Passport Project's mission is to provide exciting educational experiences that build community through the arts, encourage respect for diversity and rejection of racism, and inspire a passion for learning and the global community. On November 21st, 2009 at 2PM in the Louis Stokes Wing auditorium of the Cleveland Public Library (325 Superior Ave., Cleveland, Ohio, 44114), the Passport Project Global Dance & Music Collective will present music and dance from around the world, with a special interactive presentation of dance and percussion of Guinea as shared by Mohamed Tounkara, Passport Project's guest artist from this West African country. A slide show of photographs from Guinea will be shared as well, as we consider community in one of the poorest nations in the world and how we can build community in Northeast Ohio. For more information on this FREE performance call 216.623-2848. 

Passport Project is based in the Buckeye neighborhood of Cleveland. 12801 Buckeye Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44120, (216) 721-1055. http://www.passportproject.org/

Avast ye mateys! The Cleveland Public Library Fine Arts Department is pleased to present the next event in our "Music at Main" series on Saturday, September 19th, 2009 at 2PM in the lower level of the Louis Stokes Wing. September 19th is "International Talk Like a Pirate Day" and to celebrate, the pirate duo The Rambling Sailors will perform traditional and modern sea shanties and ballads of the sea. There will be pirate activities for the kids and refreshments. Be sure to dress and talk like a pirate! This event is free and open to all ages. Aaarrrrrrr!

The Cleveland Public Library Fine Arts Department is pleased to present the next event in our "Music at Main" series on Saturday, August 8th, 2009 at 2PM. This event will feature the Kent Shindig All-Stars (featuring some of the finest traditional musicians in northeast Ohio) performing old-time music outside in the beautiful Eastman Reading Garden. This event is free to all ages. In case of inclement weather, the group will perform inside the library's Louis Stokes Wing Auditorium.

The Kent Shindig (video), one of the only regular old-time music and dance jam sessions in northeast Ohio, was started in 1997 by Chardon clog dancer and musician Laura Lewis, as a way to keep Appalachian music and dance alive in our area.

Performers will include:

Rob Rhamy, fiddle
Heather Malyuk, fiddle
David Badagnani, fiddle
Gary Mulheim, harmonica
Jim Miller, wooden flute and whistle
Jim Francis, lap dulcimer
Tina Bergmann, hammered dulcimer
John Truitt, banjo
Joel Specht, banjo
David Fuente, guitar
Ed Mills, guitar
Bryan Thomas, double bass
Sally Freeman, flatfoot dancer.

Did you know the Cleveland Clinic has a concert band?  Why not check them out at 12 noon on Friday July 3rd, 2009 here at the library? The band will give a free concert in the Main Library's Eastman Reading Garden. Bring your lunch and enjoy the festive tunes of the season as the Band shares patriotic and American standards like; The Star Spangled Banner, Georgia on my Mind, and God Bless America. The concert is free and open to the the public but will relocate to the Louis Stokes Wing Auditorium in case of inclement weather.  For more information please call: 216-623-2848.  See you there!