The objects in Art of the American Indians: The Thaw Collection from the Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y., are striking for both their beauty and the amazing intricacy of their craftsmanship.

This weekend, the Cleveland Museum of Art will debut its first exhibition of Native American art since the 1970s.  Art of the American Indians: The Thaw Collection features 120 masterworks drawn from the renowned Eugene and Clare Thaw Collection at the Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Those of us who love the arts know the power they have to enhance our communities and daily lives. That’s why we choose to spend our free time in museum galleries, music halls, and theatres.

Break out the beads!  It’s Mardi Gras time!

The Cleveland Museum of Art brings the flavor and festivities of the Cajun bayou to Cleveland with a Mardi Gras celebration on Friday, Feb. 12 from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. Revelers can dine on a Mardi Gras themed buffet; enjoy refreshments at our cash bar featuring a signature cocktail; create a dazzling carnival mask; and dance to the music of DJ Adam Ritenour.

Tickets are $20 per person and can be purchased by calling 1-888-CMA-0033 or online

The Cleveland Museum of Art is now just a little more than a month away from reaching another exciting milestone in our building expansion and renovation project. In February, we’ll celebrate the reopening of Gartner Auditorium, ushering in a new era for our VIVA! & Gala performing arts series.

On Monday, January 18, the Cleveland Museum of Art will open its doors for a daylong, free festival of art and music in celebration of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Family-friendly activities, storytelling and song will fill the galleries to promote Dr. King’s vision of understanding and acceptance.

Did you get to know Gauguin at the Cleveland Museum of Art this fall? If you are not one of the more than 50,000 people who’ve already seen Paul Gauguin: Paris, 1889 (or if you just want to catch the show again), there’s still time. But you’ll need to hurry. The exhibition, co-organized by us with the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, closes on Monday, January 18, and Cleveland is the only city in America where you can see it.

Imagine an orchestra of pitched percussion instruments. The exotic rhythms are created with a mix of gongs, metallophones, zithers, xylophones and drums. The sound evokes the rich culture of Indonesia, where this type of ensemble is integral to the court and sacred music of the nation. At the same time, the sights are a feast for the eyes, as the performers don brightly colored robes, flowers and head wraps. That’s the experience the CMA is presenting when it brings Evan Ziporyn to town on Friday, January 8, along with his 30-member Gamelan Galak Tika.

Performance art, an electro-squiggle band, and student art are just a few of the things you’ll be able to find this Friday at the Cleveland Museum of Art’s special After Hours party.  We’re keeping the museum open extra late from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. and we’re inviting you to stop by and help us keep the party going all night.