Arts + Culture

Chalk one up: Art Museum’s 35th annual Chalk Festival is this weekend
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.
Hungarian Fall Festival is this Sunday at St. Elizabeth Hall
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.
Bubble blizzard: Two-day Bubblefest hits Edgewater, Wade Oval, Heights High
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!
Creeping out in the Bratenahl woods with ‘Mary Sticks’
Cleveland artist Ben Small and his sister, Betsy Allen, have just published their graphic novella "Mary Sticks," which follows the ghost of Mary Clarence, who mysteriously disappeared in 1910. Small was inspired to write a ghost story after evening walks in Bratenahl. Mac’s Backs will host the authors for a book discussion and signing next week.
Literary journey: Connie Schultz debuts first children’s book to rapt young audience at CCPL

FreshWater exclusive: Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Connie Schultz captivated a packed audience at the Cuyahoga County Public Library’s Parma-Snow branch last Saturday with a reading of her first children’s book, "Lola and the Troll." Schultz talked with FreshWater's Jess Starr about how her grandchildren inspired her venture into picture books, and the lessons on kindness and bravery learned.

Create Dangerously: Literary Cleveland’s Inkubator celebrates 10 years with packed conference
Literary Cleveland, the community of writers bringing people into the world of words with writing opportunities, with hold its annual Inkubator in September. Tickets go on sale this Thursday, Aug. 1.
It’s a Ship Show: Local sisters debut Titanic musical comedy at BorderLight
Twin sisters and Laurel School graduates Natalie and Sophia Casa will debut their new musical comedy "Ship Show" at the Hermit Club this week as part of the BorderLight Theatre Festival. When the lead character is injured during the opening number, two ensemble members make a hilarious attempt at holding true to saying, "the show must go on."
Cultural Fringe: BorderLight Theatre Festival returns this week
The BorderLight Theatre Festival returns this Wednesday for its fourth in-person four-day event, with theater, comedy, music, and other performances at various indoor and outdoor venues throughout Playhouse Square.
Basement clutter inspires art project at Westinghouse factory ruins
While decluttering her basement, teacher, artist, and retired bass player Juliana Sadock Savino came across some items that inspired her to create some impromptu public art installations on the grounds of the decaying former Westinghouse Electric factory on Ashland Road.
GardenWalk Cleveland: Changing neighborhood perceptions through creative landscapes
GardenWalk Cleveland will feature more than 400 gardens in 11 Cleveland neighborhoods this weekend—showing off the work, creativity, and neighborhood pride of local gardeners.
Classically Lake View Concert series to feature chamber music by Black composers
Oberlin Conservatory of Music rising senior Damian Goggans and musicians from the Cleveland Orchestra will perform the works of forgotten Clevelander, 19th Century composer Justin Holland, at Lake View Cemetery's Classically Lake View chamber music concert series on Sunday, July 7.
CLE icons: H. Leslie Adams becomes seventh member of WRHS African American Art/History Walk
The Western Reserve Historical Society recently unveiled composer and educator Dr. Harrison Leslie Adams, Jr. as the seventh notable figure in its African American Art/History Walk in University Circle. The public art installation celebrates the achievements of Black history-makers and artists in Cleveland through a mural with QR links to The HistoryMakers biographies.
 Literary Cleveland launches anthology written by unhoused Clevelanders
This Thursday, June 27, Literary Cleveland will release its new print anthology of poems, stories, and essays written by Cleveland teens experiencing homelessness. The anthology was created and curated by artist RA Washington under his Amplify Fellowship. The free launch party will be held at Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry's 2100 Lakeside Men's Shelter.
Library jam session: East Cleveland Public Library Sunday concert series wows audiences
Live music has been a staple at the East Cleveland Public Library, thanks to former library executive director Greg Reese. A jazz lover and sax player, Reese first started the Sunday Concert Series at ECPL as a way to attract more Black men to the institution in the 1980s, and the series is going strong and will resume in August.
Raiders of the Lost Art: Artist celebrates the life of late partner, artist David Batz
Cleveland Heights artist Robert Jursinski is about to share the works of his late partner and multi-talented artist David Batz in the exhibit Raiders of the Lost Art. The exhibit celebrates Batz' talents 30 years after his untimely death at 78th Street Studios and Ohio Design Centre.
A clear vision: Arts nonprofit unveils Cleveland’s vibrant Mexican heritage
The newly minted arts and culture nonprofit AlmaVision: Cultura y Más, an arts and cultural center focused on Mexican and other underrepresented communities, will open its Hecho en CLE exhibit this weekend at Ingenuity Cleveland. The exhibit tells the stories of Cleveland's Mexican community through photos.
Lucky 13: International Horror Hotel Film Fest to haunt Crown Plaza
The International Horror Hotel Film Festival will screen more than 150 films nominated to win in more than two dozen categories. Held at the Crowne Plaza Cleveland Airport, the festival features networking, competitions, and expert advice for both aspiring and successful filmmakers, as well as for horror film fans.
Beyond the Fringe: BorderLight Theatre Festival goes big in Playhouse Square
The BorderLight Theatre Festival returns for another spectacular variety of local, national, and international performances on 20 stages in the Playhouse Square District from Wednesday, July 24 through Saturday, July 27. Tickets are now on sale now.
Inkling of Summer: Celebrate Summer Solstice with Zygote Press
Zygote Press, the largest fine art printmaking studio and gallery space between Chicago and New York and the only green nonprofit studio of its kind, will celebrate the Summer Solstice with its Inkling of Summer fundraising event on Thursday, June 20. The deadline to buy tickets is this Saturday, June 15.
Literary Cleveland opens applications for paid yearlong adult writing residency
Literary Cleveland has opened applications for its yearlong Breakthrough Writing Residency program to support emerging writers in Greater Cleveland who have a passion for writing and a commitment to their manuscripts, but who have not yet published a book. This year, the six residents will receive monthly stipends of $200 over the course of the year.