The Projects

Lead Artist: Latecia Delores Wilson Stone
Institutional Partner: Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority
Medium: Immersive Theater
Neighborhood: Central
Project Location: East Tech High School

"Through ‘Portals of Knowing,’ we’re opening doors to stories that have long lived in the hearts of our community. This work invites us to step into each other’s worlds, and to see ourselves reflected in ways we never imagined." — Latecia Delores Wilson Stone

Project Description:

"Portals of Knowing" is an immersive theater experience by Latecia Delores Wilson-Stone and the Asé Theatre Project, unfolding within Cleveland's historic East Tech High School in the Central neighborhood. This isn't just a play; it's an invitation to step into a living, breathing family story rooted in Black joy and resilience. The audience is welcomed as family, blurring the lines between performer and observer. The experience uses the setting of a home to guide participants through layers of memory, inviting them to laugh, cry, sing, and grieve, connecting with ancestral stories. The project's core is to reframe Black identity as a celebration, honoring the fullness of Black life and revealing the "beauty of the resilience within the community." Ultimately, "Portals of Knowing" offers a powerful sense of belonging and homecoming to everyone who enters.

TAF Community Activations:

Culminating Event and Panel Discussion in Formation (TBD)
 

Lead Artist: Malena Grigoli
Institutional Partner: Redhouse Studio
Medium: Architectural Art & Design
Neighborhood: Woodhill

"This project invites the community to imagine what’s possible when we rebuild with intention — transforming waste into wonder and healing the land together." — Malena Grigoli

Project Description:

9413 Sophia Ave in Cleveland's Buckeye-Woodhill neighborhood is being transformed from a condemned, lead-ridden site into an innovative public art installation. Led by artist and architect Malena Grigoli, this project is deeply rooted in community involvement, with residents shaping the vision from the start. The process involves "choreographed deconstruction," where the former house is carefully dismantled. Uniquely, the debris is then detoxified and used to grow mycelium (through "bio cycling"), which will form the foundation for a new, community-designed structure. This initiative is a powerful act of environmental justice, turning a toxic past into a fertile ground for hope and a testament to collective restoration.

TAF Community Activations:

Monthly Onsite Gatherings
When: Third Saturdays through September 27th, 10 - 11 a.m.
Where: 9413 Sophia Ave
Details:  August 16th will feature a talk and workshop on lead in the built environment by Robin Brown, and September 20th will be a chance for people to come by and chat with the team while we work to install the mycelium elements onsite. 
Sign-up: Monthly On-Site Gatherings: Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite

Culminating Event
When: September 27th, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. and 5 - 7 p.m.
Where: 9413 Sophia Ave
Details: The public will be welcomed to 9413 Sophia Ave to experience the ephemeral mycelium installation, meet the project team, enjoy refreshments (11-3 tentative), and attend an artist talk and panel discussion. (5-7 tentative)

Lead Artist: Jordan Wong
Institutional Partner: Sculpture Center
Medium: Placemaking, Creation of Three-Dimensional Objects, Sculptures/Monuments
Neighborhood: AsiaTown

Project Description:

"For Those Who Call Here Home" is a transformative public art and design project creating a new community park in Cleveland's historic AsiaTown. Led by artist Jordan Wong (WONGFACE), the initiative will feature sculptures, monuments, and gathering spaces on the Square Dancing Lot, reimagining it as a site of cultural memory and joyful expression. This is more than beautification; it's a declaration of belonging, with younger Asian American artists invited to participate in the creation process. The park will serve as a lasting, welcoming space for storytelling, connection, and cultural affirmation, built by and for the community. It firmly plants AsiaTown's legacy into Cleveland's civic landscape, declaring its enduring presence and significance.

TAF Community Activations

I Love the Number 8, But 10 is Good Too Exhibition
When: August 7th,5:30 - 8 p.m., Exhibition runs August 7th-30th 2025
Where: Sculpture Center, 12210 Euclid Ave
Details: Cleveland-based artist Jordan Wong’s exhibition I LOVE THE NUMBER 8, BUT 10 IS GOOD TOO explores identity, growth, and the Ultimate Self through Chinese and American culture, presenting ten works—including his first sculptures—and previewing five new public artworks funded by the City of Cleveland’s Transformative Arts Fund for AsiaTown’s future community park.  

Artist Talk
When: August 23rd, 1 - 2 p.m.
Where: Sculpture Center, 12210 Euclid Ave
Details:  Artist Jordan Wong will share insights and lessons learned from his experience with the Transformative Arts Fund to help artists prepare for future projects with big budgets and complex logistics. Find more information here.

Mid-Autumn Festival (Culminating Event)
When: September 27th, 12:00-4:00PM
Where: AsiaTown Square Dancing Lot, 3236 Payne Ave
Details: During the Mid-Autumn Festival, artist Jordan Wong and collaborating artists will unveil their exhibition of five artistic structures.

Lead Artist: Ariel Vergez
Institutional Partner: Metro West Community Development Organization
Medium: Murals, Sculptures, Community Garden
Neighborhood: Clark-Fulton

"Our goal is to create spaces that inspire pride and belonging, where every mural and sculpture breathes new life into the community." — Ariel Vergez

Project Description:

"The Art Garden" is transforming Cleveland's Clark-Fulton neighborhood, a vibrant center of Hispanic culture, through a powerful public art initiative. Led by multidisciplinary artist Ariel Vergez, the project will introduce 10 culturally resonant murals and 3  monumental sculptures. These works are more than just installations; they are a "living declaration of dignity and joy," co-created with local youth, residents, and community-rooted artists. The murals, described as "performed onto the city’s skin," will boldly reclaim identity and celebrate Hispanic heritage through its icons, textiles, and traditions. A key vision of Art Garden is to build a self-sustaining artist network, empowering young creatives to lead and define their own communities. Similar to the artistic ingenuity of Brazilian favelas, this project aims to highlight the inherent beauty and power already present in overlooked neighborhoods, making them artistically alive and fostering long-term cultural empowerment. 

TAF Community Activations:

SPINA PHLORÆ WORKSHOP SERIES: Cultivate. Construct. Bloom Together.
When: August 10th-September 5th
August 10th: 12-2 p.m.
August 15th: 5-7p.m.
August 22: 5-7 p.m.
August 29th: 5-7 p.m.
September 5th: 5-7 p.m.
Where: The Pivot Center for Art, Dance and Expression, 2937 W 25th St

Spray Paint Studio Visit
When: August 12, 14, 19, 21, 26 and 28 from 3 - 6 p.m.
Where: 3018 Twinkie Lane
Details: Community members can come on site and engage with the art as it is being created.

The Art Garden Festival: A Living Corridor of Culture on Storer Avenue (Culminating Event)
When: September 6th, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Where: 4908 Storer Ave
Details: The Art Garden Festival will be a day of activities consisting of workshops, artistic performances, music and celebration, alongside food trucks and community vendors. This event is not ticketed and free to the public.

Lead Artist: Jameelah Rahman
Institutional Partner: Cleveland Clinic—Langston Hughes Center
Medium: Immersive Interdisciplinary Arts Experiences
Neighborhood: Fairfax

"This work envisions a future where Black mothers are centered, celebrated, and healed through art and collective care." — Jameelah Rahman

Project Description:

"All Our Babies: Birthing in the Afrofuture" is a groundbreaking art and wellness initiative in Cleveland's Fairfax neighborhood, challenging high Black maternal and infant mortality rates. Led by artist Jameelah Rahman, it re-imagines birth through an Afrofuturist lens, blending art, ancestral wisdom, and healthcare. Activation events include five immersive "volumes" culminating in a public celebration in September 2025. These events utilize diverse mediums like visual art, installation, storytelling, movement, ritual, murals, soundscapes, and film. The project emphasizes co-creation with Black birthing people and the community, aiming to transform Fairfax's physical and emotional landscape, fostering a future where all Black families thrive. 

TAF Community Activations:

Yesterday We Dreamed of Tomorrow Vol. V
When: July 26, 1 - 5 p.m.
Where: Prolific Achievement Academy, 8229 Higbee Ave
Details: The fifth installment of the six-part series of interactive events revolving around Black maternal health through the lens of Afrofuturism – a cultural movement that blends African heritage with elements of artificial intelligence, fantasy, and science fiction to create visionary works of art, dance, and storytelling. Activities include community art, live performances, children’s programing, and healing circles, alongside free food.

Yesterday We Dreamed of Tomorrow Final Volume: A Portal into Black Birth Futures (Culminating Event)
When: September 14, Exhibition 3 - 5 p.m. (Invitation Only)
Culminating Event 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Where: Cleveland City Hall, 601 Lakeside Ave
Details: The final installment of the six-part series of interactive events revolving around Black maternal health through the lens of Afrofuturism – a cultural movement that blends African heritage with elements of artificial intelligence, fantasy, and science fiction to create visionary works of art, dance, and storytelling. This culminating event will also include a block party and the unveiling of a permanent wellness space further supporting community health initiatives.  The event is free, but attendees are encouraged to RSVP. 

Lead Artist: Robin Robinson
Institutional Partner: Ingenuity
Medium: Mural Making, Breath Work
Neighborhood: Mt. Pleasant

"These murals are more than paint — they’re breaths of new life, moments of mentorship, and symbols of hope." — Robin Robinson

Project Description:

IMPART216 is a visionary mural placemaking initiative in Cleveland's Mt. Pleasant neighborhood. The events involve six teams of artists creating large-scale murals across a key corridor, with experienced artists mentoring emerging talent. Crucially, community engagement is central: residents actively participate through storytelling and input sessions, co-creating the art. The vision extends beyond beautification; it's cultural stewardship that transforms public spaces into sites of dialogue and identity. IMPART216 aims to foster belonging, increase visibility, and catalyze healing, reimagining Mt. Pleasant as a vibrant, evolving canvas that celebrates its rich history and collective power.

TAF Community Activations:

Community Clean-Up Day with NuPoint
When: August 15th, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Where: E 136th St/Union, E 140th St/Union
Details: Join the Impart216 team and NuPoint to clean up a portion of the neighborhood and interact with community members! Refreshments and supplies will be provided.

Mt. Pleasant Transformative Art Fund Community Celebration (Impart216 Culminating Event)
When: August 16th, 1 - 5 p.m.
Where: E 138th St & Union, Mt. Pleasant

Lead Artist: Kumar Arora
Institutional Partner: Campus District 
Medium: Festivals, Activations (Music, Visual Art, Fashion, Commerce)
Neighborhoods: Hough, Campus District, Downtown, University Circle

"For Art's Sake® is a living movement — one that uplifts artists, sparks advocacy, and empowers communities to imagine a stronger future together." — Kumar Arora

Project Description:

"For Art’s Sake®" is a powerful initiative in Cleveland, led by artist and entrepreneur Kumar Arora, that views creativity as essential to public good. It will activate city spaces through eight artist-led activations blending public art with social purpose, tackling issues like Black maternal health and mental wellness. Beyond these events, the project's core vision is to build a thriving, embedded creative economy in Cleveland. It aims for local artists to be integral, employed by corporations and institutions to shape the city's visual and experiential identity. "For Art's Sake®" invests in local talent, offering a replicable model that bridges cultural expression with economic growth, making art a cornerstone of Cleveland's future.

TAF Community Activations:

For Art’s Sake Makers Market & Artists Row
When: August 10th, Noon -7 p.m.
Where: East Bank of the Flats Main Parking Lot
Details: Come interact with the Makers Market and Artists Row at the Machine Gun Kelly Day celebration, alongside music, vendors, and activities that welcome people of all ages.

“I’m From Cleveland” Arts & Music Festival (For Art’s Sake Culminating Event)
When: September 6th, 5 - 11 p.m.
Where: Nautica Pavilion, 2014 Sycamore St