Arts + Culture

Summer on the Square: Farmer’s Market, Circus on the Square, Urban Film Festival
Cleveland Neighborhood Progress is hosting a series of free summer events at Shaker Square. This week includes live music performances, the Greater Cleveland Urban Film Fest, Jazz from Stan Miller, and the North Union Farmers Market. The events are designed to encourage community engagement, support local businesses, and showcase the area's unique offerings, with activities running through the summer and into the fall.
Burn Bright: Literary Cleveland’s 2025 Inkubator Writing Conference is underway
Literary Cleveland's 2025 Inkubator Writing Conference, one of the largest free writing conferences in the country, is underway around Cleveland. The event kicks off its in-person activities, including workshops, panel discussions, and a book fair, with notable authors and industry professionals participating.
Take it outside: Rooms to Let set to transform Slavic Village’s outdoor spaces with art
Rooms to Let, the annual art program in Slavic Village, has evolved from transforming vacant homes to revitalizing outdoor spaces. The 2025 exhibition will feature 14 local artists and music groups, creating temporary art enclaves on 12 vacant lots to bring attention to urban renewal and the power of art in transforming neighborhoods.
Art of Fashion: CMA's Column & Stripe panel to discuss Cleveland’s role in national fashion
The Cleveland Museum of Art's young affiliates group, Column & Stripe, today will host the second installment of its Art of Fashion series. Art of Fashion: Makers and Innovators Panel features a panel of local designers and innovators who will discuss the future of fashion and Cleveland's role in the national scene.
CLE-Vignettes: Celebrating Greek culture and traditions in Cleveland Heights
CLE-Vignettes are photos that show how people in Northeast Ohio spend their time—what they’re doing for fun and entertainment, or how they are just spending time with friends and family. Want to submit your CLE-Vignette? Just email your best CLE-Vignette to photographer@freshwatercleveland.com with your photo, your name, the names of anyone pictured in the photo, where you are, and what you are doing. We look forward to seeing you!
Immersive experience: Local artist creates symbolic gateway for Lakefront Nature Preserve
Cleveland public artist Stephen Manka designed and constructed a unique turnstile gate for the Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve, blending form and function in his newest installation. The gate, featuring silhouettes of red-winged blackbirds in an egg-like design, serves as a symbolic entrance into "a birding paradise" while also fulfilling practical needs.
Rust Belt Photo Collective hosts exhibit featuring photo collaborations by older and younger women
The Rust Belt Photo Collective will host its exhibition, "Women: 50 Over/Under" at the Doubting Thomas Gallery in Tremont, featuring portraits by female photographers paired based on age. The show addresses concerns about visibility and validation among women photographers of different age groups, fostering connections and new perspectives through collaborative work.
Zabava! Celebrating Slovenian culture in Cleveland
The Slovenian National Home hosted its third annual Zabava festival, celebrating Cleveland's Slovenian culture and heritage. The free, family-friendly event featured traditional food, music, and activities, including a showcase of the Kurent costume used in the Cleveland Kurentovanje Festival.
Double bill: Silent Film Fest to show modern LGBTQ romance, Charlie Chaplin shorts
The Cleveland Silent Film Festival & Colloquium will present a free double bill of silent shorts at the Cleveland Public Library as part of the library's 100th anniversary celebration. The event features "War Story," a contemporary silent film inspired by Charlie Chaplin's work, along with Chaplin's "Sunnyside."
Good vibes: Public Square Concert Series rocks Wednesdays with music, food, cocktails
Downtown Cleveland, Inc. is hosting a free Public Square Concert Series every Wednesday evening through September 24 with live music from local bands, food trucks, and a bar with local brews and cocktails.
Winging it: World’s first Down syndrome improv group to shine at BorderLight Festival
The Improvaneers, the world's first all-Down syndrome improv troupe, will perform at the BorderLight Festival. The group uses improv comedy to improve communication skills and build self-confidence among performers with Down syndrome, while also entertaining and educating audiences about the capabilities of individuals with Down syndrome.
City Club of Cleveland kicks off its free Outdoor Summer Series with Superman discussion
The City Club of Cleveland launches its annual Outdoor Summer Series this week, featuring free forums on topics ranging from Superman to the city's waterfront. Held at Playhouse Square Plaza, is meant to increase civic engagement and kicks off with a discussion on Superman's connection to Cleveland and the upcoming movie filmed in the city.
Life on the fringe: BorderLight Festival embraces creativity, diversity, and the world stage
The BorderLight Festival will take over Playhouse Square later this month, featuring more than 40 performances across 16 stages in Playhouse Square. This year's festival expands its international programming and accessibility efforts while offering a diverse range of shows, including Fringe Jr. performances for younger audiences, street dance battles, and interactive theater experiences.
Journey through history: Mural celebrates Canal Basin Park's past, present, and future
A 4,000-square-foot mural by artist Kelle Schwab was unveiled at Canal Basin Park in during Cleveland History Days in late June. The artwork depicts the city's evolution from an industrial center to a recreational destination, blending historical scenes with modern-day imagery of the Towpath Trail.
International Horror Hotel Film Festival brings blood, screams, and karaoke this weekend
The 14th annual International Horror Hotel Film Festival will take over the Crowne Plaza Cleveland Airport this weekend with four days of independent horror, fantasy, and sci-fi film screenings, along with industry expert lectures, competitions, and networking opportunities.
​Setting the stage: Beachland Ballroom marks 25 years of music, friends, and Collinwood advocacy
The Beachland Ballroom, a cornerstone of Cleveland's music scene, celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Founded by Cindy Barber and Mark Leddy, the venue has become a cultural hub and Collinwood advocate—hosting performances and promoting neighborhood revitalization.
Magical allure: Preparing to celebrate the snowy owl at Parade the Circle
The Cleveland Museum of Art's 33rd annual Parade the Circle is this Saturday, June 14. Artists and volunteers have been working for weeks to create masks, puppets, and floats for The free event showcases intricate artwork, music, dance, and community spirit.
Cleveland Institute of Art’s senior art show features President’s Traveling Scholarship winners
The Cleveland Institute of Art's graduating seniors recently showcased their capstone projects in a public exhibition, featuring more than 112 works across various disciplines. Six outstanding students were awarded the President's Traveling Scholarship, highlighting innovative projects in various media.
Pride in the CLE photos: Celebrating social equality, acceptance, and respect for all
Clevelanders showed their true colors on Saturday at the Pride in the CLE 2025 march and celebration, organized by the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland. Thousands of people gathered downtown to celebrate and support the LGBTQ+ community. The event featured a march through the city streets, followed by a festival with food trucks, vendors, and live entertainment.
Assembly for the Arts opens applications for Creative Impact Fund grants
Assembly for the Arts has opened applications for its 2025 Creative Impact Fund grant program, offering unrestricted funds to 30 Cuyahoga County artists. Now in its third year, the program will award $5,000 to career artists, with the goal of promoting artistic growth and impact in Northeast Ohio.