“Pull Back the Curtain” Speaker Series
This FREE lecture series takes place once per month in Fairmount’s Fall and Winter/Spring sessions and features experts in a variety of arts disciplines who share their knowledge in an intimate setting. Lectures are family-friendly, but are typically geared towards adult audiences.
Lectures take place at Fairmount’s Novelty location (8400 Fairmount Rd.) from 3-4pm on selected Sunday afternoons. See below for upcoming Speaker Series events. Prior registration is not necessary, but strongly encouraged. Please follow the link to register.
Fairmount Speaker Series are sponsored by Toby and Melanie Maloney.
2025-2026 Speaker Series Events
In Conversation: Chelsea Wickman, Founder & Owner, Eleventhree Brewing
October 12, 2025, 3-4 p.m. - RSVP link coming soon!
Rescheduled! Building RUST: A Story of Steel & Grit
Erin E. Dolan, Director of Programs, Dobama Theater
November 9, 2025, 3-4 p.m. - RSVP link coming soon!
Lauren Stenroos, Cleveland Ballet
January 11, 2026, 3-4 p.m. - RSVP link coming soon!
Through the eyes of the artist
Felicia Zavarella Stadelman, Art Historian
February 8, 2026, 3-4 p.m. - RSVP link coming soon!
Douglas Katz, Chef, Owner of kiln, amba, & zhug
March 1, 2026, 3-4 p.m. - RSVP link coming soon!
Yaron Kohlberg, Artistic director, Piano Cleveland
April 26, 2026, 3-4 p.m. - RSVP link coming soon!
Past Speaker Series Guests
2024-2025 Season Speakers
Rachel Smith, Sears think[box]
Ines Rehner, Sweet Designs Chocolatier
Felicia Zavarella Stadelman, Through the Eyes of the Artist
Holly Witchey, Intermuseum Conservation Association
Jeremy Umansky, Larder
Saundra Bohl, Spanish Dance Company, Fairmount Center for the Arts
Destinee Siebe, Musicologist
Erin Dolan, Dobama Theatre
2023-2024 Season Speakers
Michael Benz, Formerly Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Steven Litt, The Plain Dealer
Bill Rudman, Musical Theatre Project
Barbara Tannenbum, Cleveland Museum of Art
Lauren Bozich and Marianne Carroll, White Flower Cake Shoppe
Lauren Heroux, Glass Asylum
Mike Wendt, Greater Cleveland Film Commission