A (2+1)-dimensional variable coefficient nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE) is described under strongly nonlocal nonlinear media. The soliton cluster solutions are obtained by using the improved self-similar reduction and F-expansion method. The regulation of nonlinear coefficients on the dynamics of spatial optical solitons and the self-similar propagation characteristics of the optical soliton clusters are investigated. It is observed that dark solitons transmitted in nonlinear media show two different spatial distributions. It is also found that the peak intensity of the soliton cluster only fluctuates in a small range during the propagation process, but the soliton cluster after harmonic potential modulation has some loss during the propagation process. But the loss is not as dramatic as when bright solitons are modulated. A new kind of soliton cluster is formed after the modulation of dark solitons, which has great practical significance such as application in logic gates, all-optical devices.