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Established in 1960, the Cleveland Arts Prize is the nation’s oldest municipal arts award, honoring artistic excellence across diverse disciplines and career stages.

April 24, 2026

Literary Cleveland Poetry Festival

Join us for a free Poetry Reading featuring CAP Poets: Ali Black, Mary Biddinger, George Bilgere, Kisha Nicole Foster, Stephanie Ginese, Dave Lucas, Ray McNiece, Philip Metres, and Dr. Mary Weems as well as a tribute to Rita Dove.

Award Ceremony March 16

Announcing the 2026 Verge Fellows!

Nathan-Paul William Davis – Music
Sierra Delaine – Music
Avery LaMar Pope – Theatre
Unity Powell – Literature
Wayne Smith III – Interdisciplinary
2025 Special Citation for Distinguished Service to the Arts

Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation

Premier Industrial Archives
2025 Special Citation for Distinguished Service to the Arts

Jennie Jones

2025 Robert P. Bergman Prize

Greg Peckham

2025 Martha Joseph Prize

Robin Pease

2025 Lifetime Achievement Artist

Mark E. Howard

Visual Art

2025 Mid-Career Artist

Jason Vieaux

Music

2025 Emerging Artist

Ali Black

Literature

2008 ROBERT P. BERGMAN PRIZE

Mitchell Kahan, Director, Akron Art Museum

(1951 – 2025)
Mitchell Kahan
2023 Emerging Artist

Atefeh Farajolahzadeh

(Visual Art)

2024 Emerging Artist

Amber N. Ford

Visual Art

The Cleveland Arts Prize

The Cleveland Arts Prize (CAP) has been a standard bearer of creativity and cultural enrichment in Northeast Ohio since its establishment by the Women’s City Club in 1960.

As the oldest municipal arts award in the nation, CAP stands as a prestigious platform dedicated to celebrating and promoting the region’s vibrant arts community. Over the decades, CAP has honored the artistic excellence of more than 400 outstanding artists, cultural leaders, and organizations, acknowledging their vital role in nurturing and advancing the arts. Through these awards, CAP not only recognizes remarkable talent but also champions the community leaders whose support helps the regional arts scene thrive.

Verge Fellowship

Applications & Nominations