Larchmere launches 1st Cultural Arts Festival, to be held July 11-13

A celebration of Cleveland’s creative spirit will launch this summer when the First Larchmere Cultural Arts Festival unfolds July 11–13. Designed to spotlight local talent across visual art, music, spoken word, film and literature, the three-day event will feature a packed schedule of exhibitions, performances and workshops — all centered in and around the Larchmere neighborhood.

“This is about elevating and amplifying the voices of Cleveland artists,” said Vince Robinson, co-creator of the festival and founder of Larchmere Arts. “We wanted to create a space for our community to experience art in all its forms — from gallery walls to poetry slams, from African drumming to documentary film.”

The festival began as a conversation between Robinson, educator/playwright Dr. Mary E. Weems, and artists Bonnie Venable and Rodney Carpenter. Initially conceived as a single-venue event, the idea quickly grew to encompass a broad array of local creatives and community partners. Sponsors include Larchmere Arts, UnBar, Literary Cleveland, Adun Spice Company, Kings and Queens Cultural Village, The Spot (Youth Empowerment Organization), and Crosby’s Corn, with additional support from the Assembly for the Arts.

Festival Highlights

• A gallery exhibition and reception featuring work by visual artists Santanna Watson, Gwendolyn Garth, Antwoine Washington, and Jacques P. Jackson.
  
• A photography exhibit and artist talk, showcasing images from Mychal Lilly, Deanna Thompson, and Jeff Lawson (former photographer for Ebony, Jet, and The Donahue Show).
  
• A “shorts film festival” featuring work by Dr. Mary Weems, Terrence Spivey, Michael Oatman, and Wayne Smith, along with E(Race)Sure, a film by Vince Robinson about Cleveland entrepreneur Winston Willis.
  
• A writer’s workshop led by author and publisher Nicole D. Miller.
  
• A poetry slam curated by Literary Cleveland, and an Ekphrastacy poetry event inviting attendees to respond to visual art with live writing and performance.
  
• A music and spoken word opening night at Larchmere Arts featuring Dr. Weems and Vince Robinson.
  
• A family-friendly African drumming class at Kings and Queens Cultural Village (12806 Larchmere Blvd).
  
• A closing concert by the acclaimed Hue People Vocal Ensemble.

A Conversation with Nicole D. Miller

As the festival prepares for its inaugural run, Nicole D. Miller, an author, hybrid publisher, and writing coach, is one of the featured presenters. She will lead a Writer’s Workshop on Saturday, July 12, from 1 – 2:45 p.m. at Larchmere Arts. In a recent interview with The Land, Miller shared insights about her involvement in the festival and her journey as a writer.

“I connected with Vince Robinson a few years ago when I started diving into creative fiction,” said Miller. “I’ve been featured on his platform, and he invited me to teach this workshop, which I’m excited about. I love helping writers, especially those navigating the challenges of self-publishing, which is something I’m very familiar with.”

Miller, who is also the producer of GLAAAWC (pronounced “glossy”) — the Great Lakes African American Writers Conference — has extensive experience in the literary community. She is the author of two novels and several nonfiction books and has helped countless aspiring authors through coaching and consultations. “I think there’s a lot of bad information out there about self-publishing, so I enjoy offering writers the right tools to help them succeed,” she added.

Miller’s workshop will focus on the art of turning ideas into written content, offering a roadmap for aspiring authors to get their thoughts from their minds to the page. Her session will be an invaluable opportunity for anyone interested in writing or self-publishing.

What Makes This Festival Special?

Miller emphasized the festival’s uniqueness in Cleveland’s cultural landscape. “First and foremost, it’s never been done before,” Miller said. “I love when something new comes together, and this event brings together so many different aspects of the arts — music, writing, visual art, photography — all in one place. It’s like a creative buffet!”

She also noted that while Cleveland has other festivals celebrating arts and culture, the Larchmere Cultural Arts Festival stands out for its focus on local creatives and its intellectual, artistic pursuits. “Cleveland has a rich, robust heritage of arts, and this festival highlights that. It’s a celebration of our city’s creative legacy, and it’s truly special because it centers on Cleveland’s artists.”

Miller sees the festival as an opportunity for collaboration among Cleveland’s artists, who may not always interact in their separate lanes. “Sometimes, we can be in our silos, but events like this create space for us to connect, collaborate, and share our work with the community,” she explained. “It’s really about lifting up local artists and showcasing the talent that exists here.”

Festival Impact on Larchmere

Larchmere, already a hub for the arts in Cleveland, is an ideal location for the festival. “Larchmere has a long history of supporting the arts,” said Miller. “With spaces like Loganberry Books, UnBar, and Larchmere Arts, it’s the perfect neighborhood for an event like this.”

Miller believes that the festival will positively impact Larchmere by drawing more attention to the area and fostering a stronger sense of community. “It’s a space where people already value art and culture, so hosting a festival here just makes sense. Vince Robinson has deep roots in this community, and I think it’s going to be a great opportunity for people to experience the arts in new ways.”

Looking Ahead

If successful, Miller hopes the festival will continue to grow and expand in the future. “It would be amazing to see this festival evolve and connect with other parts of Cleveland,” she said. “Cleveland is divided in many ways, so bringing different communities together through art could have a lasting impact.”

As for this year’s festival, Miller is looking forward to engaging with fellow creatives and sharing her knowledge with aspiring writers. “I’m excited to be part of something new and to help others on their writing journeys,” she said. “It’s going to be a wonderful celebration of art and community.”

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Additional attractions include local vendors offering refreshments and a raffle for a handmade quilt by Dr. Weems.

With something for everyone — from seasoned collectors to budding writers to kids with tambourines — the inaugural Larchmere Cultural Arts Festival blends artistic expression with community connection.

A 3-day pass for the festival is $20. More information is available on the Larchmere Arts Facebook Page, Literary Cleveland (www.litcleveland.org), and the Assembly for the Arts (www.assemblycle.org)

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Schedule of Events

Friday, July 11

• 6 – 8 p.m.
  Exhibition Opening — Shades of Our Hue-Man Existence: A Celebration of Identity
  @ UnBar (12635 Larchmere Blvd)
  
• 8 p.m. – 10:15 p.m.
  Music and Spoken Word with Dr. Mary Weems and Vince Robinson
  @ Larchmere Arts (12726 Larchmere Blvd)
  

Saturday, July 12

• 12 p.m.
  African Drumming Class
  @ Kings and Queens Cultural Village (12806 Larchmere Blvd)
  
• 1 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
  Writer’s Workshop: How to Get Your Ideas from Thought to Page
  Led by Nicole D. Miller
  @ Larchmere Arts
  
• 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.
  Larchmere Arts Shorts Film Festival
  @ Larchmere Arts
  
  Films include:
  
  • Slapped – Written/Produced by Dr. Mary E. Weems, Directed by Ashley Wheaden (25 min. 55 sec.)
    
  • Benediction Assembly 3 – Michael Oatman / Crystle Paynther (16:10)
    
  • Baby Girl – Michael Oatman / Jeannine Gaskins (5:49)
    
  • E(Race)Sure – Vince Robinson (4:55)
    
  • Where We Overlap – Wayne Smith (20:00)
    
  • Resurrection of the Last Black Man – Terrence Spivey (8:46)
    
• 6:30–10 p.m.
  LitCLE Poetry Slam
   @ Larchmere Arts

Sunday, July 13

• 12 p.m.
  Gallery Crawl
  Begins at UnBar (12635 Larchmere Blvd)
  Includes: UnBar, Adun Spice Co., and Larchmere Arts
  Participants will be entered in a drawing to win a work of art during the Ekphrastacy event.
  
• 1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
  Ekphrastacy: Live Poetry in Response to Art
  Featuring Rodney Carpenter and Bonnie Venable
  @ Larchmere Arts
  
• 4 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
  Black Photographers of Cleveland: Exhibition and Forum
  @ UnBar (12721 Larchmere Blvd)
  
• 7 p.m.– 8:30 p.m.
  Music Event: Hue People Vocal Ensemble
  @ Larchmere Arts