Cleveland’s Inaugural FRONT Triennial Generated an Estimated $31 Million for the Region, Study Finds
Regional biennials and triennials have popped up all over the country over the past decade, from Kansas City to Portland to Honolulu. Meanwhile, the art world has become increasingly wary—and weary—of this proliferation of festivals. The skepticism makes sense, given that we have little to no means of understanding or measuring the impact of these events.
One of the more recent additions to the art calendar, the FRONT International: Cleveland Triennial for Contemporary Art, which just wrapped up its ambitious inaugural edition this fall, is now seeking to quantify its impact. FRONT commissioned the Center for Economic Development at Cleveland State University (CSU) to conduct a report, studying the cost, attendance, and profits generated by the event across its 26 different sites.