Cleveland Institute of Art announces $35 million Transformation Campaign

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 6, 2024

CLEVELAND—The Cleveland Institute of Art has launched the public phase of its $35 million Transformation Campaign, an ambitious comprehensive campaign that will increase student scholarships, strengthen resources for student and faculty success, and contribute to campus enhancements—including construction of the College's new Interactive Media Lab.

CIA’s Transformation Campaign focuses on five key impact areas: Student Access + Success, Technology + Innovation, Teaching + Learning, Community, and Campus. Within each impact area are specific projects, programs and initiatives that will reduce financial burdens for students, fuel creative learning, expand campus services and modernize educational offerings. CIA’s Interactive Media Lab—with its virtual production studio, leading-edge XR/VR/AR technology, space for cross-sector collaborations and public access—is integral to all five Transformation Campaign impact areas.

“The Cleveland Institute of Art’s impact is profound. From the innovative work of our students and alumni to public programming that benefits the community, CIA has meaningfully contributed to the regional innovation economy for nearly 142 years,” says CIA President + CEO Kathryn J. Heidemann. “Now, with an eye to the future, we seek to make critical investments to support our students, future-proof our curriculum and expand our value proposition as a college—investments that will keep CIA a strong and vibrant center of learning for future generations of artists and designers.”

The Transformation Campaign is off to a strong start. Through its quiet phase, $27 million in gifts and commitments have been secured, including:

• $7 million from the Joan Yellen Horvitz Trust—the largest one-time gift in CIA’s history—to establish the Joan Yellen Horvitz Scholarship;
• $2.15 million from The Eric & Jane Nord Family Fund to establish and operate the Jane B. Nord Center for Teaching + Learning;
• $2 million from the Estate of Kim Sherwin for the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque;
• $1.5 million from the Estate of Susan Hanna and Marvin Feldstein to establish the Hanna-Feldstein Scholarship;
• $1.5 million from the Estate of Toby Devan Lewis;
• $1.5 million from the Cleveland Foundation to support the Interactive Media Lab;
• $1 million from Jane B. Nord to establish and operate the Jane B. Nord Center for Teaching + Learning; and
• $1 million anonymous gift to support the Interactive Media Lab.
• The Interactive Media Lab has also received funding from the State of Ohio and from New Market Tax Credits.

“I’m incredibly grateful to those who have already pledged their support for the Transformation Campaign. Their generosity—and the generosity of those who will support the campaign moving forward—helps ensure CIA can continue to offer students an exceptional educational experience and prepare them for successful careers in art, design and innovation,” Heidemann says. “We will transform the future of CIA—and of Cleveland—together.”

The public launch of the Transformation Campaign will be celebrated during a public event from 6 to 8pm Wednesday, November 6 in CIA’s Peter B. Lewis Theater.

During the event, Heidemann will deliver a state-of-the-college address and lead a panel discussion, “The Art of Disruption: Exploring the Role of Technology in Art + Design and the Creative Economy.” Following the panel discussion, attendees—guided by CIA students and faculty—will have an opportunity to experiment with some of the same technology that will figure prominently at CIA's Interactive Media Lab, which is scheduled to open in early 2025.