About Cleveland Institute of Art

CIA was chartered in 1882 as the Western Reserve School of Design for Women. The school’s first name reflects the forward-thinking views of founder Sarah Kimball, who opened her home for the first class meetings. Open to male and female students alike, the Cleveland School of Art, as the school became known, blossomed under the influence of a dedicated and talented faculty, whose prize-winning art and award-winning commercial designs are known collectively as “the Cleveland School.”

In 1949, the school became officially known as the Cleveland Institute of Art, and in 1981, the College purchased a former Ford assembly plant, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. (The plant was the first Model T plant outside of Detroit.) In 2015, CIA completed an 80,000-square-foot expansion that houses academic spaces and administrative offices.

CIA's Reinberger Gallery supports the creative work of professional artists by providing quality exhibition opportunities. It also serves CIA students, faculty and the community as an educational resource, and particularly to encourage artistic growth and experimentation through well-presented exhibitions, events and lectures.

One of CIA's most honored traditions is the annual Student Independent Exhibition. From choosing the jurors to mounting the show, students organize every aspect of SIE, which always offers fresh (and sometimes surprising) approaches to contemporary art.