Ohio Arts Council’s Creative Aging Residency — “Building CLE”

For the 2nd year, Inlet has received funding from the Ohio Arts Council (OAC) for the Creative Aging Ohio initiative. This program provides funding to Ohio-based organizations dedicated to creating hands-on arts experiences tailored to the needs and interests of older adults. With the funding and professional learning opportunities, this initiative will help create and expand programs that engage older adults in the visual arts, dance, music, writing, and theatre. The initiative’s goal is to help older adults age more healthfully and renew their purpose and talents through the arts.

Last year, Inlet started the project at Judson Manor in University Circle. We gathered stories, memories, and what are considered “Cleveland staple moments” and collaborated with the dancers in the studio to create what became a 7-section multi-media dance theatre work (which premiered at Cleveland Public Theatre’s Dance Works 2017 series last May). Through referencing monumental Cleveland images such as Rodin’s The Thinker, Dr. Crile’s first successful blood transfusion, the Elysium Ice Skating Rink, LeBron James, and Superman, we quickly got feedback that we were far from done! By receiving a second round of funding from the OAC, Inlet is now back at Judson Manor, but also at Judson Park, gathering what other memories make up the history of Cleveland.

This year, we kicked off the residency with 2 exposure concerts at both Judson Manor and Judson Park showing the residents the video performance of “Building CLE,” and performing the “Elysium Ice Skating Rink” section live. In early February, we toured The Cleveland History Museum | Western Reserve Historical Society’s newly opened exhibit, “Cleveland Starts Here®” sponsored by the Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel Foundation with some of the residents from both locations chatting about the various displays representing Cleveland’s history.  We immediately followed that group tour with our first story circle.  As we suspected, the “Cleveland Starts Here®” exhibit sparked a lively conversation with Judson residents.

Now, for the next couple of months Inlet’s Exec/Artistic Director Bill Wade with the assistance of Joshua Brown, Nicole Kapantas, & Katie McGaha, will continue these conversations with the residents resulting in the premiere of the finished project in the rotunda at The Cleveland History Museum: Western Reserve Historical Society. Not only does this opportunity truly allow Inlet to create art with the Judson community, by the Judson community, and for the Judson community, but it can also provide a a visual performance representation of Cleveland history for students of all ages. All of this is made possible by the Ohio Arts Council, Judson Park, Judson Manor, and all of the Inlet members.

Stay tuned for the premiere date!