About CAC
The Community Arts Center will offer opportunities for residents in Cleveland’s Clark-Fulton neighborhood and beyond to connect with the arts. It features art displays and free hands-on art activities and experiences. The inaugural exhibition, Parade the Circle: Celebrating 30 Years of Art and Community, opening in tandem with the center, showcases a varied collection of puppets, costumes, and masks created by artists and the community that reflect diverse cultures and global art traditions.
“The establishment of a Community Arts Center is a key goal of our 2017 strategic plan, and with this new space, we expand our footprint into a vibrant, urban neighborhood on the city’s west side,” said William M. Griswold, director of the CMA. “We hope to connect with new audiences through a range of arts programs and look forward to collaborating with neighborhood partners to enrich the transformative experiences that we offer to all audiences.”
The Community Arts Center is a 20,000-square-foot space located within the former Astrup Awning factory complex. It increases access to the arts by engaging with diverse new audiences that may not yet be involved with on-site museum programming. The CMA worked in partnership with Clark-Fulton Together, a resident-driven master plan headed by MetroHealth Hospital, the City of Cleveland, Metro West Community Development Organization, and local businesses to develop program content that meets community needs.
Upon the opening, visitors to the center may view Parade the Circle: Celebrating 30 Years of Art and Community and enjoy independent art making. In the summer and fall, as COVID-19 safety restrictions are lifted, the Community Arts Center will offer even more programming:
- Daily studio and gallery experiences for schools and community groups, with tours and activities led by local artists
- Daily public hours with studio and gallery experiences
- Classes and workshops led by local teaching artists for children, adults, and families
- Drop-in activities for all ages
- Guest artist workspaces
- Conservation projects
- After-school arts experiences and summer camps
- Activities and workspaces for community members participating in Parade the Circle, Chalk Festival, and the Lantern Festival
Information about free admission protocols and COVID-19 safety procedures is forthcoming.
The Community Arts Center was made possible with principal support from Chuck and Char Fowler and the Eric and Jane Nord Family Fund.
All education programs at the Cleveland Museum of Art are underwritten by the CMA Fund for Education. Major annual support is provided by the Womens Council of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Generous annual support is provided by Brenda and Marshall Brown, Florence Kahane Goodman, Eva and Rudolf Linnebach, and the Kelvin and Eleanor Smith Foundation. Additional annual support is provided by Gail Bowen in memory of Richard L. Bowen, the M. E. and F. J. Callahan Foundation, Mr. and Mrs. Walter R. Chapman Jr., Char and Chuck Fowler, the Giant Eagle Foundation, the Logsdon Family Fund for Education, Roy Smith, and the Trilling Family Foundation.