Industry
Culture
Culture
Culture
Community
Community
Community
Public Activation
Public Activation
Public Activation
Year
2025
2025
Branding / Experiential
I'm From Cleveland™ Music & Arts Festival
Industry
Year
A STAGE THAT DIDN'T EXIST BEFORE
The I’m From Cleveland Arts & Music Festival was created to give emerging local artists access to a stage they had never been offered before.
Hosted at Nautica Pavilion, the event brought over 3,000 people together for a free, community-centered festival supported by the City of Cleveland, City Council, and For Art’s Sake through the Transformative Arts Fund.
BACKED BY PUBLIC SUPPORT
This wasn’t a pop-up event. It was structured.
In partnership with For Art’s Sake and supported through the Transformative Arts Fund, the festival was designed to uplift local creatives in a measurable way.
Fifteen local makers received funding to support and grow their small businesses. Over 30 artists performed across two stages.
City leadership stood behind the event — not as branding, but as civic support.
Built for the Next Generation
The focus was young and emerging talent — artists who had never performed on a stage of that scale.
Nautica Pavilion became a proving ground.
For many performers, it was their first time in front of a crowd that size.
The festival wasn’t just entertainment. It was exposure and opportunity.
Designed With Intention
Underdogs helped shape the visual identity and experiential direction of the event.
The branding reflected Cleveland’s character — bold, proud, community-first.
On-site design elements, stage presentation, and promotional rollout were built to center the artists, not the organizers.
The event was free to attend because accessibility was part of the mission.
The Impact
3,000+ attendees
30+ artists across two stages
15 local makers funded to support small business growth
Public support from City of Cleveland and City Council
The festival demonstrated that when civic backing, creative leadership, and community funding align, culture can scale without losing its roots.
