Cleveland Creatives

Cleveland is full of creative people doing interesting and imaginative things. Most are making amazing art across a variety of mediums, but this city is full of surprises, too. Join local writer, comedian, activist and philanthropist Ricky Smith as he visits some amazing Clevelanders that infuse their culture into creative, delicious food at Koko Bakery Engel’s Sports Bar & Grille and Assad’s Bakery.

In response to the unrest and social justice imperatives that arose in the spring of 2020, in our city and across the country, Cleveland businesses and organizations committed to working through their frustrations with the status quo by engaging local artists, activists and people of color to create positive change though creative, artistic projects throughout Downtown Cleveland as part of the #VoicesofCLE Public Art Project.

Stina Aleah, Jerome T. White, Rashaun Dillard and Lauren Pearce are just a few of the Cleveland artists that answered the call to inspire, communicate and represent by creating original works of art for #VoicesofCLE.

Cleveland wouldn’t be the city we know and love today without the myriad contributions of its Black community, making a tremendous impact on our city by sharing their culture through art, music, food and more. This season of Cleveland Creatives features new and veteran Black-owned businesses, that inject creativity and culture into successful ventures that make positive change in the community.

Cleveland has long been home to a seemingly endless number of cultures and nationalities from every corner of the globe. Our Hispanic community is one such group that has made an indelible mark on the fabric of The Land. Each of the artists featured in this season of Cleveland Creatives use their art to further the artistic legacy of their culture regardless of the medium.

Cleveland is proud to be home to so many amazing cultures and nationalities. Our Asian/Pacific American community is a huge part of what makes us who we are. Although Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month is celebrated in May, engage with Cleveland’s AAPI community all year long by visiting delicious local eateries, shopping at AAPI-owned business and admiring the unbelievable creativity of the talented artists featured in this season of Cleveland Creatives.

In The Land, no one is ever truly alone. Clevelanders are welcoming, outgoing and always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need. This season of Cleveland Creatives focuses on people using their art to connect with their community, whether it’s creating a welcome space for all to feel welcomed and relaxed, ensuring the next generation gets their chance to express themselves while getting ahead or finding some other way to unite their community through culture.