Arts + Culture
Cleveland's collection of world-class arts institutions would be a boon for a city of any size. For nearly a century the Cleveland Museum of Art has served as one of the finest galleries in all the land, recently made all the better thanks to a just-completed $350-million transformation. Rubbing shoulders with the museum for the past 100 years has been the Cleveland Orchestra, which delights fine-music fans at home-base Severance Hall. Toss in the Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland Institute of Music, Playhouse Square, Cleveland Public Theatre, Museum of Natural History, Cleveland International Film Festival, the Rock Hall, live-music clubs, and funky galleries too numerous to name, it is clear that art, indeed, lives here.
A 750-foot mural—one of the largest murals in Ohio—reflects the culture and history of Cleveland's Woodhill neighborhood as part of the Elevate The East public art plan.
The Western Reserve Historical Society's Cleveland History Center is hosting Winter Toyland, a holiday exhibition featuring the HollyDays miniature village. Other attractions include the Euclid Beach Park Carousel, the historic Hay-McKinney Mansion, decked out in holiday decor, and several ongoing exhibits—all included with admission.
The BorderLight Theatre Festival—the four-day event that pushes creative boundaries and celebrate diversity—will return to Playhouse Square from July 16 through 19. Right now, the BorderLight has opened its call for artists, with applications due by the end of January.
The beloved Loganberry Books is celebrating its 30th anniversary this weekend. Known for its large, eclectic collection of books and unique atmosphere, the store has become a community hub for readers and popular for its various events and book clubs. Owner Harriet Logan reflects on the store's history and the importance of physical bookstores in the digital age.
Canalway Partners is looking for artists to create large-scale lanterns for its fourth annual Towpath Trail Lantern Parade. The celebration of light, creativity, and sustainability features illuminated art made from recycled materials to encourage environmentalism and welcome spring to the banks of the Cuyahoga River.
"Wild Horses: 60 Years of Ford's Mustang," is now on exhibit at the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum. The exhibit celebrates the iconic American car's 60th anniversary and features all seven generations of Mustangs, from the 1964 original to the latest 2024 models.
Trumpet player turned music produce Sammy Haig has made significant strides in the music industry by blending classical training with modern production techniques. His talents have led to collaborations with major artists like DJ Drama, Tyler, The Creator, and Meghan Trainor.
The 20th Annual Día de Muertos Festival on Saturday brought thousands to Cleveland Public Theatre and the Detroit Shoreway. Curated by Artistic director Héctor Castellanos Lara, the event featured a colorful procession, traditional music and dance, ofrendas created by local artists, and Mexican cultural traditions to honor ancestors and lost loved ones.
The Jane Austen Society of North America, Ohio North Coast Region Chapter, is holding its sold-out annual meeting in Cleveland this weekend. "Austen, Annotated: Jane Austen's Literary, Political, and Cultural Origins" will bring together scholars, speakers, and Austen devotees for a weekend of activities and academic discussions.
“Velveteen, A New Musical” is the first show Playhouse Square has created and self-produced for young audiences. The adaptation from the classic children's book "The Velveteen Rabbit" premiers later this month with a sensory-friendly performance in the Mimi Ohio Theatre.
Story Club, a monthly nonfiction storytelling event in Cleveland, offers a platform for personal narratives and community building. This month features guests from Literary Cleveland and Nebula Spiritual. Partnering with The Reading Room CLE, the event will host a mix of featured storytellers and open mic slots in The Brownhoist this Friday.
The Western Reserve Historical Society opens its newest exhibit "All Dolled Up: 200 Years of Dolls and Miniatures" on Thursday at the Cleveland History Center. The exhibit showcases a diverse collection of dolls, dollhouses, and toys from the 1830s to present-day. The opening will also feature a screening of "Black Barbie."
This summer a new trend in outdoor entertainment—public concerts in private yards—swept through Northeast Ohio. Hosts invited both friends and strangers onto their properties to hear the sounds of local musicians like Blue Lunch, Jackie Warren and Forecast, Moises Borges, and the Jim Rangel Trio. It sounds like a trend that may continue.
The 89th Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards, which recognize outstanding books that contribute to our understanding of racism and celebrate cultural diversity, take place this weekend at the City Club of Cleveland. As part of the ninth annual Cleveland Book Week, the awards will introduce a new author symposium, “When Artists Go to Work,” with Anisfield-Wolf Award-winning authors and the jurors
The event is presented by the Cleveland Foundation.
The Banned Wagon will roll into Lakewood Public Library next week to give away free books on a tour spearheaded by Penguin Random House to promote awareness of book challenges and censorship during Banned Books Week.
Ingenuity Cleveland will celebrate the beginning of its 20th year this weekend with IngenuityFest 2024: Era of Ascent at its newly-expanded IngenuityLabs. The festival where art meets technology will reflect both on its growth and its vision for the future in its most ambitious year yet.
Future Heights will host the 2024 Heights Music Hop this weekend in several Cleveland Heights neighborhoods, including Cedar Lee, Coventry, and Cedar Fairmount, with live music, shopping, dining, and plenty of community spirit.
The Cleveland Museum of Art's Annual Chalk Festival is this weekend. The public is invited to work in chalk pastels to create their own masterpieces on the museum pavement, alongside five local artists, Cleveland Institute of Art students, food trucks, and live music.
St. Emeric Catholic Church's Hungarian Fall Festival is this Sunday at the St. Elizabeth of Hungary Hall. The free event features live music, four dance performances, and catered food by Balaton Restaurant.
Steve Presser, owner of the former Big Fun, and Gary Pearlman, aka, Dr. U.R. Awesome, are bringing Bubblefest to Cleveland in September. The two-day event hosts bubble artists from around the world and features activities, demonstrations, food trucks, music, and, of course, plenty of bubbles!