Looking Back, Moving Forward

This June, the Cleveland Museum of Art turns 110. Birthdays invite reflection; they offer a chance to look back with gratitude and forward with anticipation—celebrating what has been accomplished and what is still possible.  

Since its founding in 1916, the museum has earned an international reputation for scholarship, connoisseurship, and curatorial rigor—so much so that “Cleveland Quality” has become shorthand in museum circles for the highest standards of excellence. That reputation was not created overnight but rather shaped by generations of trustees, curators, educators, members, donors, and dedicated staff members who have demonstrated commitment to building a world-class collection, to ensuring that access to art should remain free to all, and to establishing an institution strong enough to endure and bold enough to evolve. As the CMA celebrates its 110th birthday, it does so with momentum—honoring its history while actively shaping what comes next.

Over the past decade, guided by the CMA’s strategic plan, the museum has renewed clarity of purpose, aligning tradition with innovation and strengthening its core commitments. The impact is clear in the achievements of recent years. In 2025, the museum surpassed 800,000 visitors for the first time in its history, setting records for both overall and exhibition attendance. Membership reached new heights as well, with more than 31,000 households, marking another accomplishment for the museum. Engagement with younger audiences has accelerated while the museum’s philanthropic community continues to respond with deep and sustained support, reflecting confidence in the CMA’s direction and commitment to securing the museum’s future.

Momentum is also visible in the collection itself. Building on 110 years of connoisseurship, acquisitions over the past few years—The Dutton Family in the Drawing Room of Sherborne Park (c. 1772), The Gift (1990–94), Jesse (c. 1500), and Fata Morgana (c. 1572)—strengthen historical areas of excellence while expanding the range of stories the museum can tell. At the same time, the museum’s curatorial capacity has flourished, with increasing emphasis on fashion and Judaica—new areas of focus that build on and grow the CMA’s long-standing strengths of ensuring that all audiences can see themselves in the museum and experience the culture of others.

That energy guides the vision for the CMA’s exhibition program. From Picasso and Paper, Manet & Morisot, China’s Southern Paradise: Treasures from the Lower Yangzi Delta, and Africa & Byzantium to Takashi Murakami: Stepping on the Tail of a Rainbow and Renaissance to Runway: The Enduring Italian Houses, the CMA continues to unite cultural moments with thoughtful scholar-ship, advancing a legacy of curatorial leadership while keeping the galleries dynamic and relevant. 

Beyond the main campus, the Community Arts Center and Transformer Station further extend that trajectory, creating new platforms for creativity and connection, all in service of a mission that remains constant: to create transformative experiences through art, for all people.

This progress is especially meaningful at time when museums across the globe are navigating an often-turbulent environment. Rising operating costs, shifting attendance patterns, and evolving visitor expectations have reshaped the cultural landscape. Meeting those expectations requires sustained investment: in people, infrastructure, and scholarship. Against this landscape, the CMA stands out not because it is immune to change, but because it meets change with discipline and purpose. Strong attendance, careful stewardship of the endowment, and thoughtful planning have positioned the museum to lead. 

For decades, the CMA has been recognized for excellence in education, conservation, digital innovation, and the Ingalls Library and Museum Archives—areas of strength that underpin the museum’s public impact. Its education programs have shaped generations of learners. Its conservation department is respected internationally for its expertise and scholarship. Its digital initiatives have expanded access and engagement through groundbreaking efforts such as Open Access, innovative exhibitions like Revealing Krishna: Journey to Cambodia’s Sacred Mountain, and the newly reimagined ArtLens experience. Meanwhile, the Ingalls Library and Museum Archives continue to serve as indispensable resources for scholars around the world.

Yet success and momentum do not eliminate responsibility. These long-standing strengths are also areas of opportunity and duty, where strategic investment can ensure that the museum not only sustains its leadership but expands it for the decades to come. A 110-year-old campus requires ongoing care. Endowed positions are essential to attract and retain world-class curators, conservators, and educators. Continued acquisitions ensure that the collection remains dynamic and globally representative. That is why it is important to recognize that the CMA reaches each milestone only through the partnership of its members, donors, and community. Excellence is sustained. Access is ensured. Innovation is funded.

The CMA's 110th birthday is more than a celebration of longevity. It is a celebration of shared aspiration. Every exhibition attended, every membership renewed, every gift made, contributes to the museum’s ability to thrive. As the museum marks this milestone, its focus is firmly on the future. How can the campus be preserved and enhanced for generations to come? How can digital tools deepen access to the collection? How can educational initiatives reach even more students and families? How can acquisitions continue to reflect the richness and diversity of global artistic expression and ensure that all our audiences can access and learn from them? These questions shape the next chapter of the museum’s story. The ambition is clear: to ensure that a thriving institution remains strong, agile, and visionary in a rapidly changing world.

There is something powerful about celebrating a birthday at a moment of vitality. It allows gratitude and ambition to coexist. It honors the founders’ belief that art belongs to everyone while acknowledging that stewardship requires foresight and generosity.

Over a century ago, civic leaders imagined a museum that would serve Cleveland “for the benefit of all the people forever.” Today, that promise feels as vital as ever. The galleries are filled with visitors. The collection continues to grow. New audiences are discovering the museum as their own. As we celebrate this milestone together, we do so with confidence—not only in what the Cleveland Museum of Art has accomplished but in what it can become. With the continued partnership of members, donors, and the broader community, the next 110 years can be defined not simply by endurance but by leadership.

A milestone, after all, marks both time passed and time ahead. The birthday happens in June.