Arts + Culture

Family affair: Juneteenth Freedom Fest becomes tradition in the #CLE
The second annual Cleveland Juneteenth Freedom Fest returns to Mall C on Saturday, June 18 for art, music, activities, and food for the whole family.
Summer groove: Downtown Cleveland Alliance launches summer concert series
Downtown Cleveland Alliance wants people to get their groove on this summer at the Music on the Malls Wednesday concert series on Mall C. 
Honoring Cleveland’s Past Masters: Hughie Lee-Smith and the politics of introspection
Native Clevelander and renowned artist Hughie Lee-Smith reflected loneliness and introspection in his paintings of solitary figures in urban settings. The Cleveland Museum of Art on Tuesday will host CIA art history professor David C. Hart for a talk about Lee-Smith's life and work.
Station Hope: Celebrating Cleveland's social justice and equity heritage
Station Hope, the the free community event that celebrates Cleveland’s social justice heritage and explores today’s struggles for equity, occurs this weekend at St. John's Episcopal Church—Cleveland’s first Underground Railroad site.
Inspiring the uninspired: Destination Dream Foundation aims to motivate youth through the arts
Artist and entrepreneur Jada Renee has fond memories of her grandparents’ home on Forest Avenue in the Buckeye neighborhood. Today she has embarked on an ioby crowdfunding campaign to transform the property into INDI Art House — a place dedicated to youth workforce development programming, mental health, and the arts. 
#CLEative Groove: Meet Karly West, creative mind behind the Scholarly Banana book series
Our #CLEative Groove series puts the spotlight on our city’s creative makers and shakers! Read on for our next installment with Karly West, Claymation artist extraordinaire and creative mind behind the Scholarly Banana graphic novel series.
Rolling on the River: New 150-foot mural at The Foundry depicts rowing, teamwork, diversity
The Foundry Community Rowing and Sailing Center has been growing steadily ever since in opened on the banks of the Cuyahoga. The newest addition is a 150-foot mural that can be seen from afar and embraces the teamwork and diversity The Foundry promotes.
Cleveland Asian Festival comes roaring back to AsiaTown after two years
After a two-year hiatus, the Cleveland Asian Festival returns to AsiaTown later this month with more food, more fun, and more entertainment.
Going Big: Tremont’s 818 Studios to present large-scale photo exhibit
The Big Photography Show at 818 Studios in Tremont opens tomorrow—featuring large-scale photographs of 16 Cleveland area photographers. 
Super Mega Wonder: Little Free Library designed to encourage kids to embrace public art
Artist Jordan Wong (WONGFACE) lets his inner kid come out in his colorful public art. His latest work is a Little Free Library outside Asia Town Center
#CLEative Groove: Meet Richard Rozewski, Kent State educator and interior designer at Bialosky
Our #CLEative Groove series puts the spotlight on our city’s creative makers and shakers! Read on for our next installment with Richard Rozewski, Jr., who teaches interior design at Kent State University while practicing as an Interior Designer at Bialosky.  
Great authors: Literary Cleveland launches year-long writing residency program
Literary Cleveland is introducing a new, free, Breakthrough Writing Residency program to support emerging writers in Greater Cleveland as they develop book-length writing projects.
Language through art: CIA students organize, present their own show
Art students in their junior year at Cleveland Institute of Art have put together an exhibit, "Watch Our Language," as a capstone to their Role of Artist as Producer class. 
Bitter rivals: “War on the Diamond” filmmaker explains the ongoing Guardians-Yankees feud
Everyone loves to hate the Yankees, especially Cleveland fans. But have you ever wondered why? In his latest documentary “War on the Diamond,” filmmaker Andy Billman dives deep into this century-old rivalry and its continued relevance.
FRONT Triennial makes bold strokes to draw in diverse Northeast Ohio artists
By awarding three $25,000 Arts Futures fellowships, FRONT Triennial plans to bring diverse voices to the forefront for its 2022 editions and beyond.
#CLEative Groove: Meet Krista Tomorowitz, creator of Selvage Garments
Our #CLEative Groove series puts the spotlight on our city’s creative makers and shakers! Read on for our next installment with Krista Tomorowitz, creator of Selvage Garments.
And… it’s back! #CIFF46 returns with live and virtual screenings
The 46th Cleveland International Film Festival held its opening night last Wednesday, to welcome more than 300 screenings at Playhouse Square over 11 days, followed by eight days of virtual screenings. FreshWater managing photographer Bob Perkoski was there to document the entire evening. 
Ticket to Ride: Stories of one teen runaway’s quest to meet the Beatles
In 1964, after attending a Beatles concert at Public Auditorium, two teenagers skipped town and ran to England in search of the Fab Four. Nearly 60 years later, Janice Mitchell recounts her antics and how her quest to meet the Beatles led to a career path in journalism and, eventually, as an investigator solving murders.
Action! CIFF46 gets rolling next week with hybrid format, eight local films
The 46th Cleveland International Film Festival gets rolling on Wednesday, March 30 with 146 feature films, 182 short films, and eight films with Cleveland or Ohio ties.  
Naturally engaged: Botanical Garden opens Perennial Playspace
Holden Forests & Gardens opened its Perennial Playspace at the Cleveland Botanical Garden this past weekend—giving guests of all ages opportunities to interact with the natural world and, hopefully, develop lifelong habits of environmental stewardship.