Creative Meetups "Our Community is Growing"

It’s no secret that Cleveland has a robust amount of talent ranging from artists to entrepreneurs. Whether we’re celebrating at art galleries in rustic warehouses or on the lakefront greenery downtown, Cleveland's most engaging experiences are being spearheaded by its creative community. Look at the attraction that Forbes 30 Under 30 brought to the city while spotlighting local talent or how fun MGK Day was over the summer. Other initiatives such as FutureLAND, Ingenuity Fest, and Fresh Fest are embedded in creating transformational impact through the lens of art, culture, and community. It is no surprise that Cleveland’s Arts and Culture industry generated over a half of a billion dollars in economic activity in 2022.

Innovative leaders like Walter Patton who is bringing licensed therapists to the city’s most impoverished neighborhoods through Ghetto Therapy 216. Poets like Morgan Paige who curates an artistic experience to bridge the gap from one artist to another with her business Poetry Unplugged. Another leader amongst the pack is Alysha L. Ellis who has been sharing stories and uplifting diverse voices with her business Mas LaRae. These stories led her to bring Clevelands creatives together through a collaboration called Creative Meetups which has impacted nearly 1,000 creatives in less than six months.

With so much happening, and so many artists and arts organizations, there has been a need to bring the creative community together on a regular basis to create a space for them to build power and support one another--and to connect individuals with one another and with good, timely information. Now, some of these organizations and local artists who have been leading these efforts separately are coming together through Creative Meetups.

Creative Meetups is a consortium of creative collaborators, organizations, and networks collectively aiming to support the Arts & Culture community in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County and Beyond! All of the organizations and artists represented within Creative Meetups share a dedication to connecting, supporting, and advocating with the Creative Community while exploring and bridging new pathways forward for a more inclusive and diverse community. This is the thread that connects us.

Last month’s meetup featured a Community and Resource Dialogue where Assembly for the Arts and Neighborhood Connections announced their sponsorship of monthly meetups and the rollout of a new funding opportunity. Funded by Cuyahoga Arts and Culture, Neighborhood Connections’ Spark Grant will provide easy to access funds to pilot artist-led ideas sparked from Creative Meetup attendees. Spark Grant proposals will be reviewed by a committee of Creative Meetup organizers and sponsors.

Creative Meetups collaborator Charles Pratt, Founder of Breakthrough Sounds had this to share when asked why spaces like Creative Meetups are important. “Our community is what makes these meetups special. Seeing so many attentive faces, ready and open to learn, share, and engage sets the atmosphere for collaboration and excitement.”

When we asked Deidre McPherson Chief Community Officer at the Assembly For The Arts what her experience has been collaborating with Creative Meetups since September 2023 she shared, “Bringing our incredibly diverse creative communities together helps to create a more inclusive and equitable arts community. It also means improved networking and improved resource sharing. Monthly Creative Meetups are about unity and the power of coming together to take collective action towards making our region a place where all creatives can thrive.”

What makes the energy around Creative Meetups so exciting is its intention to be led by artists and creatives. It is a curated experience for creatives of all sorts. Its unique approach to networking, sharing resources, and collaboration is a breath of fresh air in the city of Cleveland. Where so many initiatives have historically been in silos, this collaboration aims to break through barriers and uplift voices.

Tom O’Brien, Director of Neighborhood Connections shared his thoughts as it pertains to supporting these efforts. “Neighborhood Connections is excited to sustain and grow its efforts to partner with local artists and arts organizations. Having a monthly space for individual artists, arts groups, and arts organizations to gather together will lead to more opportunities for trust to be built between them, to support one another, for collective action, and for all to be connected to good, timely information.”

Creative Meetups is a monthly meetup for creatives, artists, entrepreneurs, and innovators. All are welcomed to join and experience an environment where collaboration ignites with the brilliance of creativity. Save the date for the next one March 4th at 5:30pm hosted at Breakthrough Sounds Recording Studios please R.S.V.P. HERE