Cleveland Amps Up Group Offerings
Cleveland, Ohio, continues to amp up its one-of-a-kind offerings for groups at attractions throughout the region. Groups can grab a front row seat to experience a Rock Hall induction ceremony, take an interactive approach to art at the Cleveland Museum of Art, or explore the region's past with a new exhibition at the Cleveland History Center.
Featuring artists ranging from the Beatles and Johnny Cash to Beyoncé and Lady Gaga, groups can spend the day "rocking out" at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to learn the history and impact of rock music and peruse the world's largest collection of rock and roll artifacts. Not to be missed is the new Power of Rock Experience—a three-part exhibit that begins with shortcuts from induction ceremony presentations, continues with an immersive 12-minute film by Academy Award-winning director Jonathan Demme featuring legendary Rock Hall Induction performances, and concludes with Say It Loud story booths that allow guests to be interviewed by inductees such as Smokey Robinson and Alice Cooper.
For theater buffs, all the world's a stage, and groups can take in top-notch stage productions at Playhouse Square, the country's largest performing arts center outside of New York City. Boasting nine theaters, Playhouse Square hosts more than 1,000 events each year, including the KeyBank Broadway Series, and productions from resident companies such as the Tony Award-winning Cleveland Play House and Great Lakes Theater. Shows in the 2017 – 2018 KeyBank Broadway Series include showstoppers like Aladdin and Hamilton.
Cleveland's arts and culture scene does not end at Playhouse Square. One of the most prestigious cultural institutions in the city is the Cleveland Museum of Art. It is one of the only nationally recognized museums to offer free admission to its permanent collection, which features more than 45,000 pieces of art from artists like Dali, Monet and Warhol. Groups can also enjoy the high-tech ARTLENS Gallery that boasts a 40-foot interactive touchscreen ArtLens Wall, which displays works of art from the permanent collection currently on view in the galleries.
Group tour operators should mark their calendars for a visit to Cleveland in 2018, when the region will host FRONT International: Cleveland Triennial for Contemporary Art. From July 14 to September 30, 2018, this global triennial exhibition will showcase art from more than 50 local, national and international artists at a dozen venues in the region, including the Cleveland Museum of Art, Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland, SPACES Gallery and Transformer Station.
For history buffs, the Cleveland History Center's new Cleveland Starts Here exhibition is a must-visit. This permanent exhibit and digital portal explores the rich and diverse history of Northeast Ohio through hundreds of artifacts and multimedia interactive displays. Visitors will explore the social, creative, economic, political and cultural history of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio—discovering how a small wilderness town on the shores of Lake Erie became an industrial giant; the home of immigrants and American presidents; a world-class center for arts, culture and education; and a world-renowned innovator in medicine and healthcare.
Written by Jane Tougouma, Destination Cleveland Group Tour Sales Manager.
Photo Courtesy of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
