Arts in Our City
|| Thursday, November 9 / 6:00 – 7:30 pm. || Our local decision-makers play a critical role in how arts and culture and artists are valued and supported in our city. With the announcement of a new position in city administration specifically designed to support our arts and culture industries, we want to open up an authentic conversation between our arts community and city and county leadership. How can we work together to realize a greater vision for Cleveland’s arts and culture?
This conversation hosted as part of REvision, a series of community discussions focused on reimagining and addressing key challenges faced by Greater Cleveland’s arts and culture industry. Register to attend this free conversation.
Registration isn’t required but will help us plan for the best discussion possible. Accessible location coming soon!
Guaranteed Basic Income
|| Thursday, October 12 / 6:00 – 7:30 pm. || What would it look like if artists could work knowing they’d receive a guaranteed paycheck every month to supplement their creative work? Other cities are trying this. Join the discussion to learn how they’re doing it and what this could mean in Cleveland’s arts community.
What is guaranteed income? Defined by Springboard for the Arts, an artist support organization in Minneapolis, “A guaranteed income is a monthly cash payment given directly to individuals. It’s unconditional with no strings attached and no work requirements and is meant to supplement, rather than replace, existing social safety nets and can be a tool for racial and gender equity.”
Learn more about Springboard’s Guaranteed Income Pilot program and discuss this concept as a group with Assembly.
This conversation hosted as part of REvision, a series of community discussions focused on reimagining and addressing key challenges faced by Greater Cleveland’s arts and culture industry. Register to attend this free conversation.
Registration isn’t required but will help us plan for the best discussion possible. Accessible location coming soon!
Art Ball
SATURDAY, MAY 13, 2023AT THE MADISON
Assembly for the Arts is excited to announce our inaugural Art Ball to celebrate those who support the arts and to showcase the wealth of arts and culture that makes Cleveland a leading arts city! The Art Ball is going to be a signature arts event for our community and a key fundraiser for Assembly. Together we sparkle!
$150 Art Ball Ticket gives you access to the cocktail reception, dinner, main program, and after party
$50 After Party Ticket includes dessert, full bar, and dance party
Can’t attend? Consider a donation to help us reach the goal!
ABOUT THE ART BALL
Assembly works to expand the pie of resources and increase racial equity for greater Cleveland’s $9.1B creative sector. In the last year, Assembly has successfully secured more than $6.3M in public ARPA funds to support cultural nonprofits, individual artists, and cultural businesses in our communities. We’ve also engaged BIPOC creatives in fellowship opportunities, entrepreneurial, career-advancement, and networking opportunities. The Art Ball is a fundraiser to help us keep that momentum going!
About the Artists
We’ve got a great lineup of local artists and performances in the works. More soon!
Recognition
A special award will be presented to Tony Panzica, CEO/President, Panzica Construction Company, for his longstanding and committed support and leadership to the arts community.
MANY THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS
PLATINUM
GOLD
CHANN FOWLER-SPELLMAN
JEREMY V. JOHNSON
RICHARD W. POGUE
SILVER
Beck Center for the Arts
Greater Cleveland Partnership
Medical Mutual
The NRP Group
The Sherwin-Williams Company
Vocon
Drs Nancy Wolf and Aric Greenfield
Adrian and Margaret Krudy
J. Shorey
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
LEVELS
DIAMOND: $25,000 Presenting Sponsor includes 2 tables to invite 16 of your VIPs to the Art Ball. The sponsor also receives a 1/2 page Ad in the print program and logo on event signage. Your logo will appear prominently in the special e-newsletter to over 6,700 people. You’ll be mentioned in social media posts a minimum of 6x times promoting the event. You have the option to select 1 activation, and will make brief welcome remarks for up to 2 minutes from the stage.
PLATINUM: $10,000 Sponsor includes 1 table to invite 8 of your VIPs to the Art Ball. The sponsor also receives a 1/4 page ad in the print program and logo on event signage. Your logo will appear in the special e-newsletter to over 6,700 people. You’ll be mentioned in social media posts a minimum of 4x times promoting the event. You have the option to select 1 activation.
GOLD: $5,000 Sponsor includes 1 table to invite 8 of your VIPs to the Art Ball. Your name will be listed in the Art Ball print program. Your logo will appear in the special e-newsletter to over 6,700 people. You’ll be mentioned in social media posts a minimum of 2x times promoting the event.
SILVER: $2,500 Sponsor includes 4 admissions to the Art Ball, your name listed in the Art Ball print program, and your name listed in special e-newsletter to over 6,700 people.
BRONZE: $1,000 Sponsor includes 2 admissions to the Art Ball and your name listed in the Art Ball print program
ACTIVATIONS
Activations are available to Diamond and Platinum sponsors on a first come, first served basis.
- valet
- cocktail hour
- bar
- signature cocktail
- merch in gift bag
- signature entertainment
- photo opportunity
- after party
Don’t see something listed? Let’s connect!
Cuyahoga Arts & Culture approves 2023 grants for six organizations
Source: Karin Connelly Rice, Freshwater Cleveland
Date: December 15, 2022
Abstract: At its regular meeting of the Cuyahoga Arts & Culture board of trustees yesterday, Wednesday, Dec. 14, the board voted to approve six Northeast Ohio arts organizations for 2023 grant funding.
The board approved resident-led arts and culture grants to Neighborhood Connections and ioby in our own back yards). Neighborhood Connections received $60,500 to co-fund resident-led projects in Cleveland and East Cleveland and host five in-person gatherings for artists, arts & culture organizations, and residents in 2023; while ioby received $100,000 for the Cuyahoga Arts & Culture Match Fund to support resident-led arts and culture projects in Cuyahoga County in 2023.
Access to Funds
|| Thursday, July 13 / 6:00 – 7:30 pm. || Securing the money needed to maintain a creative practice is often a full-time job. Whether it’s gig work, grant seeking, product sales, commissions or multiple part-time jobs, artistic income is typically patchworked together through multiple sources. What are some alternative methods of generating income and how can we take an active role in redefining our approach to funding creative work?
Join the discussion and learn more about systems like fiscal sponsorship, low and no interest loans and other methods for accessing capital.
This conversation hosted as part of REvision, a series of community discussions focused on reimagining and addressing key challenges faced by Greater Cleveland’s arts and culture industry. Register to attend this free conversation.
Registration isn’t required but will help us plan for the best discussion possible. Accessible location coming soon!
Creative Spaces
|| Thursday, April 13 / 6:00 – 7:30 pm. ||
Our creative community is facing a serious issue of access to the space they need to live, work and create. What resources are available to help artists and creative businesses access space to live, work, rehearse, present, and host events? Hear insights from a panel of city officials, artists, and developers. Network and brainstorm real solutions to space access and ownership.
This conversation hosted as part of REvision, a series of community discussions focused on reimagining and addressing key challenges faced by Greater Cleveland’s arts and culture industry. Register to attend this free conversation.
Location: SPACES 900 Detroit Avenue Cleveland, OH 44113
Registration isn’t required but will help us plan for the best discussion possible. This is an person event. Accessible location coming soon!
STATE LEGISLATION GRANTS NEW OPTION TO FUND ARTS NONPROFITS IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY
NEWS RELEASE
Date: January 13, 2023
Media Contact: Malissa Bodmann
216-536-7517
STATE LEGISLATION GRANTS NEW OPTION TO FUND ARTS NONPROFITS IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY
CLEVELAND – The Ohio Legislature, through Senate Bill 164, has given permissive authority to convert Cuyahoga County’s existing cigarette tax from a per-unit tax to a tax based on the percentage of sales and to expand it to include vapor products. Any changes made to the current tax that funds Cuyahoga Arts & Culture would require support of a majority of Cuyahoga County voters casting ballots on the issue. No decision has been made when or if the issue may be placed on an upcoming election ballot.
Senate Bill 164, which was signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine, is not a new tax. Rather, it is permissive language that allows the county to decide whether or not to convert and expand the current tax. The bill gives Cuyahoga County and Cuyahoga Arts & Culture the option of placing an issue on the ballot. The current tax, expected to expire in January 2027, would remain in place unless the voters approved converting if. The arts and culture creative sector contributes $9.1 billion to the local economy, providing jobs and helping improve the quality of life.
“Cigarette sales have been declining at a steady pace for decades, leading to a significant declining revenue for Cuyahoga Arts & Culture (CAC),” said Jill Paulsen, executive director of Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. “CAC, which is funded solely by the excise tax on cigarettes, is the only political subdivision in Cuyahoga County that has declining revenue. CAC has a 15-year track record of supporting arts and culture experiences that have reached millions of residents. We have distributed $230 million in funding since 2007, and it is vital for our vibrant community that public funding for the arts continues.”
Jeremy Johnson, executive director and CEO of Assembly for the Arts, said: “A stable, well-funded creative sector is essential for the vibrancy of our region. We began looking at alternative funding options to help replace the approximately 40% in lost revenues since the inception of the tax. We thank Governor Mike DeWine and our State Legislators for giving Cuyahoga County voters the option to consider new revenue support for arts and culture.”
About:
Cuyahoga Arts & Culture (CAC) is the region’s largest funder for arts and culture, helping hundreds of organizations in Cuyahoga County connect millions of people to cultural experiences each year. Since 2006, CAC has invested $230 million in over 470 organizations, making our community a more vibrant place to live, work and play. CAC is a separate government entity and a political subdivision of the State of Ohio. For more information, visit cacgrants.org.
Assembly for the Arts is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a focus on advocacy, cultural policy, racial equity initiatives, research, marketing that elevates the region, and services for nonprofits, artists, and creative businesses. It is governed by a volunteer board with a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. Assembly by design operates in close partnership with Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, a government agency, and Assembly for Action, a 501(c)4 political action nonprofit to serve the entire creative sector. Assembly is supported through major funding from: The Cleveland Foundation, The George Gund Foundation, The Char and Chuck Fowler Family Foundation, Cuyahoga Arts & Culture,
Ohio Arts Council, Huntington, KeyBank,The George W. Codrington CharitableFoundation, Fred & Laura Beth Bidwell,and Barbara S. Robinson.www.assemblycle.org
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Assembly's President and CEO, Jeremy Johnson named 2022 Crain's Power 150
2022 Crain’s Power 150
From CEOs and politicians to philanthropists and entrepreneurs, Crain’s “Power 150” list is just a snapshot of those leading some of Northeast Ohio’s most influential organizations and who are in a position to move the region forward.
Jeremy Johnson
President and CEO, Assembly for the Arts
Highlighted involvement: UniversityCircle Inc., AEP6 Equity Task Force for Americans for the Arts
In the news: Following a national search, Assembly for the Arts tapped Johnson, a Cleveland native, to lead the arts and culture startup. The nonprofit, which aims to increase equity in Cleveland’s arts and culture industries, launched in summer 2021 after more than a year of planning by Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, Arts Cleveland, and the Arts and Culture Action Committee, with support from the Cleveland Foundation and the George Gund Foundation. In its first year, Assembly worked hand in hand with Cuyahoga Arts & Culture to secure $3.3 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds.