CAN Triennial Postponed

The ideas that “we are all in this together,” and further that “we are stronger together” have never been more clear than during the COVID 19 pandemic.   In an expression of that, after consultation with leadership of FRONT Triennial, the Collective Arts Network Board of Directors has voted to postpone CAN Triennial until July and August 2022.

The decision was made in light of challenges faced by all our partner organizations, and the uncertainty created by the pandemic.

The 2022 iteration of the CAN exhibition will coincide once again with FRONT Triennial, engaging audiences with a broad examination of art making in Northeast Ohio.

CAN appreciates commitments of early support for the second exhibit, including a portion of a two-year grant from the George Gund Foundation, and sponsorship from the Cleveland Institute of Art.

CAN  began preparing for the second iteration of the regionally focused event shortly after the inaugural exhibit in 2018. The first exhibit drew an audience of approximately 7550 during its three-week run at 78^th Street Studios, exhibiting 90 artists, 16 of whom created site-specific installations.  Solo exhibits resulting from Exhibition Prizes created in partnership with regional museums are ongoing, including one Christine Mauersberger scheduled May 15, 2020 – July 17, 2020 at ARTneo, and another by Amy Casey scheduled August 22 through October 26, 2020 at the Canton Museum of Art.

Preparations have included discussion with approximately 15 partner venues, mostly non-profit galleries, all clustered in small groups in Cleveland neighborhoods.  An announcement of venues will be delayed in light of the uncertainty caused by the pandemic.

A curatorial team began meeting early this year to discuss themes and plans. The postponement of the event and the vast socioeconomic impact of the pandemic will also affect discussions of a theme, and will delay its announcement.

A committee of art dealers has been discussing plans for a second iteration of an art fair, to take place during the exhibition.

CAN will announce venues, a theme, and other details in the coming months.

In the near term, CAN is gathering stories of impact and response to the COVID crisis, from its membership of approximately 100 galleries, museums, and studios. Stories of how the crisis impacted those organizations will be published in the Summer 2020 edition of CAN Journal, which will be in print distribution late in May.