City of Cleveland - City Council Meeting - December 6, 2021
Source: City of Cleveland
Abstract: President and CEO, Jeremy Johnson presented at the City of Cleveland City Council meeting on December 7, 2021.
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.
City of Cleveland - City Council Meeting - Oct. 18, 2021
Source: City of Cleveland
Abstract: President and CEO, Jeremy Johnson was introduced by Cleveland City Councilman Conwell during Monday’s (10/18/2021) city council meeting.
In his own words: Democracy is stronger with the arts
Source: FreshWater
Abstract:
Jeremy V. Johnson is CEO and President of Assembly for the Arts, a new nonprofit collaborative arts alliance, formed between Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, Arts Cleveland, and the Arts and Culture Action Committee that will focus on an ambitious advocacy and cultural policy agenda and racial equity initiatives. In this essay, Johnson pleads his case to the candidates for more attention to the arts in Cleveland.
Assemblies - December 2021
Assemble for a Unified Voice - December 2021
- WHAT/WHEN:
- Non-profits: Wednesday, December 15, 2021 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM ET
- Artists: Wednesday, December 15, 2021 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM ET
- Businesses: Thursday, December 16, 2021 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM ET
- WHERE: Virtual conference, details can be viewed by clicking the button below
- COST: Free
- HOST: Assembly for the Arts
- REGISTRATION: Required, please click one of the buttons below to register
Register for One of the Virtual Sessions
Presented in partnership with Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.
Assemblies - November 2021
Assemble for a Unified Voice - November 2021
- WHAT/WHEN:
- Non-profits: Wednesday, November 17, 2021 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM ET
- Artists: Wednesday, November 17, 2021 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM ET
- Businesses: Thursday, November 18, 2021 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM ET
- WHERE: Virtual conference, details can be viewed by clicking the button below
- HOST: Assembly for the Arts
- COST: Free
- REGISTRATION: Required, please click one of the buttons below to register
Register for One of the Virtual Sessions
Presented in partnership with Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.
Cleveland Mayoral Debate - October 11, 2021
Assemble for a Unified Voice: Who Has Your Vote?
After months of campaigning, the results of the September primary elections have narrowed seven candidates down to two. On Tuesday, November 2, 2021 Clevelanders will have a chance to cast their votes for their city’s next mayor.
The City Club of Cleveland, in partnership with Ideastream Public Media, will host the general election debate on Monday, October 11th with Cleveland mayoral candidates: Justin M. Bibb, nonprofit executive, and Kevin J. Kelley, President of Cleveland City Council. The debate will feature the voices of Clevelanders on the issues that matter in their neighborhoods and communities.
Rick Jackson, Senior Host/Producer at Ideastream Public Media will host the debate. Joining alongside him are a panel of journalists: Nick Castele, Reporter at Ideastream Public Media; Lawrence Caswell, Field Coordinator at Cleveland Documenters; and Elizabeth McIntyre, Executive Editor at Crain’s Cleveland Business.
This 90-minute debate will be broadcast at 7:30pm EST on WVIZ PBS, 90.3 Ideastream Public Media, and at cityclub.org.
- WHAT/WHEN: Monday, October 11, 2021 at 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM EST
- WHERE: Virtual conference
- HOST: The City Club of Cleveland. Sponsored by Assembly for the Arts
- REGISTRATION: View details
Assembly for the Arts is a proud sponsor of this event hosted by The City Club of Cleveland.
The Arts Vote - October 18, 2021
The Arts Vote
The arts sector is a powerful voting force and change-making partner in Cleveland. How will the arts be integrated and considered in Cleveland’s future Mayoral administration? Be a part of this historic discussion and collective voice in support of arts and culture. Jeremy Johnson, President & CEO, Assembly for the Arts will facilitate this 90-minute forum.
Assembly for the Arts and CAN Journal, will host The Arts Vote, a public forum with Cleveland mayoral candidates Justin M. Bibb, nonprofit executive, and Kevin J. Kelley, President of Cleveland City Council. The two organizations are showcasing the power of The Arts Vote by bringing together a multitude of arts perspectives as they present the forum in partnership with Artist Bridge Coalition, Black Local Artists of Cleveland Kuumba, Cleveland Arts Education Consortium, National Independent Venue Associate, and Third Space Action Lab.
Community questions to candidates will be curated in advance. Submit YOUR question for consideration by October 12.
Read more on the candidates views of arts and culture: Justin Bibb | Kevin Kelley.
- WHAT: The Arts Vote
- WHEN: Monday, October 18, 2021 at 6 p.m.
- WHERE: Streamed live via Zoom
- HOST: Assembly for the Arts and CAN Journal
- REGISTRATION: Register for email reminders and updates.
Presented in partnership with:
- Artist Bridge Coalition
- Black Local Artists of Cleveland Kuumba
- Cleveland Arts Education Consortium
- National Independent Venue Associate
- Third Space Action Lab
Assemblies - September 2021
Assemble for a Unified Voice: Who Has Your Vote?
Justin Bibb and Kevin Kelley have won the primary election for Cleveland Mayor. Assembly invites you to join us as we examine these candidates’ responses to an earlier survey we conducted with our partners at CAN Journal. Let’s discuss what else we want to know and how we can amplify their arts and culture responses more widely. Join us for a report out from Assembly, key themes from last month’s sessions, and a robust discussion about the next mayor of Cleveland and how we can push for new arts and culture-supportive outcomes in city government.
“With a promise of creating a more inclusive and equitable arts and culture community, members will gather from all artistic disciplines, racial and ethnic backgrounds, and abilities to build a better Greater Cleveland.”
We will unite virtually to continue our collective work. At each gathering, receive updates on Assembly for the Arts. Ask questions, share thoughts and share space with your colleagues to advance our collective efforts as creative industries. Together, we will build a unified voice for our creative community.
- WHAT/WHEN:
- Non-profits: Wednesday, September 22, 2021 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM ET
- Artists: Wednesday, September 22, 2021 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM ET
- Businesses: Thursday, September 23, 2021 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM ET
- WHERE: Virtual conference, details can be viewed by clicking the button below
- HOST: Assembly for the Arts
- REGISTRATION: Required, please click one of the buttons below to register
Register for One of the Virtual Sessions
Presented in partnership with Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.
Cleveland Mayoral Candidates Seek to Position Arts and Culture as a Priority in their Administrations
Cleveland, OH – In a series of arts-focused questions posed to City of Cleveland Mayoral candidates by Collective Arts Network (CAN) Journal and Assembly for the Arts, all seven candidates provided a resounding Yes to questions asking whether they will establish a cabinet-level position supporting artists and arts activity and allocate a line item in their budgets to support the arts and cultural industries in Cleveland.
This comes as welcome news for both city residents and the arts and culture sector. The industry generates $9.1 billion in economic impact for the region and has a positive influence on residents. “A dedicated supportive structure for arts and culture like a Department of Cultural Affairs or arts liaison, for example, will yield immense benefits for the city’s economy, health, educational progress and international reputation,” says Jeremy Johnson, President & CEO of Assembly for the Arts.
Questions were collectively devised by CAN Journal and Assembly for the Arts and delivered to candidates this past week as a means to more clearly understand current mayoral candidates’ position on and value of arts and culture in Cleveland. “CAN is thrilled to collaborate with Jeremy Johnson and Assembly for the Arts by bringing these questions to the candidates and sharing their perspectives with voters,” says Michael Gill, Executive Director, Editor/Publisher of CAN Journal.
Research consistently reveals that the arts influence positive outcomes in education, healthcare and mental health, community revitalization and our region’s competitiveness in other markets. “Cleveland is home to hundreds of creative people, artists, organizations and businesses who are making incredible, boundary-pushing work that provides so much more to our communities than simply aesthetic value. The arts in Cleveland absolutely deserve space on the public policy stage, and posing these questions in partnership with Assembly for the Arts helps to establish that,” Michael Gill, Executive Director, Editor/Publisher of CAN Journal.