Membership FAQ
Have a question about membership? We’d love to hear from you. Contact us at 216-421-7350 or membership@clevelandart.org.
General Information
Your member ID is located on the back of your member card directly under your name. Alternatively, you may call the ticket center at 216-421-7350 during regular business hours (10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., daily) to retrieve your ID number.
Your member level can be found on the back of your member card, where your name and member ID are listed. For more details on member levels and benefits, please proceed to this page.
There are three ways you can renew your CMA membership. You may renew online, over the phone with a visitor services representative at 216-421-7350, or by visiting us on-site at the CMA ticket center.
Leadership Circle donors make the museum a priority in their annual philanthropic giving. With annual gifts of $2,500 or more, they receive additional opportunities that enhance their enjoyment of the CMA through engagement with our collection, curators, and staff, including exclusive openings, previews, and events and a redesigned travel program. Learn more about the program here.
Call the CMA ticket center at 216-421-7350 for assistance from a visitor services associate, or email membership@clevelandart.org.
You can, but membership materials, including cards, invitations, and communications, can only go to one household address.
Due to processing time, some materials may cross paths in the mail. This should subside once you receive your card(s). If it does not, please email membership@clevelandart.org, and a representative can resolve this. If you do not wish to renew your membership, you can call 216-421-7350 or send an email to membership@clevelandart.org to request that your name be removed from the renewal list.
Museum memberships are a tax-deductible gift; therefore, they are not transferable or refundable.
Discounted memberships for students are available to those attending Cleveland State University or Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C). Students can register online with a valid promotion code, over the phone, or in person. Please contact your school’s administrative office for further details.
The total number fluctuates from year to year, but we are fortunate to have the support of around 23,000 member households.
Membership Cards
New member cards are mailed out when you renew your membership and should arrive in approximately two weeks. If you don’t receive your cards within that time, contact the ticket center at 216-421-7350, and a sales associate can request a new card for you, or send an email to membership@clevelandart.org.
Digital membership cards can be accessed from any smart device, so you never have to worry about losing your card or forgetting it at home when you travel.
Visit cma.org from your mobile device and click "Join/Login" from the top navigation bar. Select "Log in to Your Account" and enter the email address associated with your membership account. Once logged in, select “My Account” from the top bar, and click “Account Information.” The option to “Add card to wallet” will be available at the top right.
Card not showing in your wallet? Apple added a feature with iOS15 that automatically archives expired passes. Scroll to the bottom of the passes and click “View Expired Passes”. Once you remove these, you should now be able to add your mobile card following the instructions above.
There are three ways to get a new member card: you can stop by a ticket center desk, send an email to membership@clevelandart.org, or call us at 216-421-7350 to speak with a visitor services representative, and we will have one mailed to your home.
Membership Benefits and Discounts
We love to hear when children are enthusiastic about being a part of the museum. However, we do not currently have a membership program for children. All membership levels allow those 17 and younger free access to the museum when accompanied by the cardholder.
You may purchase a gift membership online, over the phone, or in person. Current members receive 20% off new gift membership purchases. Gift memberships can be purchased online, or over the phone by calling our ticket center at 216-421-7350. You will be prompted to specify where you would like the membership materials mailed—to yourself or to the gift recipient.
Yes. You will receive e-communications on a regular basis promoting upcoming member events, exhibition openings, and special offers. You will receive a fulfillment package in the mail containing your member cards and tax letter as well as the quarterly members magazine, Cleveland Art.
Purchasing a museum membership does not guarantee tickets to any ticketed event or special exhibition at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Tickets to events and exhibitions are subject to availability. The CMA understands the importance of our members, so we attempt to offer our members priority access for reserving tickets whenever possible. Otherwise, access is typically provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
On-site parking is available for members at a discounted rate of $7 per day. Senior members receive $2 parking on Tuesdays (excluding special events). Parking is dependent on availability; membership does not guarantee parking on-site during peak times. To submit your birthday for senior discounts, email your name and birth date to membership@clevelandart.org.
Depending on your level of membership with the Cleveland Museum of Art, you may qualify for free general admission or free admission to special exhibitions at our reciprocal partner institutions. Benefits vary, and we encourage you to contact an institution before your visit to determine the exact benefit.
We do not have additional discounts on memberships for seniors, and our student discount on membership is limited to those attending Cleveland State University or Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C). However, seniors, college students, and those 17 and younger do receive a discount when purchasing exhibition tickets.
Payment and Purchase Options
No, you will not lose any time on your membership by renewing early; your membership will be extended one or two years beyond your current expiration date. In fact, we encourage early renewal so your benefits do not lapse during your renewal cycle.
To increase your membership support at any time, please contact the CMA philanthropy department by phone at 216-707-2595 or email philanthropy@clevelandart.org. If you would like to upgrade to the Leadership Circle program, contact Allison Tillinger at 216-707-6832.
With the monthly renewal plan, you will receive a confirmation email for your first payment. Subsequent months will be charged on the 15th of every month, and no receipts will be mailed/emailed. If monthly membership payments have not been made in two months, your CMA membership will be deactivated until retroactive payments are received.
Since your membership is automatically renewed each month, you don’t have to worry about renewal notices.
With autorenewal, your membership will continue uninterrupted from year to year, so you’ll never worry about missing an event or exhibition. Automatic renewal eliminates renewal notices, making your membership hassle free and helping to save valuable resources by reducing paper use and postage.
You can enroll in automatic renewal by contacting membership@clevelandart.org or by selecting the option to enroll when joining or renewing online. You may opt out of the automatic renewal program at any time by notifying us at 216-421-7350 or by emailing membership@clevelandart.org.Please ensure that your credit/debit card is valid at the time of your next membership renewal. If your card expires during your membership year, we will contact you so you can update the information. You will remain enrolled in the autorenewal program at your current membership level until you request a change.
Yes. Your membership support, at any level, makes a difference.
Visiting the Museum
Yes. As a member, you must still reserve a ticket for our ticketed exhibitions. We strongly suggest reserving your tickets ahead of time by calling the ticket center at 216-421-7350 or by reserving them online.
Members receive free tickets to select ticketed exhibitions at the Cleveland Museum of Art, as well as free tickets to MIX. For performing arts events, art classes, and many other events at the museum, members receive a discount if there is a cost. Please note that free tickets to MIX and exhibitions are subject to availability.
Your online account gives you access to your full membership benefits. Without logging in, you are not able to reserve your complimentary tickets to exhibitions or to receive your membership discount where applicable. We must have your current email address on file to ensure a smooth transaction. To confirm the email address associated with your active membership account, please call the CMA ticket center at 216-421-7350, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., daily.
Corporate Membership
Your company can get involved by joining the corporate membership program, sponsoring an event, or matching any gift an employee makes to the museum.
A corporate membership is for a company as a whole and has benefits that are associated with the company. An individual membership is for a specific individual and has benefits that are associated with that individual.
This benefit is for those at the Patron level ($5,000) and above. Patron level corporate members can offer a 20% discount to their employees who are purchasing individual memberships at the Friend, Partner, or Ambassador levels.
Affinity and Affiliate Groups
Affinity groups offer our members deeper engagement opportunities with the museum’s world-renowned collection through special tours and lectures with CMA curators, as well as unique visits to local arts venues, private collections, and artist studios. Each group has a distinct identity with programs designed especially for its members’ interests. Affinity groups at the Cleveland Museum of Art include the following:
At the $250 CMA membership level, you can select one complimentary membership to any affinity group. All complimentary affinity group memberships will be automatically considered a dual (household) level membership. Your affinity group membership expiration will coincide with your CMA membership, and you will be able to easily renew both memberships at the same time. At higher CMA levels, above $250, you will have the opportunity to join additional groups with complimentary dues, depending on the level.
If you are already a CMA member, or would like to upgrade your membership to $250, and would like to join a group using this option, please call 216-707-2592 or email memberprograms@clevelandart.org to inquire further.
You may also join any affinity group independently from your CMA membership by paying dues to the group, regardless of what CMA membership level you have, but you must still be a CMA member. Each group has multiple levels to choose from. Please review each group’s web page for more information.
- To join a group using this option, you can purchase a membership online through the web page for your desired group.
- You may also call 216-707-2592 to join, or email memberprograms@clevelandart.org to inquire further about your options.
Note: The Asian Art Society is only available at the $250 or above levels of CMA membership.
Affiliate groups are also special interest groups of the Cleveland Museum of Art that offer opportunities for deeper engagement with the museum as well as off-site collections and venues. These groups have a different dues structure and different procedures for member registration. The museum’s affiliate groups include the following:
Each of these groups has their own procedure for those interested in becoming members. The best way to inquire further is to contact us using the information below. These groups can only be joined by paying dues to the group, not through your CMA membership.
- To learn more about becoming a member of the Print Club, call 216-707-2669 or email printclub@clevelandart.org.
- To learn more about becoming a member of the Womens Council, call 216-707-2669 or email womenscouncil@clevelandart.org.
- To learn more about how to join the Painting and Drawing Society, call 216-707-2592 or email memberprograms@clevelandart.org.
Yes. All affinity and affiliate group members must also be members of the Cleveland Museum of Art.