Lunch on Fridays: Arlene Watson: FRONT Triennial

Arlene Watson

Spend a lunch hour learning about the latest in art and design during these Friday lectures. Each lecture features a variety of artists and designers from around the world, including CIA faculty and visiting artists. This event is free and open to the public. Pizza and beverages will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

FRONT International: Cleveland Triennial for Contemporary Art, is a new large-scale contemporary art program that will take place in Northeast Ohio every three years, encompassing exhibitions at museums and unique sites across the region. Beginning July 14 - September 30, 2018, FRONT will provide a stage for local, national, and international artists to create new work that is inspired by important social, political, and cultural issues of our time. The Triennial, themed An American City, will feature more than 70 artists in 6 major exhibitions at area institutions, and at 15 to 20 sites around Northeast Ohio.

Arlene Watson is FRONT International’s Director of Public Programs and Engagement, responsible for establishing innovative programs that articulate FRONT’s forward-facing, context-specific approach, that addresses the history and current realities of the city of Cleveland. One key component of of Arlene’s work includes the activation of the FRONT Porch at the PNC Glenville Arts Campus. The programming and education space was developed to create dialogue within Glenville and greater Cleveland community around the arts, and in concert with The Madison Artist Residency program. A rich calendar of programs will connect the exhibition themes as envisioned by FRONT’s Artistic Directors Michelle Grabner and Jens Hoffmann. Arlene will share how the work of FRONT artists, the festival and its activities, inspire opportunities to connect art to the community and to the culture at large.

Arlene Watson founded Möbius Grey LLC, a strategic design and marketing communications firm and served as Creative Director for over 20 years. Most recently, she held the role of Director of Institutional Advancement and Public Affairs at MOCA Cleveland. Arlene currently serves on the City of Cleveland Euclid Corridor Design Review District Advisory Committee and the Design Diversity Advisory Committee for Kent State, Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative. Arlene holds a B.F.A. in Graphic Design from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. Her awards include Crain’s Cleveland Business Forty Under 40, SME Cleveland Distinguished Marketing and Sales Executives Award, and is a 2011 German Marshall Fund, Marshall Memorial Fellow.

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