University Circle Voted 2021 “Best Arts District” in the Country

Posted May 07, 2021 in Press Releases

Today, University Circle was named Best Arts District in the country in the 2021 USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice travel award contest. USA TODAY and 10Best’s expert panel selected University Circle as one of the top 20 arts districts in the nation, and a public vote over the course of four weeks propelled the neighborhood to the number one spot.

Out of the 20 nominated districts, the ten that garnered the most votes were publicly recognized. The final rankings are as follows:

1. University Circle (Cleveland, Ohio)
2. Northeast Minneapolis Arts District (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
3. Dallas Arts District (Dallas, Texas)
4. Arts District Houston (Houston, Texas)
5. Station North Arts District (Baltimore, Maryland)
6. Historic Third Ward (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
7. Wynwood (Miami, Florida)
8. Wabash Arts Corridor (Chicago, Illinois)
9. Santa Fe Railyard Arts District (Santa Fe, New Mexico)
10. Warehouse Arts District (Tucson, Arizona)

It’s easy to see what made University Circle a top-20 contender and the ultimate winner of this contest. The neighborhood boasts museums and galleries such as the Cleveland Museum of Art, moCa Cleveland, The Sculpture Center, and Artists Archives of the Western Reserve, to name a few. Avant-garde and independent films are screened at the Cinematheque at the Cleveland Institute of Art. Outdoor sculptures such as “Judy’s Hand” at Uptown, “Steggie” at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, “Sprouting Seeds” at Cleveland Botanical Garden, and the chapels and monuments of Lake View Cemetery encourage exploration. Art is in the architecture of the Frank Gehry-designed Peter B. Lewis Building at Case Western Reserve University, the stunning churches, and the jewel-like exterior of moCa Cleveland. Art in University Circle is also orchestral and can be heard when the musicians of The Cleveland Orchestra perform. Prestigious schools such as the Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland Institute of Music, and The Music Settlement are teaching the next generations of artists. Craftsmanship can be seen in the historic clothing and jewelry on display at Cleveland History Center. University Circle celebrates the arts throughout the year with collaborative public events. Summed up, art in University Circle is classic, contemporary, indoors, outdoors, local, international, visual, audio, established, and up-and-coming.

“We’re thrilled that University Circle came out on top,” said Chris Ronayne, president of University Circle Inc. “We’ve known for years – and now the rest of the nation will know as well – that some of the best art in the country can be found right here in our own backyard. We’re hoping, ultimately, that this will result in increased tourism to the City and to the neighborhood. I’d like to extend my gratitude to USA TODAY and 10Best for recognizing University Circle, and to everyone who voted!”

Leaders of several of University Circle’s arts organizations were equally enthusiastic about the public recognition of the neighborhood.

“We are pleased and excited that University Circle has been voted ‘Best Arts District’ in the country in the 2021 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice travel awards. Cleveland offers an extraordinary constellation of world-class cultural institutions. Here at the Cleveland Museum of Art, we very much look forward to welcoming visitors from our region and around the globe to enjoy our exhibitions and renowned collection,” said William M. Griswold, director and president of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

“moCa Cleveland is thrilled although not surprised that University Circle earned this accolade,” said Megan Lykins Reich, interim executive director at moCa. “With an unparalleled density and diversity of arts and culture, University Circle drives creativity and innovation in our city and beyond. We are proud to support contemporary art and artists here who play key roles in the experimental energy and dynamism of this community that we love.”

“As a part of the vibrant cultural landscape of the University Circle district which The Cleveland Orchestra is proud to call home, we were thrilled to learn that the neighborhood has been given much deserved national recognition by USA TODAY as ‘2021’s Best Arts District’ in the country,” said André Gremillet, president & CEO of The Cleveland Orchestra. “We hope that this attention will raise awareness far and wide, drawing even more people to Severance Hall as well as to the other world-class cultural institutions that we are honored to have as our neighbors and partners.”

For more information on University Circle, visit www.universitycircle.org. Images of the neighborhood can be found here. More information on the USA TODAY 10Best contests can be found here.