Heights Arts Celebrates 25 Years of Creativity, Connection, and Community

This fall, Heights Arts marks a significant milestone: 25 years of enriching Cleveland’s East Side with multidisciplinary art experiences that connect people and foster community. From visual art exhibitions and music performances to literary readings and public art installations, Heights Arts continues to break down barriers to participation and ensure that everyone has access to creative expression.

In keeping with providing inclusive opportunities for participation, Heights Arts presents its Bi-Annual Members Show, an exhibition featuring the varied talents of forty of its members, including both working artists and passionate hobbyists. This showcase celebrates the creativity and individuality of the community, highlighting the wide array of artistic expressions that its members bring to life.

The accompanying Spotlight exhibition will feature the work of fiber artist Felice Dahlhausen, whose work incorporates texture and color. Says Dahlhausen, “my art quilts are either abstract or realistic, but all include some type of stitching on the surface. I feel the stitching adds another layer of interest through color, texture and embroidery techniques.” Both shows are on view through October 12.

At the core of Heights Arts’ mission is the belief that art should be for everyone. With mostly free or pay-what-you-can programming, this inclusive approach has made it easy for community members to engage with art in meaningful ways, whether they’re discovering a new artist or experiencing a live reading.

One signature example is the free Ekphrastacyseries, where poetry and visual art converge. At 7 pm on September 18, the new Heights Poet Laureate, Michelle R. Smith, will join local poets Andrea Fekete, Calil Cage, and Danielle Dixon to lead a public reading where artists speak about their work, and poets perform work inspired by the works on exhibition. These poetry events result in surprising dialogue and discovery by artists, poets, and audience members.

Its year-round store on Lee Road features affordable, handcrafted items from local artisans, with the popular Holiday Store opening on November 1. With creations from over a hundred local artists each year, it’s a unique opportunity to shop for meaningful gifts that support the region’s creative economy.

As it celebrates 25 years, Heights Arts remains a vital cultural anchor—honoring its history while forging new paths to connect people through the transformative power of art. Whether through poetry, music, painting, textiles, or public murals, Heights Arts continues to inspire, invite, and ignite creativity in all who experience it. To learn more about the breadth of Heights Arts programming, visit heightsarts.org.

HEIGHTS ARTS
2175 Lee Road
Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44118
heightsarts.org
216.371.3457

EVENTS:

Bi-Annual Members Show, through October 12

Spotlight: Felice Dahlhausen, through October 12

Ekphrastacy, 7pm Thursday, September 18

Holiday Store, opening Saturday, November 1