The Community Art Center

The newly opened Community Arts Center, in the Clark-Fulton neighborhood on Cleveland’s near west side, offers opportunities for residents there and beyond to connect with the arts. The former awning factory has been transformed to include a variety of arts, culture, and service organizations. The center is a lively, vibrant art hub filled with murals, larger-than-life puppets and floats, and spaces for the community to create.

The center’s inaugural exhibition, Parade the Circle: Celebrating 30 Years of Art and Community, features a varied collection of puppets, costumes, and masks created by artists and the community that reflect diverse cultures and global art traditions. Visitors will stroll by a pack of fluffy white buffalo, pay tribute to the King and Queen of Parade, glance up to see a flaming red bird, and much more. In the near future, visitors will be able to interact with some of the objects, including working the arms of a giant puppet. Photo opportunities abound within the exhibition and throughout the center. Murals created by Cleveland artists fill the entryway and studio spaces with color and images of music, movement, and art.

Visitors looking to get creative can drop by to make art during open studios and public hours. Self-guided art projects will be available during public hours, and visitors will have the chance to contribute to a collaborative project designed by an artist, with topics changing periodically. 

On the weekends, open studios offer drop-in art making led by teaching artists, with a new theme each month, providing inspiration for visitors to create and experiment with a variety of materials and processes. Visiting the center and participating in these art-making activities are for visitors of all ages and are free of charge. 

In the coming year, the center will begin to offer even more programming, including studio and gallery experiences for schools and community groups, with tours and activities led by local artists. Family and adult studio workshops for people of all ages and skill levels will range from technique-based art instruction to more innovative subjects. The center will partner with other community groups housed in the Pivot building to develop mutually beneficial programs in areas such as graphic design, art conservation, theater, and dance. Studio spaces will also be available for use by community groups and local art educators. Stay tuned for information on upcoming programs and offerings.