Stronger Together: Advocating for the Arts in 2025
The arts and culture sector in Greater Cleveland and beyond is facing a rapidly shifting landscape. At Assembly for the Arts, we are committed to unifying our voice, providing a space for advocacy, and serving as a resource for the creative community.
We are closely watching the changes at the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). While Ohio receives the majority of its public arts funding from state sources, federal support remains essential. We continue to work alongside our partners at CreativeOhio and Americans for the Arts to ensure that arts and culture remain a priority in state and national funding conversations.
Local support and strong community connections are the foundation of our success. To broaden our impact and continue driving meaningful change, we need your support—join Assembly for the Arts today.
Our collective strength fuels progress, and our community is the backbone of that strength. Assembly played a crucial role in the passage of Issue 55, securing essential funding for arts and culture in Cuyahoga County. As we move into 2025, we remain committed to researching and developing solutions for our sector. The newly released CreativeOhio Economic Impact Study revealed that our region generated $7.58 billion in direct economic outputs, reaffirming what we’ve always known: the work of the arts and culture community is vital and transformative.
We are excited to invite you to become a member of Assembly so we can continue to advocate for you locally, in the Statehouse, and nationally. Use your membership for complimentary admission to Assembly: The Power of Arts Advocacy, March 26, 2025, from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM for at the Midtown Collaboration Center, 1974 E 66th St, Cleveland, OH 44103). This interactive gathering will bring together artists, cultural leaders, and policy advocates to explore how advocacy strengthens Cleveland’s creative economy.
Together, we all can stand united to ensure a vibrant and well-supported arts and culture sector for all.
In solidarity,
Jeremy Johnson, President & CEO Chinenye Nkemere, Board Chair Assembly for the Arts
Deidre McPherson
Bio
Deidre McPherson, Chief Community Of
artists, communities, and institutions. Her passion for recognizing the creative talent in her community and connecting artists to the public through cultural events and opportunities has been at the core of her work. Her advocacy for Black and Brown and LGBTQ+ creatives enables her to be a prominent force in the collective shift towards equity in Northeast Ohio.
Over the years, Deidre has held leadership roles at the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland (moCa). At both institutions, she was responsible for curating and managing events designed to make the museum a vibrant, socially relevant, and inclusive destination. Similarly, as Director of Artistic and Community Initiatives for FRONT International Cleveland Triennial for Contemporary Art, she introduced community engagement practices that focused on amplifying Cleveland-based Black and Brown creatives. Through her consulting practice, she has worked on projects for clients including the Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF), Studio West 117, Karamu House, Dance Cleveland and the Saint Luke’s Foundation. Deidre earned a Bachelor's degree from Miami University (with minors in Violin Performance and Arts Administration) and an MBA from the University of Maryland. She serves as board president for Sankofa Fine Art Plus and on the boards of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA), Cleveland VOTES and the Heights Bicycle Coalition.