Sat 6/4
Whether you’re a lover of cosplay or the arts, it’s a rare event where you can show off your passion in the form of an old-fashioned masquerade party.
However, that’s exactly what you can expect at the Ingenuity Cleveland’s annual spring fundraiser Bal Ingénieux, which invites white walkers, zombie walkers, fairies and whatever else one would find in an enchanted forest to cavort, mingle and have fun. This unique affair takes place Sat 6/4 at the Tenk Building located on the West Bank of the Flats.
The Bal Ingénieux also marks the debut of Ingenuity Cleveland’s innovation landscape award. The first recipient is Case Western Reserve University Sears think[box]. In addition, the event includes a silent auction including a 24-hour Tesla Experience, dinner for two at Lola’s chef table, an overnight stay at the Hillbrook Club and two box tickets to see Broadway show Fun Home at PlayhouseSquare.
CoolCleveland talked to Ingenuity Cleveland program director Emily Appelbaum about the ball, the award and what she said will be an incredible night of dinner and dancing.
First of all, what exactly is a Bal Ingénieux?
This will be our fifth Bal Ingénieux but it’s old in spirit. It’s based on the Kokoon Arts Club parties. They were active in Cleveland in the ’20s, ’30s ’40s. It was Cleveland’s modern or avant-garde art club. They used to throw amazing masquerade balls. So this is a revival of the Kokoon Arts Club masked balls. It raises money for Ingenuity’s year-round programming. It is at the Tenk building on the West Bank of the Flats, and it’s in partnership with Tenk West Bank. We will have a variety of live music and live performance including the Ernie Krivda Quartet, the Angie Haze Project, Sokol Aerial Circus and DJ p. stoops. There will be casino gaming.
Why has Ingenuity Cleveland selected Case Western Reserve University Sears think[box] for an innovation landscape award?
We’ll be honoring them for their contributions for Cleveland’s innovation landscape. The think[box] is an unprecedented maker space, possibly the largest of its kind in a university setting. They’ve made an outstanding commitment to the entire Cleveland community to create an accessible environment promoting creativity and entrepreneurship that can link directly to our world-class educational, medical and business resources.
Regarding this year’s IngenuityFest, any news?
We are not quite ready to make that announcement. We’ll be announcing new directions for IngenuityFest at the ball.
Tell us more about the masquerade aspect.
The party has an enchanted forest theme. We are going to see large-scale art. We’ll be transforming the Tenk Building into an other-worldly forest filled with flowers, lush foliage and a few magical surprises. Everybody comes in costume, everything from fairies and frights to magical beasts. I know some people will be coming as horned beasts and winged fairies.
So it’s OK for us to don a white walker suit or our best Walking Dead outfit?
Your interpretation of an enchanted forest is completely up to you. This is an event for the entire creative class in Cleveland and supporters of the arts community, as well as Cleveland’s artists, musicians and anybody looking to have a great evening in a completely unique environment.
ingenuitycleveland.com/balingenieux/
Cleveland, OH 44113