The Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) celebrates its 110th anniversary in 2026, having been founded in 1916. It houses over 68,000 works spanning 6,000 years and remains free to the public. In 2025, the museum achieved a record attendance of over 800,000 visitors and a membership of more than 31,000 households. The article highlights the museum's renowned collection, its commitment to free admission, and its leadership in digital accessibility through the ArtLens platform, which will be updated as ArtLens Reimagined in 2026. Major exhibitions for the anniversary year include "Manet & Morisot," "Martin Puryear: Nexus," "Spectacular Freedom: Andrew Wyeth and the Modern American Watercolor," and "Ten Kings of Hell: The Afterlife in Medieval Korea."
This matters because the CMA stands as a model for cultural institutions facing financial and attendance challenges, demonstrating that free admission and strong community engagement can drive record-breaking visitation and philanthropic support. The museum serves as a cultural anchor for Cleveland, a city that has undergone economic transformation, and its "Cleveland Quality" standard has become a benchmark in the museum field. The article underscores the museum's role as a public resource that inspires artists, families, and entrepreneurs while contributing to the region's cultural and economic vitality.