The Cleveland Institute of Art is a private, nonprofit college of art and design that has been the training ground for countless students who have gone on to make important contributions to the fields of creativity and innovation since it opened in 1882 as the Western Reserve School of Design for Women. Its students have designed internationally recognized products, their artwork has been exhibited in major museums and private collections around the world, and their entertainment media has been enjoyed by audiences and game players for generations. It enrolls about 550 students nationally and internationally and has a faculty of about 100 full-time and adjunct members, all of whom are practicing artists, designers and scholars.

Vision

The global community is engaged and enriched by art and design.

Mission

To cultivate creative leaders who inspire people, strengthen communities, and contribute to a thriving and sustainable economy through an innovative education in art and design.

Values

Accessibility

We believe in proactively removing barriers to provide students, employees, and the public a welcoming and life-enriching experience with our world-class art and design college.

Creativity

We believe in building confidence and elevating the creative processes of our students as they explore the relationship of art and design to our culture, economy, society, and experience of the world.

Excellence

We believe all students deserve a premier education where they learn to appreciate and evaluate the world and apply a range of material and digital practices in a confident, accomplished, and sophisticated way.

Inclusivity

We believe our academic and campus environment—from our classrooms and studios, to our residence halls and institutional policies and procedures, to our galleries and public spaces—must reflect our society and encourage just, equitable, and inclusive expansive access and opportunity for all students, faculty, staff, alumni, and visitors.

Individuality

We believe in helping our students find themselves through art, design, and liberal arts education, planning their own professional paths to transform the world that draw on their creative, critical thinking, communication, and resiliency skills.

Investment

We believe in providing our students, faculty and staff with the resources they need for professional development by supporting established and unconventional approaches to teaching, learning and entrepreneurship.

Responsibility

We believe our students must learn to be civically and socially responsible, entering the world equipped to engage in a multicultural society and contribute to the public good.

Stewardship

We believe in building a strong organization for the future that is structurally and financially secure and consistently adaptable, while remaining true to its vision and mission.

Transparency

We believe in fostering a collaborative community built on open communication, honesty, and trust.

Wellness

We believe in supporting the educational, mental, emotional, and physical health of our students, faculty, and staff, for lifelong success in their professional and personal endeavors.