambition, generosity and civic spirit on the part of this community."— William M. Griswold, Director, Cleveland Museum of Art