Cuyahoga Arts & Culture grants are helping Cleveland-area nonprofits use art and music to support people with disabilities and cognitive differences. From art therapy and pottery to music-making, these programs build confidence, encourage creative expression and help participants find connection and community.

Despite rain, wind and thunderstorms, South Euclid’s Rock the Block drew crowds to the Food Truck Park for two nights of live music, food, drinks and fun. FreshWater photographer Reuben Kutash captured the weekend’s rocking festivities.

Originally published in October 2024. Since 2017, The Literacy Cooperative has partnered with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to send free books each month to local children. Working with local groups like Heights Family Foundation, United Way, and the Bruening Foundation, as of October 2024, the groups have now distributed two million books.

The Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park’s annual Exploration fundraiser invites guests to rediscover the magic of camp while supporting the Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Education Center. The Sept. 26 event features outdoor experiences, a family-style dinner by Chef Vinnie Cimino and opportunities to support immersive nature-based education for thousands of Northeast Ohio students.

Near West Theatre will wrap its 2026 Community Celebration Summer Plaza Concert Series with a free Hispanic Heritage Celebration this Friday, Aug. 28, with music, dance, performances, cultural resources, crafts, and Puerto Rican food. The  event takes place at Near West Theatre's outdoor plaza in the Gordon Square Arts District.

Noblewins LLC, 2026 Cleveland Chain Reaction winner, is giving retired wind turbine blades a second life as functional public art. Founder and CEO Brian Donahue shares how a problem he spotted in the renewable energy industry led to an innovative Cleveland business — and ultimately a $40,000 first-place prize.

Cleveland’s Southeast Asian Festival returns to Edgewater Park for its second year, bringing together Cambodian, Laotian, Vietnamese, Burmese, Malaysian, Filipino, and other cultures for a day of food, music, art and connection. Organizers expect the free festival to thousands of visitors to share celebrate  cultures and build connections across communities.

The African American Heritage and Cultural Celebration returns to Cleveland after nearly 25 years, bringing music, history, and culture to the Cleveland History Center . This year’s celebration also honors Cleveland hip-hop pioneer Kevin “MC Chill” Heard, marking 40 years since he became the first Cleveland solo act to sign with a national record label.

The Cleveland Museum of Art’s new ArtLens Reimagined gallery invites visitors to experience the collection in new ways through interactive technology, artificial intelligence, movement, sound, and hands-on exploration. Spanning 10,000 square feet, the gallery features 21 experiences designed to make art more accessible, approachable, and engaging.

The Heights Music Hop returns the weekend of Aug. 28 through 30 with its biggest lineup yet: 90 bands performing at 46 venues across four Cleveland Heights districts: Cedar Fairmount, Noble, Cedar Lee, and Coventry. From rock-and roll and funk to line dancing and Nepalese music to silent films with live piano accompaniment and late-night performances, the free three-day festival offers a little something for everyone.

Cuyahoga Arts & Culture grants help Greater Cleveland nonprofits bring a vibrant lineup of arts, cultural, and community events to residents as summer winds down. From One World Day and Waterloo Arts Fest to Fresh Fest, the grants support programming that celebrates the region’s diverse communities and creative spirit.

“Icons in Ink: The Jewish Comics Experience” at the Maltz Museum celebrates Cleveland's Jewish creators who have shaped the comics industry—from Superman creators Jerry Siegel and Joel Shuster to contemporary artists and writers like Harvey Pekar and Terri Libenson. There's still time to explore the collection, listen to podcasts, and catch a screening of "Captain America: The Winter Soldier."

Rock the Block will get South Euclid Food Truck Park pumping when it returns for its 12th year on Aug. 21 and 22 with 17 bands on three stages, food trucks, family-friendly activities, and local vendors. The free festival brings the community together while showcasing the businesses and community of Downtown South Euclid.

Jesse Owens returned to Cleveland from the 1936 Olympics in Berlin with four gold medals that came with four English oak saplings. The last surviving tree stood at Rhodes High School until 2022. Now, cloned saplings from the historic oak are putting down new roots in Cleveland while helping preserve Owens’ legacy and support the work of the Black Equity and Humanity Fund.

Cleveland designer Valerie Mayén channels the splashy glam-rock era of the 1970s and ’80s in her latest Yellowcake collection, unveiled at a runway show at Lago East Bank. Inspired by music icons including Prince, David Bowie and Freddie Mercury, the collection features bold colors, asymmetrical designs, sheer materials and accessories for today’s woman on the go.

Run Your City Cleveland returns to Edgewater Park this fall for its third season, offering a free six-week running program for children in kindergarten through eighth grade. Led by Cleveland State University student-athletes, the program combines running, team activities, and mentorship to help local youth build confidence, resilience and healthy habits.

Cleveland’s population has fallen 60% from its peak over the past 75 years, while city officials have spent decades trying to attract new businesses. As thousands of baby-boomer business owners approach retirement, Richard T. Herman presents a strategy to preserve the successful businesses already here: Create a succession pipeline that prepares immigrant, minority, and first-generation entrepreneurs to acquire existing companies and connect them with financing and support from organizations already serving the region.

Every transplant tells two stories—one of hope and one of extraordinary generosity. As Lifebanc prepares for its annual Gift of Life Walk & Run on Aug. 23, transplant recipients Griff Hill and LaShawn Taylor, living donor Freeman Mahone, and CEO Katie Payne share why organ donation saves lives, strengthens communities, and should be part of every family's conversation.

Cleveland Heights artist and entrepreneur Michael Manne  encourages people to wear their values with Humannetees, a new online apparel brand featuring designs centered on humanity, unity, and hope. Manne hopes every shirt, tote, mug, and sticker becomes more than merchandise—it becomes the start of a meaningful conversation.

One World Day returns to the Cleveland Cultural Gardens on Sunday, Aug. 30, celebrating its 80th anniversary with cultural performances, international food, a naturalization ceremony, and special America 250 programming that highlights the immigrant stories that shape the nation.