Fall art season in Cleveland is a time to enjoy the fruits of a decade of philanthropy, construction

Posted September 08, 2012 in Articles

Author: Steven Litt

It’s payback time in the best sense this fall for Clevelanders who love the visual arts.

All the money raised and spent by the Cleveland Museum of Art over the past decade is finally bringing the institution close to the way it will appear when its $350 million expansion and renovation project is done in late 2013.

The museum just opened the new atrium that serves as the centerpiece of the expanded complex, providing easier access to galleries. Later this fall, on Sunday, Oct. 28, it will celebrate the atrium by opening a new restaurant and cafe, plus a new museum store. And, just before year-end, the museum will open its new Gallery One, an educational zone emphasizing great works of art exhibited alongside interactive video screens and other displays.

Perhaps the biggest art news of the fall, however, will be the opening of the new Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland in University Circle on Monday, Oct. 8, after a weekend of previews and special events for members.

These and other new investments in the visual arts — including the new Cleveland State University Gallery in PlayhouseSquare — should pay handsome dividends for years to come. But for now, the best part is that the waiting is over. It’s time to dig in and enjoy the fine season of exhibitions that lies ahead.

Original Article: http://www.cleveland.com/arts/index.ssf/2012/09/fall_art_season_in_cleveland_i.html