Ingenuity Cleveland is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to ignite the creative spark among artists, entrepreneurs, and creatives of all types, through joy and collaboration, in service to civic progress. We work at the intersection of the arts, science, technology, health & wellness to animate Cleveland’s urban spaces and communities in a way that is empowering, boundary-pushing, and sustainable.
Ingenuity provides a variety of services in the interconnected fields of placemaking, public art, urban planning, design & public programming. Our approach is to engage stakeholders and unite community partners and residents through creative approaches that amplify local voices, elevate artistic expression, and build a sense of ownership and pride to create lasting positive outcomes.
We deliver large-scale commissioned artworks, which can be built collaboratively by and for the communities in which they are placed; plan and implement community events start-to-finish; enliven public process through our unique approach to outreach & engagement; consult on placemaking and public art strategies and best practices; provide logistical & operations support; assist in grant writing and fundraising, and more. Please don’t hesitate to inquire about our services at emily@ingenuitycleveland.org.
Cleveland Maker City
Wondering what a ‘maker’ is? Haven’t heard of the ‘Maker Movement’? Let’s clear this up: a maker is defined as a creator, an artist, a hobbyist, a tinkerer, a scientist, technologist, engineer, and everything in between. Somebody who…well…makes things!
Since our inception, Ingenuity has been a leader in Cleveland’s Maker Movement, launching Cleveland’s Mini Maker Faire in 2012. Since then we’ve partnered with Cleveland Public Library in the ongoing creative evolution of this event, programmed dozens of other maker-centric events and activities in town, and represented Cleveland nationally as a leading city for making, collaborating with area partners in response to the first ever White House Maker Faire and National Day of Making.
Currently, our support of the Maker Ecosystem is focused on supporting a diversity of makers through our IngenuityLabs Incubator, Ingeneers community, and Ignite! programming for creative entrepreneurs.
Moreland Rising
From 2016 to 2018, Ingenuity consulted with the City of Shaker Heights on multifaceted initiative to bring arts and entrepreneurship to Shaker’s historic Moreland neighborhood. As partners and consultants to the department of Neighborhood Revitalization, the Dealership (formerly Shaker Launchhouse) and the Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative, our work involved issuing and administering calls for public art, building and launching the Shaker Makers program of the Dealership, and planning & implementing neighborhood gatherings around making, creativity, play, and a sense of neighborhood pride such as the Come, Play! Festival and Moreland Roll n’ Stroll.
NeoMakers
The NEO Makers and Innovators network arose with a series of meetings and early conversations among Cleveland partners in response to the first ever White House Maker Faire and National Day of Making. Individuals and institutions, large and small, throughout NEO quickly organized and collaborated to highlight the region's efforts on a national stage.
Up and Down East Ninth Street
Working with LAND studio, and as part of the Curb Appeal beautifications which enlivened Cleveland prior to the 2019 Republican National Convention, Ingenuity won an NEA Our Town grant to produce programming Up and Down East Ninth Street, which manifested as “Concrete Concerts,” a series of pop-up music and art experiences in unexpected places.
Thrive! 105-93rd Street Corridor
As consultants to AECOM, Ingenuity collaborated on the master planning for the Thrive! 105-93rd Street Corridor project under the direction of Freddy Collier/Cleveland Office of City Planning as part of the Forward Cities initiative. Deliverables included a public strategy session, panel discussion, and series of vignettes displaying creative urban solutions for the target area.
Literary Lots
The brainchild of visionary Kauser Ravzi, Literary Lots brings programming centered around literacy to Cleveland’s most-in-need neighborhoods. In 2019, Ingenuity partnered with Soulcraft Cleveland to produce the programming and pop-up environment which brought the season’s central book “The Wild Robot” to life. From cozy reading nooks and forest hideouts to large-scale animals and more, Ingenuity provided collaboratively created experiences that brough the 6-week event to life.
Brite Winter
As long-time collaborators with the Brite Cleveland organization, Ingenuity expands Brite’s mission to bring light to the darkest months of Cleveland by extending the reach of Brite’s artistic programming into a months-long community-driven process of ideation, design, and collaborative creation. Working with the Brite team, Ingenuity hosts a series of workshops that stir artist imaginations, engage creatives at all levels of experience, and result in otherwordly environments that appeal to a wide audience, creating an unforgettable community experience.
Burning River & Cuyahoga 50
Ingenuity specializes in creating teams of artists who work in fire and light. For the 50th Anniversary of the Cuyahoga River Fire, Cleveland’s Office of Sustainability partnered with the Burning River Foundation and dozens of organizations to create a full weekend of experience. Ingenuity provided projection mapping and custom-built waterborne flame effects, visible from the Historic Coast Guard Station at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River.