Beck Center Named 2010 “Best Of The West” In Music And Dance/Theater Instruction

For the second year in a row, the Beck Center for the Arts has been named the “Best of the West” in Music and in Dance/Theater Instruction by West Shore Magazine. Hundreds of West Shore Live Well readers voted for the best places to eat, shop, and have fun on Cleveland’s west side. Winners were selected from finalists in more than 60 categories.

With more than 140 creative opportunities each week, the Beck Center is the place for students of all ages to experience everything the arts have to offer. With classes, lessons, and programs in dance, music, theater, visual arts, and creative arts therapies, Beck Center welcomes thousands of people from across Northeast Ohio to it's campus, where the best in student and professional achievement is showcased in the center's art galleries, stages, and recital hall.

Statistics show the value of arts education for people of all ages - children do better in school and score higher on tests, young professionals are more likely to be financially successful, and adults are more creative and productive workers. Those are the measurable benefits. But what about those things you can’t track on a graph? Happiness. Joy of discovery. Patience. Appreciation for beauty in all forms. Sense of accomplishment.

Now is the time to plan your fall schedule, before summer vacation ends. Sign up for classes and enrich your life. For a sneak peek of Beck’s fall 2010 class catalog, visit www.beckcenter.org, or call 216.521.2540 x10. Register early before classes fill up!

The new school year also brings the opportunity for children to sample the arts each month at Super Saturdays @ Beck Center, sponsored by The Lakewood Arts Festival Association. In partnership with several community organizations, Beck Center offers a free, hands-on arts experience for ages 10 and under, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at the Beck Center. The upcoming schedule is as follows:

September 18               Westfield Great Northern

October 16                    Beck Center Visual Arts

November 6                  Cleveland Botanical Garden

December 11                Usbourne Books

January 22                    Cleveland Artists Foundation

Serving the community for nearly 80 years, Beck Center for the Arts is located at 17801 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood. Free onsite parking is available.