Cleveland Museum of Art, NYPL & America's 250th, Florida’s Dalí Museum

May 2026

Dear Readers,

Thank you for joining us for the May 2026 issue of Side of Culture! Spring has sprung pretty much all around the country by now and people are coming out in droves to enjoy the weather and the beautiful terraces, courtyards and exhibitions that cultural organizations offer. Not only do the arts generate over $1 billion in economic activity, they also organize outreach and education programs that are having a positive impact on their communities all across the country. You will see this highlighted in all of the articles this month.

Linda Cabasin writes about arts development in Cleveland: the city was fortunate that the oil refining, steel, and other industries in the 19th and early 20th centuries produced donors who funded enduring cultural institutions, including the free Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) in University Circle. Now, at this challenging time for museums, the CMA has bucked headwinds, and experienced its largest attendance ever—over 800,000—in 2025 thanks to their engaging exhibitions and programming.

Side of Culture went to visit the NYPL where it is gearing up to celebrate America's 250th birthday this year. This summer, NYPL is rolling out what may be its most ambitious public programming in decades, a system-wide celebration called “250 Years: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”, and the centerpiece is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to see a document that most Americans don’t even know exists!

Maria Lisella writes about the Salvador Dali Museum in St Petersburg, Florida. As you can imagine, she says, it is whimsical, playful, a fantasy romp into the heart and mind of one of the most enigmatic artists of the 20th century. Home to about 2,400 works, this institution is also about passion, community and welcomes 3-400,000 visitors each year.

Thank you again for reading! Please share Side of Culture with your friends and colleagues who you think might be interested in reading about cultural organizations. We also have a presence on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and now, LinkedIn. www.sideofculture.com

Thank you and happy spring!

Victoria Larson

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The Cleveland Museum of Art: “For the Benefit of All the People Forever”

By Linda Cabasin

In Cleveland, growth and innovation in healthcare, biotechnology, and advanced manufacturing are driving this Northeast Ohio city’s transition from heavy industry. Even the once infamously polluted Cuyahoga River is now a National Heritage River with the Cuyahoga River Water Trail. Cleveland was fortunate that the oil refining, steel, and other industries that enriched it during the 19th and early 20th centuries also produced donors who funded enduring cultural institutions, including the free Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) in University Circle. At a challenging time for museums, the CMA has bucked headwinds, experiencing its largest attendance ever—over 800,000—in 2025 and presenting engaging exhibitions and programming. Read on

The New York Public Library Goes All In on America’s 250th

By Jaime Kaup & Side of Culture

This summer, NYPL is rolling out what may be its most ambitious public programming in decades, a system-wide celebration called “250 Years: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”, and the centerpiece is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to see a document that most Americans don’t even know exists. Read on

Florida’s Dalí Museum: a Cornerstone of the City’s Renaissance

By Maria Lisella

As anyone might imagine, the Salvador Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg is whimsical, playful, a fantasy romp into the heart and mind of one of the most enigmatic artists of the 20th century. Home to about 2,400 works, this institution is also about passion, community and welcomes 3-400,000 visitors each year. Read on