Momentum

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!

Celebrating our vibrant community through arts and culture.

Event Schedule

Friday, September 15

Anchor Art
N. Superior St.
5:00pm - 10:00pm
Local Artist Exhibition
5:00pm - 10:00pm
Momentum | Intersection Exhibition Opening + Reception
5:00pm - 7:00pm
Film Exhibition
5:30pm - 10:00pm
PARK(ing) Day - Toledo Design Collective
Madison Ave.
9:00am - 10:00pm

Saturday, September 16 | Visual Art

Firenation Glass Blowing Demos
N. Superior St. (Outdoors)
3:00pm - 8:00pm
Local Artist Exhibition
1:00pm - 10:00pm
Anchor Art Projects
Various - N. Superior St.
1:00pm - 10:00pm
Walk-In: human.poetry.machine
2:00pm - 3:00pm, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Sign-Up: human.poetry.machine
5:30pm - 7:00pm, 7:30pm - 9:00pm

Saturday, September 16 | Outdoor Stage Schedule

Peace Love & Happiness Block Rock'n Street Fair Bash
10:00am - 1:00pm
New Moon
Outdoor Stage
1:30pm
Bird's Eye View Circus Aerial + Roaming Performances
N. Superior St. + Madison Ave.
2:00pm - 5:00pm
Poetry Readings
Outdoor Stage
2:30pm
Jeff Stewart
Outdoor Stage
3:00pm
Mark Mikel
Outdoor Stage
4:00pm
Lake Erie Trio
Outdoor Stage
5:00pm
Squish
Outdoor Stage
6:00pm
Unmarked 60's
Outdoor Stage
7:00pm
Zena Dare
Outdoor Stage
8:00pm
ROYAL
Outdoor Stage
9:00pm
Earth Below Us
Outdoor Stage
10:00pm

Saturday, September 16 | Indoor Stage Schedule

Puppet Show by Mary Gaynier
1:30pm
Toledo Jazz Festival
2:00pm
Poetry by Mike Hackney
3:00pm
Presentation by Joe Sparks
3:30pm
Poetry by Jonie McIntire
4:00pm
Live Performance by Kingdom Connect
5:00pm
Live Jazz Music by Simply Shann
8:30pm

Sensory Friendly Zone | Saturday, September 16, 1:00pm - 10:00pm

Integration Yoga with Jenn - Accessible Yoga with Instructor Jenn McCullough
3:00pm

BUILDING MOMENTUM

The story of Momentum is a celebration of community and the arts in Toledo. Nothing is a truer embodiment of this story than the Momentum | Intersection Exhibition. Started in 2018, a year after the festival's inaugural season, Intersection is an exhibit of glass art like no other.

The 2023 Exhibition features work from Molly Burke and Nathan Gorgen, James Friedberg and Gabriella Giungato, and Felicity Machado. Their work will be on display at the Toledo Museum of Art Glass Pavilion, 2444 Monroe St., from September 15 to October 15 with an artist reception on Friday, September 15.

This exhibit would not be possible without the ongoing partnership with NSG Pilkington and the Toledo Museum of Art.

Current Projects

Brood X Film Showcase

Join The Arts Commission and Mr. Deimling at the Valentine Theatre for an evening of 2-15 minute films by local filmmakers, a feature film by Anne Hu, and a local filmmaker panel featuring Matt Foss, Alex Goetz, and Jackie Lay.

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Momentum | Intersection

The Momentum | Intersection glass program is a collaboration of industry, design, and art. Inspired by the studio glass movement, The Arts Commission seeks to provide new collaborations between applications of glass as an artistic medium and manufacturing processes. The program is a partnership with NSG, Pilkington North America.

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Local Artist Exhibition

Celebrate Toledo with over 100 local creatives! Visual artists will have work on display (and for sale) throughout the festival. Performing and literary artists are scheduled for September 16.

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Coneflower

Coneflower is an Anchor Art piece that you can enjoy each day of the festival - September 8, 15 + 16.

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Flights of Light

Flights of Light is an Anchor Art piece that you can enjoy each day of the festival - September 8, 15 + 16.

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human.poetry.machine

human.poetry.machine is an Anchor Art piece that you can enjoy each day of the festival - September 8, 15 + 16. Sign up online to participate between 5:30pm - 7:00pm or 7:30pm - 9:00pm.

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The Marvels of a Marble Run

The Marvels of a Marble Run (2023 Momentum Marble Run) is an Anchor Art piece that you can enjoy each day of the festival - September 8, 15 + 16.

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null_isle

null_isle is an Anchor Art piece that you can enjoy each day of the festival - September 8, 15 + 16.

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Pattern Language

Pattern Language is an Anchor Art piece that you can enjoy each day of the festival - September 8, 15 + 16.

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Pixel Wall

Pixel Wall is an Anchor Art piece that you can enjoy each day of the festival - September 8, 15 + 16.

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Wish | Fulfillment Services

Wish | Fulfillment Services is an Anchor Art piece that you can enjoy each day of the festival - September 8, 15 + 16.

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The University of Toledo Art Department

Thanks to the University of Toledo Art Department for sharing student artwork at Momentum on Friday, September 15, and Saturday, September 16. You can find the student exhibition in 321 N. Superior.

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Frogtown Treasure Hunt

Explore the Momentum footprint on Saturday, September 16 - there will be frogs hidden inside and out! If you find a frog, you get a prize, courtesy of JUPMODE and Just Toledo.

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Explore N. Superior Street

Explore the spaces of N. Superior St. as they're activated by local creatives for the 2023 Momentum Festival.

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Toledo Alphabet Project

This project reimagines the typography of Toledo history with powered and illuminated letters.

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