Will “Topiltzin” Sanchez was thrilled to open The Creative Café earlier this year in addition to La Cosecha Galeria, a well-publicized art gallery. This retail location houses both the art gallery and The Headshop boutique with a worldly café environment containing a new space for local artists to occupy, welcoming musicians on every Friday with Buskers Night, performers, poets, magicians, and comics throughout their Saturdays. Visual artists will have the opportunity to sell their artwork commission free for the remainder of 2021 as we all recover from the pandemic and navigate our new world. Holding gallery featured artist shows weekly, collaborative projects and artist development programs, be sure to check out the first La Cosecha Galeria “Summer Art Garden” Open Air Art Market on May 30th https://www.facebook.com/events/504018133952905 and the new public mural at the space!

Being an artist/entrepreneur takes much sacrifice and patience, many times your mind wanders to the perspective of others; staff, artists, colleagues, and the community in which we reflect and serve. We have always welcomed artists to develop, not only as a studio artist, but as artists that collaborate and co-design with community partners or residents around a collaboratively defined aspiration working together towards a collective goal that causes real, effective change in the world. Whether that goal is to be a voice of the underserved or the tool of economic development. Most of us appreciate the intrinsic benefits of the arts—their beauty and vision; how they inspire, soothe, provoke, and connect us. When it comes time to make tough funding choices, however, elected officials and business leaders need to have strong and credible data that demonstrate the economic benefits of a vibrant arts and culture industry. As the arts flourish, so will creativity and innovation—the fuel that drives our global economy. No longer do business and elected leaders need to choose between arts and economic prosperity. Nationally, as well as locally, the arts mean business.

The art gallery and boutique are not simply retail outlets, but our creative mirrors. After months of planning, do-it-yourself labor in our off time to bring together a business model that would meld our travel experiences and artistic passion. We opened our doors on February 1, 2020 for the original boutique at 3359 West 58th Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44102. Focused on highlighting the counterculture aspect in retail and supporting the arts via the gallery programming. Thanks to our clientele, and supporters, we have survived 2020 with continued strategies to expand as a business and an arts & culture venue during still a very tumultuous time for all. As we survey the landscape for the future in the creative industry, transforming, we plan to reach another level of celebration of local artisans and entrepreneurs in 2021.

Since 2001, La Cosecha Galeria has welcomed artists to develop, not only as a studio artist, but as artists that collaborate and co-design with community partners or residents around a collaboratively defined aspiration. We operate a wide range of professional development training and events throughout the year including workshops, peer discussion groups, seminars, talks and our annual calendar for the visual arts events and exhibitions. The delivery of this program is greatly supported by our relationship with local and international arts professionals and partner organizations throughout the World. We collaborate in partnership with local authorities, visual arts venues, and others, combining resources to support the professional development of visual artists at regional level.

La Cosecha Galeria is located at 4490 Pearl Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44109. For more information contact Will Sanchez at (216) 385-9545 or via email at lacosechagaleria@aol.com. Please visit our website at www.lacosechagaleria.com for details, updates, news, and promotions.