Toledo's Arts + Culture Festival
2023 Momentum Festival
Join us for the 2023 Momentum Festival on September 8, 15, and 16. This year's festival will be on N. Superior St., between Madison Ave. and Adams St., with both indoor and outdoor spaces for guests to explore. The goal is to utilize the city's fabric and architecture to create a sense of density, focus, and intimacy. This space provides an opportunity to utilize both streetscape and the first floor area of much of the block's building stock for activation by artists and creatives with the goal of creating accessible creative spaces.
The Local Artist Exhibition will provide venues for shared experience and connection for our local artists. Anchor Art - large scale, interactive, and spectacle artworks - will be placed throughout the event to encourage moments of discovery for attendees. The Brood X Film Showcase at the Valentine Theatre (September 15, 5:30pm - 10:00pm) features 2-15 minutes by local filmmakers, a special viewing of "Lunchbox" by Annie Hu, and a local filmmaker panel.
With over 100 local performing, visual, and literary artists participating in this year's festival, we look forward to using this time to develop meaningful connections between creatives. Attendees will be able to explore some hidden gems in Downtown Toledo, see the innovative Momentum | Intersection exhibition, and experience all that the Toledo's creative community has to offer.
The Local Artist Exhibition will include the following artists: Kelley Tyler, Peg Whiting, Leslie Dietsch, Mariah Maddox, Travon Watson, Thomas Craley, Kristine Miller, Jefferi Adams, Bea Currie, Duane Ackley, Laurie Swyers, Cheryle E. Williams, Sandy Hartke, Hannah Bowlus, Bet A. Swartz, Andy Sacksteder, James Dickerson, Tim Field, Mary Gaynier, Sandy Hartke, Jennifer Sheriff, Johnathan Dunbar, Shelby Faulkner, Michelle Fisher, Alexandra Hammer, Jennifer Sowders, Yvette M. Reyes, Faith Goodman, Deric Bolden, Alisa Rowland, Natasha Overton, Anna Short, Miquela Mundy, Airen Meyer, Emmitt Williams, Nadine Bower, Kearsten Wilkins, Tami Higgins, M.D. Jones, Janelle Lorenzen Teitlebaum, Toledo Jazz Festival, M. Richard Surprise, Jonie McIntire, Scott McMunm, Breyana Kemp, Isao Kato, Breyana Kemp, Olivia Anderson, Simply Shann, Renaldo Carter, William Davis (Imani), Joe Sparks, Israel Douglas & Alyssa Martinez Baker, Mike Hackney, Seth Robinson, Kavandra Pope, Amaya Martin, Gigi Janko, Lexi Hayman-Staples, Erin Keaton, and K.P. Pace
Anchor Art project details are included in the Projects section, scroll to see each of the projects. The following artists will be exhibiting Anchor Art pieces: Adam Sanzenbacher & Stephen Williams (XY&Z); Gathered Glass; Bradley Scherzer; Hannah Bowlus; Alisa Rowland; T. Keith Marok; Mark Moffett & David Fodel; and Natalie Tranelli-Jacobs & Ryan Bunch. (Please note - sign up is required for Natalie and Ryan's project, human.poetry.machine from 5:30pm - 9:00pm. You can sign up on the project page or click here.) The University of Toledo Art Department has student work on display in 321 N. Superior - also the location for Alisa's piece.
The Momentum | Intersection Exhibition will be at the Toledo Museum of Art Glass Pavilion from September 15 through October 15, 2023. A public reception will be held on Friday, September 15.
Each day will also feature partner programming, food vendors, a pop-up bar at 319 N. Superior (formerly Jed's), and access to Anchor Art and the Local Artist Exhibition Program during event hours. Scroll down for a full schedule of events.
Something for Everyone
Started in 2017, Momentum is an annual festival that celebrates our vibrant community through arts and culture. Made possible by the generosity of local businesses and individual donors, this festival is a celebration of Toledo's talented visual, performing, and literary artists. Do as much or as little as you want–there is something that will spark a little creativity in everyone!