Lakewood has been an artistic hotbed for several years. From painters to sculptors to musicians to performers, this city is a place where local talent can thrive.

With resources to showcase their work and a supportive community, Lakewood is a place where art isn’t just made—it’s celebrated. As you walk around downtown Lakewood, you’ll find the art scene around every corner—murals and spray-painted designs everywhere—talent is evident in the community.

Stephanie Crossen is a Cleveland native, an illustrator, designer, and public artist who works in multiple mediums – digital art, painting, block printing, and screen printing. Her surroundings – nature and water, inspire her work. She wants to create whimsical art that brings others joy and showcases the world’s beauty.

Crossen is a deeply talented artist who has kept Lakewood colorful and lively. Through her murals, she brings the community together, turning ordinary walls and objects into canvases of expression that tell the story of the area’s diversity and spirit. The environment inspires her work. She aims to create bright pieces that bring happiness and highlight the world around us.

“Creating art is my passion and I love sharing my work with the city,” Crossen said. “One of my lifelong goals has always been for my art to be recognized and remembered – and that feels more within reach than ever.”

Her art fulfills her personal goals, inspires young artists, and makes our city more vibrant. Artists like Crossen benefit our city in countless ways, and one of the ways that youth began to experience the arts is at Lakewood’s very own Beck Center. The Beck Center is an incredible resource for not only locals but people all around the world. This phenomenal program has helped display talent through its diverse selection of activities offered to the world. Beck Center for the Arts is a non-profit organization that combines professional theater with arts education in Northeast Ohio.

The President of the Beck Center, Lucina Einhouse, has contributed significantly to promoting the Beck and displaying it to the public. “My job as President and CEO of the board is having the privilege

to oversee an organization that brings the arts to life in our community,” Einhouse said. “We support local artists and educators and develop innovative programs and performances. My role is to ensure that the Beck Center remains a space where creativity flourishes, accessibility is prioritized, and people of all ages can experience the transformative power of the arts.”

The Beck Center is central to developing Lakewood’s cultural existence as a venue for artistic experience, education, and community interaction. Through the diverse programming provided, the center offers varied avenues for individuals of all age groups to explore their creative potential, either in creating theater productions, art exhibits, music instruction, or dance classes. By creating an environment where new and seasoned artists can develop, the Beck Center not only enriches the lives of its members but also reinforces the city’s status as an arts destination.

Beyond the walls of its performance areas and studios, the Beck center extends out into the world. It collaborates with schools, local organizations, and artists to make the arts accessible to all so that creativity is not limited by age, heritage, or economic means. Public art initiatives, educational outreach, and inclusive programming contribute measurably to a city that values artistic expression as an underpinning of culture. In turn, the Beck Center is a great resource that unites Lakewood community members in the shared experience of the arts.

Lakewood also celebrates local artists through the highly popular event in the summer known as the Lakewood Arts Festival. The Arts Festival aims to promote and celebrate small artists by giving them a fantastic opportunity to display their art to countless people. Their website shares, “The festival is a juried exhibition of all media in fine arts & crafts featuring 165 artists curated from across the country. The festival also features booths operated by local not-for-profit organizations offering food, beverages, products & activities for children.” The festival benefits not only the artists but also the food trucks and other restaurants in the area by presenting them with a great deal of customers to eat at their location.

The city of Lakewood genuinely cares about showcasing our city’s local talent by approving murals and hosting events like this. The Lakewood Arts Festival brings a significant bump to the local economy every year. Thousands of people (over 10,000 in a single day) come downtown and fill the streets, while admiring the art of the countless vendors who dream of spreading their art and talent with the world.

“I have participated in many art shows, but the Lakewood Art Fest feels like so much more than the others,” Stephanie Sanders, one of the many vendors at the Lakewood Art Fest and a local in Lakewood said. “There is a stronger sense of community, you know, being around the community and being able to share my work with my city feels good.”

All that foot traffic translates into big business for the shops, restaurants, and cafes as festival-goers browse the art booths and visit local businesses. Downtown Lakewood becomes a pedestrian mall for the day, merchants have tons of new sales opportunities, and the city shows off its business district to first-time visitors. The festival’s timing in early August coincides with summer tourism in the Cleveland area and invites regional art lovers to spend the day (and their money) in Lakewood. City officials and local business groups consider the festival an economic driver that generates revenue on festival day and puts Lakewood on the map as an artsy community. By putting “Lakewood’s name in the forefront” of Northeast Ohio’s summer events calendar and bringing in crowds from beyond the city, the Arts Festival fuels local commerce and boosts the downtown area​.

Lakewood has greatly impacted local artists by promoting their talent through resources such as The Beck Center and events like the Lakewood Art Festival, and by giving artists like Stephanie Crossen the opportunity to create artistic scenery throughout our home.