Senior Strategist for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy
The City of Cleveland Mayor’s Office is hiring a Senior Strategist to lead planning efforts to determine a sustainable infrastructure for the arts at City Hall. This vital position in city government will lead, direct, manage, and plan strategic policy initiatives for the City of Cleveland to position the City as a leading world cultural center with enhanced neighborhood vitality. Assembly for the Arts is proud to have played a role in advocating for this permanent arts and culture liaison at the city government level.
Assembly for the Arts opens applications for Creative Impact Fund
Source: Freshwater
Date: Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Abstract:
Officials with Assembly for the Arts, the advocacy and equity group for creatives, want to expand the arts to Cleveland and East Cleveland neighborhoods that often lack arts investment or arts activity.
So, through its Creative Impact Fund, 16 artists will be chosen from a pool of applicants to create transformational arts project in redlined Cleveland and East Cleveland communities. Applications are now open and the deadline to apply is May 7…
Assembly for the Arts launches new fund for Cleveland artists
Source: ideastream
Date: March 17, 2023
Abstract:
Applications are now open for a new funding opportunity through Cleveland-based nonprofit Assembly for the Arts. The Creative Impact Fund will award money to 16 artists.
The new funding opportunity comes from a $140,000 Support for Artists grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. Ideastream Public Media also receives support from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture…
Artist Funding Opportunity Now Available Through Assembly for the Arts
ARTIST FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NOW AVAILABLE THROUGH ASSEMBLY FOR THE ARTS
Creative Impact Fund applications due May 7
PRESS RELEASE March 16, 2023
Media Contact: Malissa Bodmann, 216-536-7517
CLEVELAND, OHIO — Assembly for the Arts has launched an artist funding opportunity for 16 artists to create transformational arts projects in redlined communities that lack arts investment developing areas of significant arts activity in Cleveland and East Cleveland.
Called the Creative Impact Fund, it is open to artists or collectives of all expressions, including but not limited to painting, sculpture, photography, film/motion pictures, dance, ballet, theatre, music, comedy/improv, writing/literature, architecture, graphic design, craft, and fashion. Priority will be given to artists of color and art collectives with diverse representation. Creative Impact Fund is made possible by a $140,000 Support for Artists grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. Individual artists, artist collectives, and informal groups are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be residents of Cuyahoga County and age 18 and older.
Jeremy V. Johnson, president and CEO of Assembly for the Arts, said the organization is excited to launch another artist funding opportunity. “As Assembly works to ‘expand the pie’ and increase equity in Cleveland’s arts and culture scene, we look forward to investing these public funds in underrepresented areas of Cleveland and East Cleveland,” he said. “Artists are an important part of the creative economy, and getting dollars into their hands helps them and the communities in which they create.”
The Creative Impact Fund includes:
- •$6,250 includes up to $2,500 in unrestricted support and $3,750 in projectsupport
- •Support from Assembly’s staff who will advise project leads in attaining theirproject goals via marketing and professional development support and connections to institutional partners, potential collaborators or thought partners
- •Assembly for the Arts Membership
Applications are due May 7, 2023. Information sessions will be held in person and virtually. Learn more at www.assemblycle.org/creativeimpactfund.
Assembly for the Arts’ Creative Impact Fund is supported in part by the residents of Cuyahoga County through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.
ABOUT
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 Charitable Foundation, Fred & Laura Beth Bidwell, and Barbara S. Robinson. www.assemblycle.org
Creative Impact Fund
About the Creative Impact Fund
Artists and creatives positively affect our lives and region every day. Their work has the power to promote healing, to transcend barriers and unite people, and to highlight social injustices leading to just and equitable change.
Assembly for the Arts is proud to continue the Creative Impact Fund (CIF) in 2025. This unrestricted grant is designed to support the growth of an artist’s creative practice and advance their impact on our region. In 2025, the CIF will award thirty (30) forward-thinking artists and creatives, in 2025 including 15 Early Career artists at $5,000 each and 15 Mid-Late Career artists at $10,000 each. The CIF is open to artists living in Cuyahoga County who have been creating impactful and inventive artistic work in the disciplines of craft, dance, design, film, interdisciplinary work, media, music, theatre & performance, traditional arts, visual art, and writing/literary art.
Please see the Creative Impact Fund Guidelines for all details including Assembly’s definitions of Artist, Creative Disciplines and Artist Career Stage.
Assembly for the Arts is supported by the residents of Cuyahoga County through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.
CIF Artists Receive:
- $5,000 (Early Career Artists) or $10,000 (Mid-Late Career Artists) in unrestricted funds
- Promotion as a CIF grantee on Assembly’s website, social media and other platforms
- A one-year Assembly for the Arts membership
- Business and professional development opportunities, including marketing, networking, connections to partners or potential collaborators
- Special access to opportunities as they arise throughout the year
Who can apply?
- Active creators who are Artists according to Assembly’s definition
- Artists must be 18 years of age or older
- Artists must live in Cuyahoga County. All applicants need a verifiable residential address. Studio addresses (unless it’s your place of residence) and P.O. Boxes are not accepted.
Those not eligible to apply include:
- Artists who received a grant through any of the following programs in 2023 or 2024
- Creative Impact Fund (Assembly for the Arts)
- Premiere Fellowship (Cleveland Public Theatre)
- Individual Artist Fellowship (Cleveland Public Theatre)
- Unidos por el Arte (Julia de Burgos Cultural Arts Center)
- Room in the House Fellowship (Karamu House)
- Urgent Art Fund (SPACES)
- Nonprofit organizations, businesses or collectives. Artists who are part of organizations or businesses may apply as individuals
- Staff and board of Assembly for the Arts and Cuyahoga Arts & Culture
- Selection panelists for any Assembly artist program
How to apply
Artists can submit an online application by clicking the ‘Apply Now‘ button at the top of this page. Artists will need to create a free Submittable account or use their existing account to submit their application. Paper applications will be accepted for accessibility reasons on a case-by-case basis. If you have a disability and require assistance in applying for CIF, please contact grants@assemblycle.org.
The CIF application will be available in English. Spanish-language versions and other translation support will be provided as needed—please contact us for assistance.
Questions?
Be sure to read our Frequently Asked Questions or email us at grants@assemblycle.org
Important Dates:
- Applications open: Wednesday, May 14, 2025
- Applications close: Friday, July 18, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.
- Panel review and scoring: August – October, 2025
- Applicants notified of panel decisions: October – November, 2025
Grant Info Sessions
- Thursday, May 22 – 6:00 PM (Future Ink Graphics)
- Thursday, June 5 – 12: PM (Virtual)
- Tuesday, July 8 – 6:00 PM (MidTown Collaboration Center)
Cleveland aims to add a senior-level arts leader to the Bibb administration
Bureaucracy busters rejoice: The city of Cleveland is planning to create a senior-level position for the arts, culture, and the creative economy to serve as the point person for the arts at city hall and help bridge the gap with local artists, according to a presentation to city council by planning director Joyce Huang earlier this month…
Source: The Land, Lee Chilcote
Date: March 1, 2023