PlayhouseSquare Partners' annual Jump Back Ball - your opportunity to show financial love for performing arts downtown - is just around the corner. The annual party has sold out for the past five years, so if you come, you can count on finding nearly a thousand people - a who's who of socially and politically active Clevelanders. This year's theme, Rockin' Under the Sea, will turn the State Theatre lobby into an Undersea World of PlayhouseSquare, with guests invited to dress like fish or sea urchins, or default to black tie. Music is by the Columbus-based cover band Shucking Bubba Deluxe, with the Cleveland band 2nd Place playing originals and covers in the late-night slot. The party is from 7:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Saturday, February 28. Tickets: $125-$185. All proceeds benefit programming at PlayhouseSquare. Call 216.348.5265 or go to playhousesquare.com.
The Sculpture Center has issued an open call for artists from Ohio and surrounding states to submit work for After the Pedestal, a regional show of small sculpture, now in its fifth year. All sculptural media, including installation, conceptual work and performance video, if it is object-based, are eligible. This year's juror is Cleveland Museum of Art's new curator of contemporary art, Paola Morsiani. The show runs June 5 through July 25. Deadline to submit work is April 6. For information, call Ann Albano at 216.229.6527 or go to sculpturecenter.org.
The Hessler Street Fair is accepting submissions for its annual poetry contest, which results in a chapbook for sale at the annual event, taking place May 16-17 this year. Never let it be said that poets don't like money, but with a top prize of $100, the real attraction is the chance for the top three poets to read at the fair and have their performance simulcast on WRUW 91.1FM. To enter, send up to five original poems, with contact information, to Hessler Street Fair Committee, 11326 Hessler Rd., Cleveland 44106. Deadline is April 25. Poets whose work is accepted for publication will be notified by e-mail by April 30; those poets will also be eligible to enter a qualifying round of readings Wednesday, May 13 at Mac's Backs Paperbacks (1820 Coventry Rd.). Prizes - including slots on the Hessler/WRUW mic, will be awarded after the reading.
