The Womens Council
Founded in 1941, the Womens Council plays an active support role for the Cleveland Museum of Art. Individually and collectively, our members volunteer, provide financial support, and demonstrate interest in the museum's art collections, exhibitions, and programs. We welcome new members each year.
Membership Benefits
- Engage with the Cleveland Museum of Art through volunteer activities and educational programs.
- Provide in-depth orientation for new members including gallery talks with curators and behind-the-scenes tours of the museum’s departments.
- Attend informative monthly membership programs that feature curatorial perspectives on the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collections and exhibitions.
Parade the Circle
- Provide financial sponsorship
- Offer hands-on assistance with costumes and props
- Provide offering activities for visitors
- Actively participate with parade entry promoting the yearly theme
Museum Ambassadors
- Assist staff
- Engage area teens with the museum and its programs including International Community Day
Circle Neighbors
- Plan and facilitate Circle Neighbors programs with fellow University Circle institutions
- Provide volunteers with enrichment opportunities at University Circle institutions
- Stay informed and share information about events, trends, new faces, and milestones in the University Circle area
Advocacy
Encourage legislative support for the arts by writing letters and articles, promoting the Ohio Arts Council, and participating in Arts Day in Columbus each spring.Community Arts
Participate in workshops to create materials for community arts events. Prepare props and costumes for Parade the Circle and make lanterns for Holiday CircleFest.Information Desk
Staff the information desk in the north lobby—greeting visitors, answering questions, and providing directions.Library Assistance
Help library staff in maintaining collections. Catalog, collect, and organize information and conduct computer searches.Museum Ambassadors
Assist in the ongoing teen program offering area students the opportunity to explore the arts and museum life. Work directly with teens as they attend discussions, take tours, and plan their Community Day projects.Pedestal Arrangers
Create flower arrangements for the pedestal in the north lobby or for other events. Must be a skilled arranger.Programs
Help plan and organize monthly programs for both the Womens Council board and the general council meetings.Ready Volunteers
Fill unexpected, unusual, often last-minute needs of the museum and council. May include mailings, press kits, hosting, and preparing for museum events. No fixed schedule.Speakers Series
Assist in the planning and presentation of an event featuring a well-known speaker such as an artist, architect, or critic.Special Decorations
Design floral and other decorative accents, large and small, for special occasions at the museum.Study Groups
Work with the museum staff to develop and organize educational courses for council members; these may relate to special exhibitions, permanent collections, or other art-related topics.Throughout our history, we have generously contributed to the museum. Our gifts include the following: works of art, the Flower Fund Endowment, the bus fund for transporting schoolchildren to the museum, sponsorship of exhibitions and educational programs, and the major financial sponsorship of Parade the Circle. We have also organized two fundraising events in recent years, Pink Martini and The Return to 1916: Picture Yourself Inside, raising a combined $575,000 toward the Capital Campaign.
Contact Us
For more information on joining the Womens Council, please email womenscouncil@clevelandart.org. Active members of the Womens Council may access the Womens Council website by logging in and using their password at www.wccma.net.