Mission Possible: Explore freedom, justice, democracy through creativity at Cleveland Museum of Art

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The Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) will honor the life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a free daylong celebration that includes activities, storytelling, musical performances, and more at the museum’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Celebration on Monday, Jan. 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The celebration explores Dr. King’s writings and speeches and how they shed light on the museum’s collection, as well as offers a chance to create a work of art inspired by his legacy.

Guests can also enjoy free admission to “Picasso and Paper,”the long-anticipated exhibition that explores Picasso’s lifelong experimentation with paper.

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.The day’s museum programming is inspired by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (The King Center), founded in 1968 by Coretta Scott King as a global destination, resource center and community institution, and its 2025 theme: “Mission Possible: Protecting Freedom, Justice, and Democracy in the Spirit of Nonviolence.”

Jeremiah Myers, CMA director of school and teaching programs, says the events at the museum reflect these themes, as well as provide some free, fun ways to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in 2025.

“The activities and performances we’ve assembled, including spoken word, visual arts, music, and dance, are designed to reflect these values,” explains Myers. “Each performance and creation serve as ways to inspire and engage with the ideas of freedom, justice, and democracy, while honoring Dr. King’s vision of nonviolence.”

Visitors to CMA can participate in storytelling, art making, and reflective writing; or attend musical performances, short films, and poetry readings at both the University Circle museum and CMA’s Community Arts Center in Clark-Fulton, via a free shuttle.

“Through prompts, guided activities, and performances throughout the day, we hope to inspire students and their families to reflect together and think creatively and critically about their role in building a more inclusive community,” says Myers. “We’ll also have a Little Library featuring selected books that focus on themes of on how we can be helpers and taking action for young readers as well as stories about Dr. King’s life and legacy.”

MLK Day activities include:

A musical performance in CMA’s Contemporary art galleries from 12 p.m. to 12:45 p.m.

Film screenings for children and adults with Children’s Animated Short Films: Celebrating Black Stories in Gartner Auditorium.

Presented by the New York International Children’s Film Festival (NYCIFF), “Kid Flicks: Celebrating Black Stories spotlights Black narratives that transcend national boundaries, culture, and language with films in English, French, Zulu, and even American Sign Language.

Admiring armor in CMA's Armor CourtAdmiring armor in CMA's Armor Court“These films share the joy, determination, resilience, and complexity of being young and Black while underscoring the vibrancy of Black storytelling,” says CMA manager of youth and family engagement Paula Jackson. Screenings are from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., and from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Poetry reading with selected readings by members of Most Promising, a creative writing program for Northeast Ohio teens designed to cultivate confidence and self-expression as well as increase literacy skills. 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Dance performance by Mayne Attraction Studios, 2:45 to 3 p.m.

Mayne Attraction Center for the Arts is a nonprofit organization that provides arts-based training and holistic health services,​ performance and cultural training, funding assistance performance opportunities, and preparatory and transitional training to enable the pursuit of collegiate and professional arts-based paths.

Artwork from the Education Art Collection.

Ingalls Library and Museum Archives pop-up exhibit

“The Ingalls Library is one of the largest art libraries in the country,” boasts Jackson. “Their resources are just as expansive as the museum’s collection. The pop-up invites visitors to look at books and other resources around Black artists in CMA’s collection.”

Printmaking with Zygote Press, which will lead a letterpress demonstration.

Printmaking at CMA on MLK DayPrintmaking at CMA on MLK Day“Participants [are invited] to create their own posters, as well as pre-printed zines for visitors to fill in,” says Jackson. “Visitors will then have the opportunity to reflect on the ways they can participate in the pursuit of freedom, justice, and democracy by filling prompts—such as ‘I will protect freedom, justice, and democracy by…,’ or ‘I challenge myself to....’”

Gallery art stories for families, 12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m.

Visitors can also explore all of CMA’s galleries and current exhibitions, including “Picasso and Paper,” “Rose B. Simpson: Strata,” and the closing day of Demons, Ghosts, and Goblins in Chinese Art.

Gallery spotlight tours will be held at 11 a.m. 1 p.m., and 3 p.m.

Provenance Café and the CMA Museum Store will be open throughout the day.

Additionally,  the complimentary University Circle Inc. (UCI) shuttles between the CMA in University Circle and the Community Arts Center depart every 20 to 30 minutes.

“We are excited to be working with many community partners this year,” says Jackson. “UCI will be providing a complimentary shuttle service both to and from the CAC, as well as connecting to the various institutions in University Circle.”

While at the Community Arts Center, Visitors can participate in visual arts activities inspired by Dr. King’s legacy and print their own themed poster designed by a local artists, courtesy of Future Ink Graphics.

A day with a mission

True to the King Center’s 2025 Mission Possible theme, the Cleveland Museum of Art staff and its community partners have designed a day of activities that embrace Dr. King’s message of acceptance, tolerance, and freedom.

Creativity for all ages at CMACreativity for all ages at CMACMA’s Myers says he is hopeful that all visitors will feel welcomed and inspired on Monday, Jan. 20.

“We want visitors of all ages to feel a sense of wonder and welcome inside the museum,” he says. “We hope they recognize that being an artist and expressing their ideas is a powerful way to protect freedom and promote justice.”

Myers adds the CMA is just the place to achieve this. “We want visitors to understand that the museum is a space where we can challenge our thinking, explore diverse perspectives, and foster empathy,” he says. “Art can be a meaningful way for people to express themselves and find connections.

“Even if you don’t see yourself as an artist, engaging with a piece of art (whether observing or creating),” he says, “can foster personal reflection as well as serve as a vehicle for diverse perspectives and voices that have been historically excluded to be seen and heard.”

The Cleveland Museum of Art is open on Monday, Jan. 20 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with free admission. The Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Celebration activities and tours run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Karin Connelly Rice
Karin Connelly Rice

About the Author: Karin Connelly Rice

Karin Connelly Rice enjoys telling people's stories, whether it's a promising startup or a life's passion. Over the past 20 years she has reported on the local business community for publications such as Inside Business and Cleveland Magazine. She was editor of the Rocky River/Lakewood edition of In the Neighborhood and was a reporter and photographer for the Amherst News-Times. At Fresh Water she enjoys telling the stories of Clevelanders who are shaping and embracing the business and research climate in Cleveland.