University Circle Voted 2021 "Best Arts District" in the U.S.

University Circle

Cleveland, OH - 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 (St. Petersburg, Florida)

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!”

Photo courtesy of University Circle

(Copyright, iHeartMedia, 2021)

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