78th Street Studios stands as Northeast Ohio’s largest art and design complex, a sprawling 170,000-square-foot hub brimming with art galleries, dynamic artist studios, versatile performance spaces, and professional music recording facilities. While initially recognized as a haven for fine art aficionados, 78th Street Studios has evolved into a vibrant incubator for diverse businesses encompassing product design, publishing ventures, musical innovation, and memorable special events. Best of all, the viewing hours are free and open to the public, inviting everyone to experience the creative energy within.
THIRD FRIDAYS: Cleveland’s Award-Winning Art Event
Every Third Friday of the month, from 5 pm to 9 pm, 78th Street Studios transforms into a dynamic art extravaganza. Over 60 unique venues within the complex simultaneously open their doors to showcase captivating visual exhibits, immersive ambient music, delectable culinary offerings, and intriguing pop-up vendors. Recognized as Cleveland’s Best Arts Event by Scene Magazine and lauded as a “Best of Yelp Cleveland” winner, THIRD FRIDAYS delivers a multi-sensory art experience unparalleled in the region. Explore four distinct floors of striking architecture and diverse visual displays, turning 78th Street Studios into a retail adventure where the public can directly engage with Cleveland’s thriving artists and producers. Discover authentic art pieces, unique furniture designs, regional music, and locally sourced cuisine, all within this creative ecosystem.
THIRD FRIDAYS began in the early 2000s as a modest quarterly gathering of pioneering gallerists and passionate art enthusiasts, attracting a few hundred visitors. By the close of 2013, this collaborative cultural event had expanded significantly, uniting over 80 gallerists, artists, and designers who collectively drew 1500 visitors to the building each month. Today, THIRD FRIDAYS has blossomed into a district-wide celebration, extending its reach to include special promotions and dining experiences at the diverse restaurants, bars, and boutiques in the surrounding Gordon Square neighborhood. Beyond its signature event, 78th Street Studios remains a year-round destination. Multiple spaces throughout the building are available for rent, catering to corporations, organizations, and individuals seeking a distinctive industrial ambiance for private functions and events. This versatility ensures that the unique atmosphere of 78th Street Studios can be enjoyed throughout the year.
A Building Rich in Cleveland History
Like many of Cleveland’s impressive warehouse structures, 78th Street Studios boasts a compelling history that traces back to 1905, the year of its construction. Originally built to house the Baker Electric Motor Vehicle Company, the building was a hub of specialized automobile production for the burgeoning commercial market. As visitors explore the studios today, they can still discover remnants of the building’s industrial past, including original hardwood floors, robust metal track doors, and vintage freight elevators that once lowered vehicles to the loading docks for distribution until 1914. Later, through the 1980s, the building served as the creative heart of American Greetings’ Creative Studios, before the company consolidated its operations into a unified corporate headquarters in Brooklyn, OH.
78th Street Studios is more than just an art complex; it’s a living piece of Cleveland’s industrial and creative heritage, repurposed for a vibrant future.
