Back Alley Gallery Grand Opening

Back Alley Gallery will be unveiled, Friday, June 2, 4:30-6:00 p.m., just before the first in the series of First Friday Festivals. The main location of Back Alley Gallery is located in the alley behind Craigmiles Hall, a half block east of Ocoee Street. The opening will unveil the artwork to be displayed permanently in the doorways of the alley, as well as feature live music, storytelling by the Cleveland Storytelling Guild and an art show. The project was developed by a team representing Cleveland that was chosen by the Thriving Communities Project to participate in developing an arts-focused vision and short-term goals toward the vision. The team is comprised of MainStreet Cleveland's Sharon Marr, Museum Center at 5ive Points' Joy Key, city of Cleveland Planners Corey Divel and Greg Thomas, and Cleveland/Bradley Chamber's Melissa Woody. The team's vision is that in three years, Downtown Cleveland would be known as an arts, culture and innovation district. The funding agency, Lyndhurst Foundation, saw value in the proposed Back Alley Gallery and chose it for funding. The Gallery is making an interesting space from underused and underappreciated spaces and is intended to serve as inspiration for further arts development.