State of the Art

Inside opulent vaudeville-style theaters, nestled inside former industrial factories and tucked away in colorful neighborhoods, Cleveland’s world-class arts and culture scene emerges before visitors’ eyes. Whether ogling over a modern masterpiece, admiring the work of a local artist or tapping their toes to the beat, travelers to CLE will encounter boundless creativity and talent throughout their Cleveland experience.

New and Noteworthy

• The Cleveland Museum of Art debuted the cutting-edge ARTLENS Gallery in August 2017, which allows visitors to get hands-on with the museum’s collection. They can create original artwork in the ArtLens Studio, engage with touchscreen-free digital interactives in the ArtLens Exhibition and connect with the museum's collection at the ArtLens Wall. Visitors can even use the ArtLens App to save photos and map their visit at the museum.
• Visitors to Cleveland can quickly garner a sense of place at the recently opened Cleveland Starts Here® exhibit at the Cleveland History Center. Stories from the 1790s to today fill the exhibit galleries, with rarely seen images, films, art and historical artifacts. From the first Cleveland map and early survey tools to LeBron James’ 2016 NBA Championship shoes, Cleveland Starts Here tells the stories of the triumphs and tragedies that define the city, helping visitors understand the social, creative, economic, political, and cultural history of Northeast Ohio.
• Connoisseurs of contemporary art and those in pursuit of thought-provoking experiences can immerse themselves in an illusion of infinite space at Cleveland Museum of Art. From July 8 through Sept. 30, 2018, visitors can examine seven of legendary Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama’s captivating “Infinity Mirror Rooms,” including “Where the Lights in My Heart Go,” which is exclusive to the artist’s presentation in Cleveland.
• An exhibition comprised of artist commissions, performances, films, and public programs, FRONT International will blend Cleveland’s rich reputation for classic art with modern works of art from more than 50 local, national and international artists. Visitors to Cleveland can discover an inspiring series of cultural exercises exploring the theme of “An American City,” with creative expression from artists working in various mediums and inspired by the collective memory and landscape of Cleveland.

A Work of Art

• The Cleveland Museum of Art is one of the only nationally recognized art museums to offer free admission to its permanent collection, which features more than 45,000 pieces of art from artists like Dali, Monet and Warhol.
• In 2012, the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland opened a new, $27 million facility containing an ever-changing collection of modern art exhibits ranging from photos and sculpture to audio works and video productions. The four-story building rises 60 feet from a hexagonal base to a square top and is clad primarily in mirror-finish black stainless steel – reflecting its urban surroundings and changing in appearance with differences in light and weather.
• Residing at the Cleveland Institute of Art, the Cinematheque is recognized as one of the country’s best repertory movie theaters, showing independent and foreign films, as well as revived classics.
• Cleveland’s art scene does not stop at museums. Independent artists showcase their work at venues like 78th Street Studios in the Detroit-Shoreway Neighborhood, SPACES gallery in Ohio City and the historic Transformer Station in Hingetown, which is located in a 1924 railroad substation.
• The Collinwood community and its emerging Waterloo Arts District offers a half-mile stretch of indie music venues, art galleries and studios, including Azure Stained Glass Studio, BRICK Ceramics + Design Studio, Space: ROCK and show stopping metal sculptures at Waterloo 7 Studio/Gallery. Musicians, photographers, writers and other artists who reside in the neighborhood have helped transform the community into an engaging and welcoming hub of creativity.

Hitting the Right Note

• Under the direction of Franz Wesler-Möst, the world-renowned Cleveland Orchestra offers pitch-perfect programs that hit the right note with visitors. The ensemble plays seasonally at Severance Hall in University Circle and within the perimeter of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park at Blossom Music Center during the summertime.
• In addition to its standard repertoire, The Cleveland Orchestra incorporates innovative programming, which means visitors will find them hosting happy hour-style concerts on select Fridays, playing movies scores in conjunction with a live film, performing mini residencies within Cleveland’s urban neighborhoods and partnering with ballets, operas and other national artists.
• Severance Hall, home of the Cleveland Orchestra, was built 87 years ago by John Severance to honor his late wife. Known as one of the most beautiful concert halls in the world, the building received the Honor Award by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Free tours are available on select Sundays.
• Now in its 20th season, The Cleveland POPS Orchestra performs in different venues throughout Cleveland, taking on modern-day composers like John Williams, Rodgers and Hammerstein, and Gershwin.

Taking Center Stage

• Playhouse Square is the country’s largest performing arts center outside of New York City, encompassing ten stages in a one-block radius. It hosts more than 1,000 performances annually including Broadway shows, concerts, ballets and comedy events.
• The Tony Award-winning Cleveland Play House hails as America's first professional regional theater company and produces more than 500 performances each year.
• Boasting alums like Tom Hanks and Arthur Lithgow, Great Lakes Theater is Cleveland’s classic theater company residing in Playhouse Square’s recently renovated Hanna Theatre.
• Located on Cleveland’s east side, the Karamu House is the oldest African American theater in the nation.
• Cleveland Public Theatre in the Gordon Square Arts District is a local hub for progressive theater, modern dance and edgy opera submitted by both regional and national artists.

Art Activities

• Stilt walkers, life-sized puppets, colorful floats, dancers and musicians comprise the annual free event in Cleveland’s University Circle neighborhood, Parade the Circle. Every June, visitors can watch the parade, partake in creative activities, enjoy live entertainment and nosh on great food offerings in the Circle Village.
• With four floors of art, music, food and architecture, Third Fridays at 78th Street Studios in the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood showcases the work of small, independent Cleveland artists, makers and designers.
• On the first Friday of every month, galleries and restaurants stay open late for Walk All Over Waterloo in the Collinwood neighborhood. While on the second Friday of every month in the Tremont neighborhood, visitors can meander through the galleries and shops and check out street performers and pop-up art at Walkabout Tremont. The Little Italy Art Walk gives neighborhood visitors the chance to ooh and aah at the works of art studios and galleries displayed on the neighborhood’s sidewalks during select months of the year.