Education
Shannon Morris has always been an artist. “Ever since I was little I was very creative and resourceful with materials,” she says. Morris first entered a darkroom at age 13, went to NYU for photography and today works in a variety of media and writes her blog, Electric Belle, from her Cleveland Heights home.
But like most creative types, Morris craved inspiration and collaboration from other artists. So in February, she started Artful, a movement to create an affordable space for local artists to come together and create, collaborate and sell their works.
“I’ve been thinking about this for years, to create a creative environment,” she says. “Ideally it will be studio space, a gallery space, retail and flex space. Art is supposed to be an outlet. Artists would feed off each other and share.”
Artful would be open to all artists. Rent will depend on the space Morris finds, but she plans to keep it affordable. She has been looking at spaces around the east side, but would like to locate in Cleveland Heights. “It just feels like Cleveland Heights is what the place is about,” she says. “We need this in Cleveland Heights because we have many artists and there is no affordable studio space. We have lots of empty buildings and a population that is deeply connected to the arts.”
Eventually Morris would like to add an educational element to Artful. “We would ramp up to a place to host events and education,” she explains. “Especially as the arts are dwindling in our schools, this could be a place where kids can go.”
Within two weeks of creating a group Facebook page, 140 people had joined Artful. Today, there are close to 160 members. Morris has been touring different vacant spaces, and has solicited advice from Artful followers for their ideas and advice about creating a business plan.
Last Sunday she hosted a meeting to discuss ideas for a space and ideas on how Artful can become a thriving part of the Cleveland Heights community. “The energy of the meeting was electric,” says Morris. Artists in all mediums attended, as well as local business owners, residents of all ages and business people willing to help out with the cause. Cleveland Heights city planners and Future Heights have also gotten involved.
But like most creative types, Morris craved inspiration and collaboration from other artists. So in February, she started Artful, a movement to create an affordable space for local artists to come together and create, collaborate and sell their works.
“I’ve been thinking about this for years, to create a creative environment,” she says. “Ideally it will be studio space, a gallery space, retail and flex space. Art is supposed to be an outlet. Artists would feed off each other and share.”
Artful would be open to all artists. Rent will depend on the space Morris finds, but she plans to keep it affordable. She has been looking at spaces around the east side, but would like to locate in Cleveland Heights. “It just feels like Cleveland Heights is what the place is about,” she says. “We need this in Cleveland Heights because we have many artists and there is no affordable studio space. We have lots of empty buildings and a population that is deeply connected to the arts.”
Eventually Morris would like to add an educational element to Artful. “We would ramp up to a place to host events and education,” she explains. “Especially as the arts are dwindling in our schools, this could be a place where kids can go.”
Within two weeks of creating a group Facebook page, 140 people had joined Artful. Today, there are close to 160 members. Morris has been touring different vacant spaces, and has solicited advice from Artful followers for their ideas and advice about creating a business plan.
Last Sunday she hosted a meeting to discuss ideas for a space and ideas on how Artful can become a thriving part of the Cleveland Heights community. “The energy of the meeting was electric,” says Morris. Artists in all mediums attended, as well as local business owners, residents of all ages and business people willing to help out with the cause. Cleveland Heights city planners and Future Heights have also gotten involved.
This weekend, spend the day at the Cleveland International Film Festival, express your style at Cleveland Fashion Week, sip a glass of bubbly at the Week of Wine, and party at Near West Theatre’s annual benefit gala.
You've likely driven by the Cultural Gardens many times, but have you stopped and experienced them? Here's the story of one person's discovery of what the Gardens mean, to him and possibly the rest of us too.
A partnership between product design innovation firm Nottingham Spirk and CWRU’s think[box] is designed to both inspire new inventions and bring existing ideas to fruition. CWRU announced late last month that Nottingham Spirk, known for creations like the Dirt Devil vacuum and the SpinBrush toothbrush, will work with Case faculty and students on the first floor of the new think[box] facility, scheduled to open in the fall.
The partnership was announced by John Nottingham and John Spirk, both Cleveland Institute of Art graduates, at Case’s Engineering Week banquet on February 26, during which they were the keynote speakers.
The idea is to build on Nottingham Spirk’s reputation for creating innovative products in the consumer and medical device fields by helping faculty members, and eventually students, fully develop their own ideas.
“We’re creating a partnership in innovation that they can see what the faculty are doing and what might be applicable to their work,” explains Jeff Duerk, dean of the engineering school. “They’ll be brainstorming how to take them to the next level. Nottingham Spirk is the premier design and innovation company in the United States. They’re like Reese’s Cups – they bring things together in such an obvious way. This is about how to take high-quality concepts and bring them to market faster.”
Bill Nottingham calls think[box] the “nexus” between Case’s seven schools and the CIA. “The greatest thing that can happen is we work together to promote more successes,” he says. “Hearing about think[box] and what they are doing to promote innovation, and hearing about the startups going on right down the hill from us, it’s really exciting.”
Nottingham sees the potential between the two organizations as unlimited. “There are going to be disruptive innovations that come out of think[box] based on the CWRU and Nottingham Spirk collaboration,” he says. “Our success is only as good as our relationships.”
The details of programs with students under the partnership have yet to be worked out, says Duerk, but should be soon.
The partnership was announced by John Nottingham and John Spirk, both Cleveland Institute of Art graduates, at Case’s Engineering Week banquet on February 26, during which they were the keynote speakers.
The idea is to build on Nottingham Spirk’s reputation for creating innovative products in the consumer and medical device fields by helping faculty members, and eventually students, fully develop their own ideas.
“We’re creating a partnership in innovation that they can see what the faculty are doing and what might be applicable to their work,” explains Jeff Duerk, dean of the engineering school. “They’ll be brainstorming how to take them to the next level. Nottingham Spirk is the premier design and innovation company in the United States. They’re like Reese’s Cups – they bring things together in such an obvious way. This is about how to take high-quality concepts and bring them to market faster.”
Bill Nottingham calls think[box] the “nexus” between Case’s seven schools and the CIA. “The greatest thing that can happen is we work together to promote more successes,” he says. “Hearing about think[box] and what they are doing to promote innovation, and hearing about the startups going on right down the hill from us, it’s really exciting.”
Nottingham sees the potential between the two organizations as unlimited. “There are going to be disruptive innovations that come out of think[box] based on the CWRU and Nottingham Spirk collaboration,” he says. “Our success is only as good as our relationships.”
The details of programs with students under the partnership have yet to be worked out, says Duerk, but should be soon.
Great Lakes NeuroTechnologies (GLNT), which develops biomedical technologies for research, education, and medical communities, wants to introduce high school students to the many careers available in biomedical engineering. So the company is hosting a “Crash Course in Biomedical Engineering” on Wednesday, April 1st from 4 pm to 6:30 pm at its Valley View Offices.
“We recognize that biomedical engineering is just a huge area of growth, it’s just booming,” says Lori Grimm, marketing manager for GLNT. “It’s a vast field and people may not know just what it’s about, so we’re launching this course to give people an idea.”
GLNT researchers and engineers will lead discussions in a five areas: medical device development; biomedical research; software programming; product manufacturing; and biomedical career paths. While targeted at high school seniors, the event of open to all high school students. Students will also have the chance to talk to the speakers.
"We want to educate seniors in biomedical engineering to inspire them to move on and explore careers in the field,” says Grim. “Lots of kids hear ‘biomedical engineering’ and it sounds intimidating. But actually, it’s s really exciting field.”
Grim admits the motivation is somewhat “selfish” on GLNT’s part, as the hope is that the event will attract students to the field and in turn bring more qualified applicants to the Cleveland area. “Some areas, like research, we don’t have much of a problem,” says Grim, adding that GLNT just hired four new researchers. “But software engineers, that’s a little bit tougher.”
The program is also part of GLNT’s ongoing mission to give back to the community and educate students on STEM subjects. Additionally, the company gives away two $1,000 scholarships annually to Northeast Ohio high school seniors planning on studying biomedical engineering in college.
The Crash Course event is free, but registration is required by March 23. Contact Sara Rini to register or for more information. The application deadline for the scholarships is April 30.
“We recognize that biomedical engineering is just a huge area of growth, it’s just booming,” says Lori Grimm, marketing manager for GLNT. “It’s a vast field and people may not know just what it’s about, so we’re launching this course to give people an idea.”
GLNT researchers and engineers will lead discussions in a five areas: medical device development; biomedical research; software programming; product manufacturing; and biomedical career paths. While targeted at high school seniors, the event of open to all high school students. Students will also have the chance to talk to the speakers.
"We want to educate seniors in biomedical engineering to inspire them to move on and explore careers in the field,” says Grim. “Lots of kids hear ‘biomedical engineering’ and it sounds intimidating. But actually, it’s s really exciting field.”
Grim admits the motivation is somewhat “selfish” on GLNT’s part, as the hope is that the event will attract students to the field and in turn bring more qualified applicants to the Cleveland area. “Some areas, like research, we don’t have much of a problem,” says Grim, adding that GLNT just hired four new researchers. “But software engineers, that’s a little bit tougher.”
The program is also part of GLNT’s ongoing mission to give back to the community and educate students on STEM subjects. Additionally, the company gives away two $1,000 scholarships annually to Northeast Ohio high school seniors planning on studying biomedical engineering in college.
The Crash Course event is free, but registration is required by March 23. Contact Sara Rini to register or for more information. The application deadline for the scholarships is April 30.
When kids commit themselves to an art form, they gain self-confidence and set high expectations for themselves. How do we create more access to arts education for youth in urban neighborhoods?
Schools and businesses are aiming to boost the economy through a regionally-bred pipeline of skilled workers.
Cracking open this year's film fest guide can feel like a commitment on par with starting a particularly complex novel. How do you manage the abundance without giving up? Never fear! We've got tips.
An alliance of local groups are creating one-stop meeting points for refugees and immigrants new to the city.
A few years ago, local arts groups faced declining audiences. Today, many of these organizations have reinvented themselves and begun to thrive -- or at least turned the corner.
This weekend, check out Teatro Publico at CPT, view films by a Swedish master at the Cinematheque, ruminate on Cleveland “then” and “now” at Heights Arts and join the community in brainstorming ways to enhance the Jim Mahon Green in Ohio City.
Arts education programs that teach mastery have the greatest potential to impact child development, yet many urban youth lack access to them. Learn why these programs work and how we can cultivate them in Cleveland.
Social dancing is a great way to meet new people, get exercise and explore Cleveland. From Brazilian capoeira to contra dancing, here are four local places to get your groove on.
Ohio is no longer flyover country when it comes to attracting venture capital for biotech companies. In 2014, Cleveland had $398 million in investments among 40 companies, ranking second in major Midwest cities behind Minneapolis. Yet access to local capital remains a concern.
"As chief executive of the City Club of Cleveland—a 102-year-old institution created to foster dialogue about local, national and international issues—I often find myself in the midst of conversations about the city. So when I—a white guy—am in a meeting about policing or witnessing the inability of some white people here to understand why Tamir’s death catalyzed such vocal and visible protests, I remember what a divided city this really is."
Read the full story here.
Read the full story here.