Assembly for the Arts lobbies for $10M in federal funds to support arts and culture in Cleveland
Source: Ideastream
Abstract:
Deliberations continue in Cleveland City Hall over proposals for spending federal stimulus money. Monday night, Jeremy Johnson, president and CEO of Assembly for the Arts will make a pitch to City Council.
In recent months, Assembly has put together a proposal for a portion of the $500 million stimulus package the city will be receiving as a result of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
“The ARPA dollars are here to really help communities and cities and workers that have been walloped by the COVID pandemic,” Johnson said. “And no industry, in my point of view, has been hit harder than the arts and culture industry, which was forced to shut down immediately and is only now beginning to emerge. Three big buckets: artists, non-profits and creative businesses.”
Johnson’s appearance in council chambers is part of a series of pitches he’s made to city officials.
“Arts and culture is a part of this gigantic economy in Cleveland. To get it back on its feet, to get workers back to working, we need to continue to invest supportive dollars into that sector,” Johnson said. “And we are making a request of $10 million.”
Ultimately, if the request passes muster with the city, Johnson said distribution of funding would be done through a partnership between Assembly for the Arts and Cuyahoga Arts & Culture (CAC), the local agency that funds area non-profits, including Ideastream Public Media. Assembly for the Arts is set up to handle distribution to individual artists and creative arts businesses.