Summer Celebrations at the CMA

Summer only happens once a year, so embrace the long light-filled days ahead. The CMA’s seasonal offerings are sure to enrich your days with the transformative power of art. Browse a few of my suggestions below!

Feel the Momentum of Parade the Circle
Celebrate art, culture, and community at the 34th Parade the Circle on Saturday, June 13. Watch as creative costumes, larger-than-life puppets, and marvelous masks—made entirely by hand—bring University Circle to life. This year’s theme, “Momentum,” is inspired by the special exhibition American Printed Silks, 1927–1947, the lived experience of acclaimed lead artist Héctor Castellanos Lara, and the legacy and evolution of our artistic community as the CMA celebrates its 110th anniversary as an institution.

Take Part in a Living Local Legacy 
Greater Cleveland’s creative community takes center stage at Transformer Station. Lake Effect: Artists from Cleveland Now is a juried art exhibition commemorating 110 years of the CMA. The show amplifies the expression of artists connected to Northeast Ohio, highlighting the region’s legacy as a hub for artistic excellence. Commemorating the May Show—the museum’s annual exhibition that for decades celebrated regional artists—Lake Effect showcases the region’s current creative community and the museum’s enduring role as a destination for inspiration.

Spark Your Curiosity
There are always new, free tours available at the museum—this season’s topics include Pride Month, American art, and more. Learn the stories behind the artistic contributions by LGBTQIA+ artists in the museum’s collection weekly on Saturdays at 3:00 p.m. during the month of June. Celebrate more than 250 years of American art, in honor of United States’s 250th birthday. From the vibrant modernism of Harlem and Greenwich Village to contemporary voices, this tour, available on weekends in June and July, traces a distinctly American artistic journey of a nation striving to live out its ideals.