Support Ingenuity With
A Night to Remember!
Ingenuity’s annual Bal fundraiser is an affordable and slightly off-kilter gala unlike anything else in town! Once known as the Bal Ingenieux, the yearly spring event now boasts a different theme with each incarnation, featuring the region’s artists, makers, and creatives while paying homage to Cleveland’s exclusive arts club that dominated modernist arts in the city from the 1910s until the 1940s. The Kokoon Club’s annual “Bal Masque” challenged artistic norms with the most unconventional parties around.
Today, the Bal supports Ingenuity’s year-round programming in an exciting and creative way. Bal attendees can expect to experience one-of-a-kind immersive artwork, live music and performance, local food and drink, all while contributing to the creation of a year-round center for innovation that supports creative entrepreneurs and welcomes the entire community with open doors.
2026
Ingenuity Bal: DAYDREAMERY
Thank you for DREAMING with us at this year’s Ingenuity Bal! The evening was a vibrant celebration of art, innovation, performance and connection, bringing together Cleveland’s artists, makers, musicians, dreamers and supporters for an unforgettable night of creative energy.
We are so grateful to everyone who joined us, supported from afar, volunteered, sponsored, performed or helped champion Ingenuity’s mission. Special thanks to our stage sponsor Cuyahoga Community College, along with D.A. Surgical, The Chas. E. Phipps Company and Deloitte for their generous support.
We also loved celebrating the incredible performers and artists who brought the night to life, including Megan Sullivan, Post Saga, MESSMAKER, Lounge Kitty, Aaron Terkel, the Tesla Orchestra and Cleveland Black Faeries.
We can’t wait to keep the creativity going at IngenuityFest, returning September 25–27!
2026 Ingenuity Bal
SPONSORS
Our work would not be possible without the support of these organizations. Thank you all!
Bal FAQs:
May 9th! More info to come…in the meantime, buy your tickets here and sign up for our e-newsletter.
The Bal is a 21+ event, so the littles should stay home. We can't wait to see them at IngenuityFest, though!
This year, you can expect daring hors d'oeuvres, music, dance, technology & entrepreneurship exhibits and hands-on demonstrations. More information will be available soon!
Dust off your doublets, ball gowns, breeches, and finest carnival masks for an elegant costumed evening! Draw inspiration from your favorite whimsical or Americana garb, or simply wear what makes you comfortable! Follow Ingenuity Cleveland on social media for our signature "What to Wear Wednesdays" where we'll be serving up all the costume inspo you need!
Please note that IngenuityLabs is a former industrial space that includes rough surfaces, uneven flooring, areas of lower light and other potential hazards, and we have made efforts to identify and address areas of concern. We recommend visitors wear sturdy shoes!
Agents of Ingenuity is an annual membership that includes tickets to the BAL, VIP tickets to IngenuityFest, plus year-round goodies, special offers, and swag! All donations/ticket purchases at the $150 level or above are automatically enrolled in Agents of Ingenuity membership. For more information, click here!
We are accepting corporate table, food, and decor sponsors and volunteers! Reach out to russa@ingenuitycleveland.org for more info!
2025
Ingenuity Bal: Rust Belt Renaissance
The Ingenuity Bal: Rust Belt Renaissance took place Saturday, May 10th in celebration of the beginning of Ingenuity’s 2025 season of programming with an evening of rebirth and revitalization featuring the Tesla Orchestra, flame effects, metal arts, music and dancing, hands-on demonstrations from IngenuityLabs Incubator members, hors d'oeuvres, craft cocktails and more!
Missed the Bal? Be sure to join as an Agent of Ingenuity to ignite the creative spark all year long!
2024
Ingenuity Bal: Flights of Fancy
The 2024 Ingenuity Bal: Flights of Fancy was a beautiful evening kicking off Ingenuity's 20th anniversay season featuring live music, DJs and dancing, with headlining performances from Bassel and the Supernaturals, plus cirque, aerial acts and more!
2023
Ingenuity Bal: Biotique
Our richly themed not-quite gala is an evening unlike any other. Don your biological best (ie, Flora- and Fauna- inspired clothing or Cocktail Attire) for an enchanting costumed evening among Cleveland's creative and innovation landscape, featuring daring hors d'oeuvres, music, dance, technology & entrepreneurship exhibits and hands-on demonstrations as we put down roots in our rapidly expanding IngenuityLabs facility in St. Clair Superior.
2022
Get the bal rollin'
Ingenuity Cleveland was proud to present the return of our annual BAL, in support of Expo: Ingenuity and IngenuityLabs year-round programming! The 2022 Bal included headlining performances from Gumbo Dance Party, Tesla Orchestra, plus cirque and dance performances, and aerialists. The highlights of the night were a pop-up roller disco from Rink In a Box/RollinBuckeyez Foundation and previews of the 2022 Festival, Expo: Ingenuity.
2019
The Dreamer's Bal
This surreal creation of a living daydream took place on Saturday, May 4, 2019 at IngenuityLabs. Attendees of The Dreamer's Bal stepped into an ethereal landscape of their subconscious hopes and aspirations that sit latent or ignored, brought to fruition by larger-than-life art installations, immersive music, and dance performances, and experiences that rivaled their wildest dreams.
2018
The Time Traveler's Bal
Time Traveler’s Bal invited visitors through the lab of a mad scientists, exploded and abandoned but still buzzing with the wanderlust to traverse the ages. Guests stepped through the malfunctioning erstwhile time machine into a mishmash of historical periods from landscapes teeming with dinosaurs to the current day and even a Jetson's-esque interstellar future.
2017
BAL AQUATIQUE
Bal: Aquatique was a magical combination of art, performance, and discovery, celebrating Cleveland’s creative landscape. The event was our first program to open up the second floor at the new Hamilton Collaborative, where it once again channeled the spirit of the Kokoon Arts Club, while raising awareness for water-centered innovation in our region!
2016
BAL Ingénieux
Bal Ingénieux 2016 took place on June 6 at the historic former Tenk Machine Co., now operated by Tenk West Bank. The Enchanted Forest theme enlivened the Tenk Building over 20,000 square feet of programming in 5 rooms.
2015
BAL Ingénieux
Bal Ingénieux 2015 took place on May 16, at the Kalman and Pabst photo group, where it highlighted the local firm’s exquisite refurbished warehouse.