Cool Cleveland (3)

A few months ago, if you had asked who the most powerful and politically organized force in Cleveland was, the response might have been the United Auto Workers or the Catholic church. But on the heels of the failed convention-center initiative, Clevel?nd arts organizations might just be the newest and most astutely organized of them all. Serving as the rallying point for Cleveland's creative class, they have mailing lists, dozens of weekly events, captive audiences and political strength. Helping to push the Health and Human Services Issue 15 to victory last spring earned marks with county commissioners and awed political pundits.

And with the collapse of the convention-center issue, the arts community didn't have to spend any of its pent-up good will fighting a losing battle.

But November may be the time for the arts community to flex its political muscle. With elections this month, a free, major, one-day arts festival featuring dozens of area music, theater, dance, film, poetry and visual artists could make a huge statement. In the future, this populist arts festival-cum-rally — call it Novemberfest — could be held the weekend before the election and become a hot venue for stumping politicians. It could serve as an annual get-out-the-vote vehicle. And by throwing its weight around, the arts may discover how much weight they really have.

Fast Forward Remember last August's "Into the Light After Dark,"the Cleveland Museum of Art's inaugural late-night party? Well, it's taken more than a year, but the museum is staying up way past bedtime again. Featuring the new Project 244 video works by Aernout Mik and its exhibits Jasper Johns: Numbers and Drawing Modern: $orks from the Agnes Gund Collection, Fast Forward" kicks off Friday, Nov. 7, at 8:30 p.m. with a lecture by video artist Bill Iiola. Party with DJ driven house music in the Garden Court, live jazz and funk, interactive multimedia installations, the Nia coffeehouse pumping poetry and a cash bar with beer and wine from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. For tickets, call (216) 421-7350 or visit www.clevelandart.org.

PBL Me The chairman of Progressive Corp., Peter B. Lewis, has delighted and infuriated Clevelanders with his generous gifts and outspoken criticism of Cleveland institutions. His generosity is legendary, including his $36 million gift to Case Western Reserve University's Weatherhead School of Management for its Frank Gehry-designed building. Hear him speak on his unique brand of venture philanthropy, sponsored by the City Club's New Leaders group, on Friday, Nov. 7, at noon at the City Club. (216) 621-0082, www.cityclub.org.

Kent State Folk Festival The soundtrack to the film "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" won five Grammy awards, sold 5 million records and introduced bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley to a whole new audience. Now he shares top billing with Irish vocalist Maura O'Connell at the 37th-annual Kent State Folk Festival. In addition, the festival includes folk-music workshops and the 'Rouid Town series, featuring regional folk performers in venues around Kent. The Grammy-winning acoustic string band Nickel Creek opens on Wednesday, Nov. 12. The festival runs through Nov. 15. For more info, call (330) 667-5005 or contact info@kentstatefolkfestival.org.