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News and Updates

Transformative Arts Fund – Culminating Events


Portals of Knowing – Culminating Event & Panel Discussion

  • Date: TBD

  • Location: TBD

  • Details: Event and panel discussion currently in formation.

Impart216 – Community Celebration

  • Date: August 16, 1 – 5 p.m.

  • Location: E 138th St. & Union, Mt. Pleasant

  • Details: Join the Mt. Pleasant community to celebrate the work of Impart216 through art, connection, and local engagement.

The Art Garden Festival – A Living Corridor of Culture on Storer Avenue

  • Date: September 6, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

  • Location: 4908 Storer Ave, Cleveland, OH 44102

  • Details: Explore an immersive corridor of arts and culture in celebration of the neighborhood’s rich creative spirit.

For Arts Sake – “I'm From Cleveland” Arts & Music Festival

  • Date: September 6, 2025, 5 – 11 p.m.

  • Location: Nautica Pavilion, 2014 Sycamore St, Cleveland, OH

  • Details: A public-facing festival showcasing local talent in art and music. Celebrate Cleveland’s creative identity.

All Our Babies – Yesterday We Dreamed of Tomorrow: A Portal into Black Birth Futures

  • Date: September 14

  • Location: Cleveland City Hall, 601 Lakeside Ave

  • Schedule:

    • Exhibition (VIP only): 3 – 5 p.m.

    • Culminating Event: 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.

For Those Who Call Here Home – AsiaTown Mid-Autumn Festival & TAF Celebration

  • Date: September 27, 12 – 4 p.m.

  • Location: AsiaTown Square Dancing Lot, 3236 Payne Ave

  • Details: Celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with cultural performances, food, and reflections on the Transformative Arts Fund’s impact.

9413 Sophia Ave – Culminating Event

  • Date: September 27

    • Installation & Open House: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. (tentative)

    • Artist Talk & Panel Discussion: 5 – 7 p.m. (tentative)

  • Location: 9413 Sophia Ave

  • Details:

    • Experience a mycelium-based ephemeral installation

    • Meet the project team

    • Enjoy refreshments and attend an artist-led discussion

Press

Explore these links to discover more about the Transformative Arts Fund—including artist interviews, promotional content, and updates on their current projects.

  • Cleveland Press Release (Jan 31, 2024) – Mayor Bibb opens the $3 million Transformative Arts Fund, awarding grants up to $500K to neighborhood-driven art projects via ARPA funds (clevelandohio.gov).
  • Cleveland City Council Release (Feb 2, 2024) – Councilman Kevin Conwell and Council green-light the fund, outlining program guidelines for Cleveland artists (clevelandcitycouncil.org).
  • News 5 Cleveland (Feb 1, 2024) – Local TV coverage on the grant program launch with comments from Rhonda Brown explaining the artist opportunity (cleveland19.com).
  • CAN Journal: “A Beginning…” (early 2024) – In-depth look at the fund's intent, committee makeup, and ambitious, artist-centered design (canjournal.org).
  • The Land (“As $3M looms…”) (Mar 2024) – Analysis of how TAF fills voids left by canceled arts events like FRONT and CAN, advocating support for underserved artists (thelandcle.org).
  • City of Cleveland Announcement (Jul 17, 2024) – Official unveiling of seven awardees with nearly $3 million in funding; includes video of the press briefing (clevelandohio.gov).
  • Ideastream Public Media (Jul 18, 2024) – Coverage of grant winners and their diverse public art initiatives funded through ARPA (ideastream.org).
  • CAN Journal: “City of Cleveland announces Transformative Art Fund Awardees” (Jul 2024) – Confirms winner details, funding, and committee structure (canjournal.org).
  • News 5 Cleveland Follow-up (likely mid‑2024) – Updates on award distribution and descriptions of the selected artistic mediums (news5cleveland.com).