The People’s Art Show is back. The 18th People’s Art Show will open on Friday, October 24 at the Cleveland State University Art Gallery and run through Thursday, December 4. An opening reception will be held at the Art Gallery on October 24 from 5-8 p.m.

The exhibit and reception are free and open to the public.

The People’s Art Show is a free, unjuried, uncensored exhibition celebrating creativity, diversity, and imagination. The exhibition is open to all; artists are permitted to submit two works of any size, in any medium, of any subject. All entries are exhibited.

Viewing hours for the 18th People’s Art Show are Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays from noon– 4:00 p.m., closed Sundays and holidays.

The Art Gallery is located at the corner of East 23rd Street and Chester Avenue (2307 Chester Avenue).

The People’s Art Show is a Cleveland tradition unique in the entire world. The idea was started by CSU professor emeritus John Hunter, who created the concept of a populist exhibition free from elitist prejudices and restrictions. There would be no taste police -- the ‘People’ themselves would decide what is exhibited.

Each year, about 300 artists submit approximately 500 works, and several thousand visitors are expected.

“For more than two decades, the People’s Art show has served thousands of diverse artists of all possible backgrounds and circumstances. Many successful artists exhibited here for the very first time, and many more were inspired to pursue careers in art,” said Robert Thurmer, CSU Art Gallery director.

“As an exercise in esthetic democracy, the People’s Art Show has become part of our community. It has served as a battleground for ‘first amendment’ issues, as a forum for the role of art in contemporary society, and as an outlet for creativity at the grassroots level,” he said.

The Art Gallery is funded with the generous support of the Student General Fee, the Ohio Arts Council, the Friends of the Art Gallery, and individual gifts.

For more information on the People’s Art Show, please call the Art Gallery at 216.687.2103 or visit www.csuohio.edu/artgallery.

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