For Art’s Sake is not just an arts initiative—it is a call to action. It is a movement rooted in the belief that creativity is not ornamental, but essential. In Cleveland, a city rich with cultural heritage and artistic brilliance, this project dares to reimagine what it means to invest in the public good through the lens of art, equity, and opportunity.

Led by artist and creative entrepreneur Kumar Arora, For Art’s Sake activates the city’s streets, parks, and gathering spaces through powerful artist-led activations and workshops that blend public art with purpose-driven social practice. These activations tackle issues that matter—from Black maternal health to mental wellness—while simultaneously forging pathways for artists to build sustainable, visible careers in their own city.

But the deeper power of For Art’s Sake lies in its broader mission: to lay the foundation for a thriving creative economy in Cleveland—one that is not siloed within galleries or arts districts, but embedded in the city’s identity, infrastructure, and daily life. This is about more than murals; it is about systems.

It is about a Cleveland where artists are not peripheral, but integral. Where our sports teams, corporations, institutions, and major events don’t just sponsor the arts—they employ artists. Where living, working Cleveland creatives are called upon to shape the visual and experiential identity of the city. From designing public-facing campaigns to creating immersive experiences at stadiums and conferences, local artists become the storytellers of Cleveland’s brand, its soul, and its future.

By investing in local talent, For Art’s Sake offers a replicable model for cities seeking to bridge cultural expression with economic growth. It provides artists with entrepreneurial skills, mentorship, and access to public platforms—all while building a talent pool that institutions and businesses can meaningfully engage. It transforms how we value and integrate creative labor—not as an afterthought, but as core infrastructure in civic and economic development.

In this vision of Cleveland, public space becomes a shared canvas, art becomes currency, and artists become catalysts of both beauty and change. Young creatives see themselves as civic changemakers. Neighborhoods are seen, heard, and uplifted. And a city that has always been full of creative genius finally aligns its policies, partnerships, and priorities to let that genius shine.

For Art’s Sake is laying bricks for something larger than a single project. It is helping to build a Cleveland where creativity is the cornerstone—not the garnish—of a just, joyful, and inclusive economy. A city where our cultural legacy and our economic future move forward together, hand in hand.