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September 9, 2026
![Mike Butz headshot.]()
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 9, 2026
CLEVELAND—The Cleveland Institute of Art and Mills James Cleveland have formed a strategic partnership to expand production capabilities within CIA's Interactive Media Lab (IML) and better connect industry professionals, businesses and emerging creative talent.
Mills James, a Columbus-based video and event production company with offices throughout Ohio, brings decades of professional production expertise, technical leadership and enterprise-level execution to the Interactive Media Lab. The partnership enhances CIA's ability to offer clients and creators access to high-end production services, specialized technical support and innovative storytelling tools.
"We are excited to partner with Mills James to expand the Interactive Media Lab's reach and strengthen its connections with potential business partners," says Matthew McKenna, CIA Vice President of Technology and Digital Strategy + Chief Information Officer. "This collaboration brings together the expertise of a respected industry leader and the College's commitment to innovation. By combining advanced production resources with professional creative support, we're ensuring the IML will remain a versatile asset that advances CIA's mission and enhances our visibility throughout Northeast Ohio."
This forward-thinking collaboration—the first of its kind in Northeast Ohio—will create an innovative environment where professional production capabilities and emerging technologies intersect.
"The Mills James and Cleveland Institute of Art partnership is an opportunity to expand what is possible for video production not just in Cleveland, but across the entire region," says Lou Kestella, Virtual Production Supervisor at Mills James. "This technology is no longer something that is coming or emerging. It is here, it is production-ready and it can be applied to projects of all sizes. This partnership provides an opportunity to combine our virtual production experience with one of the most robust and capable XR studio environments in the country."
CIA will host an open house for creators from 4 to 6pm Thursday, September 17 at the IML (1974 E. 66th St., Cleveland, inside the Warren E. Anderson MidTown Collaboration Center). Attendees will experience the XR Studio firsthand, view live demonstrations of the IML's technology and production capabilities, and learn from CIA and Mills James representatives how the partnership can support future projects and productions.
The open house is designed for agencies, marketers, filmmakers, content creators, production professionals, and others interested in the future of immersive media and virtual production. RSVP is required. To RSVP, email IML Business Development Manager Thomas Schoen at tgschoen@cia.edu.
A major element of the partnership is the activation and support of the IML's XR Studio, an extended reality space featuring state-of-the-art virtual production technology that enables creators to blend physical and digital environments in real time. Mills James will provide expertise in advanced production workflows, helping clients maximize the potential of the XR Studio and other production facilities.
By connecting industry professionals and businesses with emerging creative talent, this collaboration also supports CIA's mission of preparing students for careers in art and design. The partnership will foster valuable opportunities for knowledge-sharing between professional production experts and the next generation of creators.
Contacts
Cleveland Institute of Art
Michael C. Butz, Director of College Communications + External Relations
mcbutz@cia.edu / 216.421.7404
Michael C. Butz, Director of College Communications + External Relations
mcbutz@cia.edu / 216.421.7404
Cleveland Institute of Art
The Cleveland Institute of Art is a private, nonprofit college of art and design that has been the training ground for countless students who have gone on to make important contributions to the fields of creativity and innovation since it opened in 1882 as the Western Reserve School of Design for Women. Its students have designed internationally recognized products, their artwork has been exhibited in major museums and private collections around the world, and their entertainment media has been enjoyed by audiences and game players for generations. It enrolls about 550 students nationally and internationally and has a faculty of about 100 full-time and adjunct members, all of whom are practicing artists, designers and scholars.
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