Racial Equity
Strengthening Support for the Region’s Creatives
Equity is at the center of everything we do. Through our advocacy, cultural policy work and funding opportunities, we seek to redress systemic racism through building an anti-racist organization that serves artists, business owners and nonprofit leaders. We want to help them move to action to create a more equitable arts community; this includes advocating for more equitable funding to BIPOC artists and organizations and removing perceived and real barriers that currently limit all residents from participation.
In the last year, Assembly armed creative businesses, artists and non-profits with tools to help them forge cross-sector connections, expand their knowledge and find opportunities to share their artistic point of view – all the while enriching neighborhoods across the region.
Powered by Huntington’s Entrepreneur in Residence program, Assembly welcomed its first cohort of Arts Leadership Residents with the Cleveland Leadership Center (CLC). The program was also supported by funding from the Ohio Arts Council, The George W. Codrington Charitable Foundation, and The George Gund Foundation. In keeping with Assembly’s mission, the program was delivered through a racial equity lens and provided management support, coaching, tools and $1,000 each to 25 artists.
With a $140,000 grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, Assembly for the Arts launched the Creative Impact Fund (CIF) to support the investment and growth of transformative arts projects in redlined communities in Cleveland and East Cleveland that lack arts investment. More than 140 creatives applied for 16 spots. In addition to a $6,250 stipend, each CIF awardee receives access to professional development and marketing support, industry connections, and an Assembly membership.
CIF provides professional development, marketing support, and the opportunity make network connections.
The Cleveland Foundation asked Cleveland Institute of Art and Assembly to lead a collaborative design project for a mural that would benefit the Hough community, CIA students and MidTown Collaboration Center stakeholders. CIA student Aniyah King’s “Growth From Within,” a mural that symbolizes growth and progress in Cleveland’s Hough neighborhood and represents Hough residents’ pride and passion, will be installed at the Cleveland Foundation’s MidTown Collaboration Center when it opens in 2025.
Assembly supported 10 fiscal sponsorships totaling $170,000 in FY2023. Our fiscal sponsorship program opens access to foundation and donor funds that solely fund tax-exempt organizations. We aim to support BIPOC-owned or led nonprofits and businesses and those managed by and serving individuals with disabilities.
Cuyahoga Arts & Culture considers November '24 levy to expand cigarette tax
Source: ideastream
Date: September 13, 2023
Abstract:
Cuyahoga Arts & Culture made several moves at its Wednesday board meeting aimed at addressing consistently declining revenue. The agency is funded by the county cigarette tax. It’s slated to bring in just over $10 million this year, down almost 50% from its inception in 2007.
Area arts leaders have been working for more than two years to get permission to expand the tax. State lawmakers finally agreed this year to allow CAC to ask voters to increase the tax from its current rate of 30-cents-per-pack.
Support for Artists Campaign Findings
Outcomes of the Support Artists Campaign
Assembly is excited to receive a $500,000 grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture to administer support for artists programs in 2024. This is a 25% increase in CAC funding over last year.
Chosen as the sole grantee for CAC’s Support for Artists funds, Assembly will run an artist support grant program in 2024 in addition to regranting funds to Cleveland Public Theatre, Julia de Burgos, Karamu House and SPACES to continue their successful work with artists who have been previously funded by grants from CAC. Assembly will work to ensure artists of multiple disciplines are represented, including musicians.
More information will be shared in the first quarter of 2024.
Assembly will structure the 2024 programs in response to feedback from Greater Cleveland’s artist community through four listening sessions and online surveys conducted August to September, 2023. Assembly engaged Dr. Brea Heidelberg of ISO Arts Consulting to facilitate these discussions to generate community feedback and recommendations to inform future programs and services. The research was funded by Cuyahoga Arts & Culture and The George Gund Foundation.
The key learnings from the listening sessions and survey that will guide our work in 2024 and beyond are:
- Prioritize unrestricted funds and increase and the amount awarded to each artist
- Increase overall support for artist funding by seeking sources beyond Cuyahoga Arts & Culture
- Create a central virtual space for finding grant opportunities, deadlines, and resources to help artists navigate and utilize the funding ecosystem
- Simplify and streamline grant application processes to reduce administrative burdens.
- Prioritize funding and resources for historically underrepresented or marginalized artists
- Increase opportunities for artists to be included in discussions on conversations about civic and social issues by facilitating connections between artists and civic leaders.
- Facilitate more artist listening sessions
- Establish an Artist Advisory Board that:
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- Has diverse geographic representation from the City of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County
- Is comprised of artists representing a wide variety of arts disciplines
- Has term limits that allow for a regular rotation of artist advisors
- Is compensated for their time and expertise
- Advises Assembly for the Arts on their programs and policies
Working Together as One Community
Assembly and CAC acknowledge restorative work in the artist community will be foundational to the success of our future efforts. We look forward to working together and with all of you in the arts community to heal harms of the past, expand the pie of resources to our vitally important creative sector, and create a robust artist funding mechanism that includes sustained funding from private and public resources.
Past Programs
Assembly recognizes that the healthiest mix of artist support comes from a variety of sources. Previous artist support programs through Assembly have included:
- ARPA Rescue Funds $1.65 million to artists and creative for-profit businesses through American Rescue Plan Act funds from Cuyahoga County.
- Arts Leadership Residency in partnership with Cleveland Leadership Center and Huntington’s Entrepreneur in Residence program. 25 artists received $1,000 each and 6 learning sessions to help them grow their creative businesses.
- 2023 Creative Impact Fund 16 artists, collectives and informal groups received $6,250 each for flexible (unrestricted) funding and project-based placemaking in redlined communities that lack arts investment. Funded by a grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.
Other Resources for Artists
Visit our Business of Art section for tools to help you make your creative endeavors a sustainable venture.
Looking for a Fiscal Sponsor? Skip the process of becoming a nonprofit organization in order to access grant funds by having Assembly become your fiscal sponsor. Not all community projects or artists can afford to or need to become their own nonprofit. The process of becoming a nonprofit requires time and resources that could otherwise devoted to the project itself. Assembly can help by acting as your fiscal sponsor
Sign up for Assembly’s newsletter to stay informed of upcoming workshops, community meetings and funding opportunities.
Check out and use clevelandartsevents.com. So much more than just events, this is a central website to create and find artist profiles, events, venues, and opportunities (jobs, grants, fellowships, artist calls). Create a free account today to join the monthly email list.
Still have questions? Email us at info@assemblycle.org.
This effort is made possible by generous support from the George Gund Foundation and Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.
Assembly by the Numbers
Financials
Did you know….Cleveland is one of the Top 20 most vibrant large arts communities in the country and in the top 1% of communities on measurement of arts dollars, per SMU Data Arts. Cleveland ranked best in the Midwest for the amount of total compensation paid to arts and culture employees per capita and in earned revenue from artistic programs.
Engagement
Board and Staff
Assembly Staff
Jeremy V. Johnson, President & CEO
Jeanita Blue, Marketing and Communications Manager
Abby Del Río, Chief Finance & Operations Officer
Melissa Leuenberger, Finance & Operations Associate
Meg Matko, Director of Community Relationships
Deidre McPherson, Chief Community Officer
Kristin Puch, Senior Researcher and Development Officer
LeAundra Richardson, Executive Assistant to the President and CEO, Board Liaison
Valerie Schumacher, Director of Strategic Initiatives
CONSULTANTS
VEES Consulting
Compelling Communications
Equius
Assembly 2022-2023 Board of Trustees
Fred Bidwell (Board Chair), FRONT International
Kathy Blackman, Grog Shop
April Miller Boise, Intel
Lenora Inez Brown, Independent Consultant, Dramaturg
Talise Campbell, Djapo Cultural Arts Institute
Mordecai Cargill, ThirdSpace Action Lab
Carrie Carpenter, Huntington National Bank
Paul Clark, Retired
Kelly Falcone-Hall, Western Reserve Historical Society
Chann Fowler-Spellman, The Char and Chuck Fowler Family Foundation
Phyllis Harris, LGBT Community Center Greater Cleveland
Sandra Madison, Robert P. Madison International Inc
Clyde Miles, The Adcom Group
Christine Nelson, Team NEO
Chinenye Nkemere, Enlightened Solutions
Nahomy Ortiz-Garcia, OverDrive
Tony Panzica, Panzica Construction Company
Barbara Robinson, Retired
Vince Robinson, Larchmere Cultural Arts
Marika Shioiri-Clark, SOSHL Studio
Tony Sias, Karamu House
Paul Westlake, DLR Group
Shanelle Smith Whigham, Keybank
Leonard Young, Morgan Conservatory
Zulma Zabala, The Center for Community Solutions
Ex Officio
Nancy Mendez, Cuyahoga Arts & Culture
Michele Scott Taylor, Cuyahoga Arts & Culture
Charna Sherman, Cuyahoga Arts & Culture (2021-2023)
Aseelah Shareef, Cleveland Arts Prize
Board Transitions. Assembly gratefully acknowledges the service of out-going board members Nahomy Ortiz-Garcia, and ex officio Charna Sherman of Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. Assembly was saddened by the passing of founding board member Barbara Robinson, a beloved regional and national advocate for arts and culture
Membership
Become an Assembly Member
Your Assembly membership supports our work in advocacy, activism, racial equity, and bringing more creative resources to the arts. As a member, you’ll receive benefits like our Cadence e-newsletter, free or discounted event, one-on-one meetings with our staff, and promotional support for your events. You’ll also have access to resources like artist profiles, the Rapid Action Grant, the Membership Directory, and participation in unique Affinity Groups, in addition to other benefits.
Join us today at https://assemblycle.org/become-a-member/. to become a member and contribute to Greater Cleveland’s thriving arts community.
ClevelandArtsEvents.com
ClevelandArtsEvents.com connects you to Cuyahoga County’s vibrant arts and culture scene. Cleveland Arts Events is supported by Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, in collaboration with Assembly for the Arts.
With ClevelandArtsEvents.com, you can easily navigate through a wide range of events and opportunities. Whether you’re an artist looking to exhibit your work or a musician seeking grants and funding or an audience member seeking the latest events information, this website covers it.
2022-2023 Members of Assembly for the Arts
Corporate, Small Business, Nonprofit Members
- America SCORES Cleveland
- Art Therapy Studio
- Artists Archives of the Western Reserve
- Arts Impact
- ATNSC: Center for Healing and Creative Leadership
- Avidity Art Development
- Barbara's Fiber Art
- Beck Center for the Arts
- Borderlight Festival
- Broadway School of Music & the Arts
- CAP ACADEMY
- Chagrin Arts
- City of Shaker Heights
- Cleveland Arts Education Consortium
- Cleveland Clinic Arts & Medicine
- Cleveland Institute of Art
- Cleveland Institute of Music
- Cleveland Jazz Orchestra
- Cleveland Print Room
- Collective Arts Network
- Culey Design
- Cuyahoga Arts & Culture
- Dance Evert
- Dobama Theatre
- Foundry Project Arts Incubator
- Gray Panther Media
- Greater Cleveland Film Commission
- Greater Cleveland Urban Film Foundation
- GroundWorks DanceTheater
- Happy Dog
- Heights Arts
- In Harmony Therapeutic Services
- Janus Small Associates
- Julie Schenkelberg
- Kings & Queens of Art
- LAND studio
- LatinUs Theater Company
- LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland
- Margaret Reardon Marketing
- moCa Cleveland
- Mojuba Dance Collective
- Palmer Event Solutions
- Pinwheel Gallery
- RBI Sound
- resolute, LLC
- Rhythmic Art Studio Inc
- T.E.T. Entertainment LLC
- The 961 Collective
- The Cleveland Museum of Art
- The Cleveland Orchestra
- The Cogent Company
- The Dark Room Co.
- The Sculpture Center
- University Circle Inc.
- Vanessa Faith Art LLC
- Waterloo Arts
Individual Members
- Kamal Abdul-Alim
- Andrew Bednarski, Cleveland Museum of Natural History
- Dar'Jon Bentley
- Rachel Bernstein, Heights Arts
- Mansa Bey, Read.Write.Recite Literacy Guild
- Odin Blak, Dark Blak Studios
- Robin Blake, Creation: A Celebration of Art, Music, and Life
- Moises Borges
- Carolina Borja
- Weedie Braimah, Weedie Braimah & The Hands of Time
- Michelle Broome
- Lenora Brown, Raising Results
- Amy Budish
- Frederick Burton, Gospel Music Historical Society
- Kasey Butler
- Talise Campbell, Djapo Cultural Arts Institute
- Mordecai Cargill, ThirdSpace Action Lab
- Tricia Chaves, Xirho Group LLC
- Grace Chin, The Sculpture Center
- Paul Clark, PNC
- Paula Coggins, OSPI
- Margaret Cohen, Rahilly Solutions
- Jennifer Coleman, The George Gund Foundation
- Dronet Danielle
- Maria DeRyke, Cultivate Advancement
- Deanna Dionne, Made Cleveland
- Malik Fadzl, LFTG RECORDS
- Kelly Falcone-Hall, Western Reserve Historical Society
- Jennifer Feierabend
- Chann Fowler-Spellman The Char and Chuck Fowler Family Foundation
- Kyra Frierson
- Ed Gallagher, Beck Center for the Arts
- Christopher Gelles
- Stacy Geohaghan, Stacy-Nicole Geohaghan
- Erma George, Amra Home Accents llc
- John Gest
- Ahlon González, LAND Studio
- Dale Goode, Domestic Violence Is Not Pretty
- Charlotte Gouveia, PwC
- Tracy Greenberg
- Sherrie Hauser-Simmons
- Sonya Hayes
- David Heller, The NRP Group
- Jada Hobson, INDI Media
- Genell Hudson
- Patricia Hughes, Art House, Inc.
- Andrea Jackson, CAP ACADEMY
- Johnathon Jamison, THA League Management’s
- Sheldron Johnson
- David Kay, University School
- Christina Keegan, Cleveland Natural Building
- Martin Kohn, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College Of Medicine
- Sandy Kreisman, University Circle Inc.
- Josh Landis, United Way
- Angelia Lee
- Shawn Lee-Jones, The Creative Healing Foundation
- Gregory Lockhart, A Source of Pride - The Story of the East Cleveland Chiefs
- Jazmin Long, Birthing Beautiful Communities
- Letitia Lopez, Julia De Burgos Cultural Arts Center
- Amanda Lott, Studio Lott
- Allison Lukacsy-Love, Phone Gallery
- Pat Meade, Creative Works, Inc.
- Clyde Miles, Adcom
- Jerry Miller, zone music inc. (humachine)
- April Miller-Boise, Intel
- Sharon Milligan, Case Western Reserve University
- Scott Mueller, Dealer Tire LLC
- Sylvia Munodawafa, Accessible Art for All Project
- Christine Nelson, Team NEO
- Chinenye Nkemere, Enlightened Solutions
- AkuSika Nkomomackey, Africa House Enterprise
- Tony Panzica, Panzica Construction Co.
- Clarisa Pearl, Pearlystic Productions
- Shayna Pentecost, srpglass
- Karen Prasser, Chagrin Arts
- Bellamy Printz, Deep Dive Art Projects
- Sarah Raban, Pinwheel Gallery
- Andrew Ratcliff
- Cierra Rembert, SPACES
- Vince Robinson, Larchmere Cultural Arts
- Kole Robinson-Brooks, Kole Artistry
- April Roth
- Vanessa Rubin, Vocalist/Recording Artist
- Georgio Sabino, Building Bridges
- Kayli Salzano, artist
- Julie Schabel, Wave Space Summer Camps at CPL
- Charna Sherman, Sherman Law
- Marika Shioiri-Clark
- Tony Sias, Karamu House
- Lena Simovic, Lena Atomika
- Shanelle Smith-Whigham, KeyBank
- David Snider,
- Charmaine Spencer
- Ngina Terrence, Bossantii Music Group
- Veronica Thornton, Vee's Consulting LLC
- Peter Tompkins, Yes: The Secret to Life
- Diane Troyer
- Pamelia Tyree
- Susan Underwood, Robust Energies, Inc
- Alicia Vasquez
- Emanuel Wallace
- Gina Washington, 2 Morrow's Blackhouse
- Paul Westlake, DLR Group Westlake
- Sandi White, Shaker Arts Council (SHAC)
- Rebekah Wilhelm, Rebekah Wilhelm Studio
- Sumica Williams, Inner Canvas, and Reiki Infused Journaling for Women
- Regennia Williams, RASHAD Center, Inc.
- Michael Wilson, Michael Wilson USA
- Alexandria Woyton, Weigh Street Studios
- Leonard Young
- Zulma Zabala, The Center For Community Solutions
Opinion: Investments in artists pay dividends for regional economy
Source: Crain’s Cleveland Forum
Date: August 28, 2023
Abstract: Arts and culture play an outsized role in the economic and social vibrancy of Greater Cleveland. Some $9.1 billion is generated annually by Northeast Ohio’s creative economy industry — a mix of nonprofits, cultural businesses and individual artists — according to pre-pandemic research from Ohio Citizens for the Arts.
Knowledge Building
Workshops to Elevate Your Skills
You’ve got the creativity down. We are here to help you build the skills to better monetize your creative career. Through the generous support of Huntington, Assembly is delivering workshops around proposal-writing, financial skills, and other important practices that artists need for more economic stability.
Check back for more workshops.
RECORDING: Artist Statement and Proposal Writing Workshop
August 21, 2023, 5 p.m.
In partnership with The Cleveland Foundation, learn about the various types of proposals artists and creative entrepreneurs may encounter. Build a stronger artist statement and gain some writing tools to help you write your strongest project proposals.
- Boris Oicherman, Director of Grantmaking, Arts & Culture at The Cleveland Foundation, will discuss their available grant opportunity.
- Meg Matko, Director of Community Relationships, and independent artist will present information on writing compelling artist statements.
- Veronica “Ms. Vee” Thornton, Community Relations Consultant and owner of VEES Consulting will share information on proposal writing.
Entrepreneur in Residence Powered by
16 Local Artists Selected to Bring Transformational Projects to Redlined Communities in Cleveland
PRESS RELEASE: July 14, 2023
Media Contact: Malissa Bodmann; 216-536-7517
16 Local Artists Selected to Bring Transformational Projects to Redlined Communities in Cleveland
Assembly’s Creative Impact Fund Artists will work in 11 Cleveland neighborhoods and East Cleveland
CLEVELAND, OHIO — Assembly for the Arts has selected 16 local artists to create transformational arts projects in redlined communities that lack arts investment.
The Creative Impact Fund, funded by Cuyahoga County taxpayers through a $140,000 grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, will help to develop areas of significant arts activity in Cleveland and East Cleveland. This is the first grant program for artists in Cuyahoga County that is specifically focused on investing in historically redlined neighborhoods.
Jeremy V. Johnson, president and CEO of Assembly for the Arts, said the organization is excited to launch another artist funding opportunity. “The Creative Impact Fund is in line with Assembly’s mission of expanding resources and increasing the equity in Cleveland’s arts and culture scene, translating into 16 meaningful programs and experiences for both artists and residents. We are excited to welcome the first cohort of artists and get dollars into their hands so they, in turn, can hone their practice and help the redlined communities in which they create,” he said. “Arts are a powerful tool in creating community.”
The 16 artists, their projects and neighborhood location are listed below. The artists were selected through an application and panel review process.
- Shadi Ayoub
Let’s Print Together! (Visual Arts, Graphic Design, and Craft; St. Clair Superior, Clark Fulton, or Asiatown) - Alexander Corona
Raíces: Danzas de México (Dance; St. Clair Superior) - Moises De Freitas
Afro Brazilian Cultural Appreciation Initiative (Dance, Music, Writing/Literature; East Cleveland) - Dale Goode
Domestic Violence is Not Pretty (Visual Arts, East Cleveland) - Natasha Herbert
The Avenue Cleveland Youth Photography Program (Film/Media; Midtown, St. Clair Superior; Central-Kinsman; or East Cleveland) - Baba Jubal Harris
Heart Beat Drum Circle (Music; East Cleveland) - Stephanie Lassiter
The Girl (Film/Media; Mt. Pleasant) - Josh Maxwell
ROOTED (Visual Arts; Broadway-Slavic Village) - Adenike Harper
A Peace of Cake (Visual Arts; Central-Kinsman; North & South Collinwood) - Robin Robinson
Recapture the Spirit of Our Community Park (Visual Arts; Glenville) - Georgio Sabino
Artistic Jungle Series (Visual Arts, Fashion; Fairfax) - Julie Schabel
Wave Space Summer Camps (Visual Arts; North & South Collinwood; Hough; Central-Kinsman; Union Miles; or St. Clair Superior) - Ben Smith
The Splice Cream Spliced Team Dream Concert Series (Music & Visual Arts; Buckeye-Woodhill) - Julia Sosa
El Romantico (Theater, Writing/Literature; Clark Fulton) - Mary Thomas
U & I of Euclid Avenue (Visual Art; East Cleveland) - Linda Zolten Wood
Sustainable Arts with Zolten Wood Design & Collinwood Painted Rain Barrel Project (Visual Arts, Craft; East Cleveland and North Collinwood)
The Creative Impact Fund artists receive:
- $6,250, of which up to $2,500 is unrestricted support and $3,750 in project support
- Professional development opportunities, valued at $2,075, supported by the Entrepreneur in Residence powered by Huntington
- Support from Assembly’s staff who will advise project leads in attaining their project goals via marketing and professional development support and connections to institutional partners, potential collaborators or thought partners
- Assembly for the Arts membership
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
Cleveland names Rhonda K. Brown its first arts czar
Source: ideastream
Date: June 15, 2023
Abstract:
Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb announced Thursday the city’s first senior strategist for arts, culture and the creative economy.
Shaker Heights native Rhonda K. Brown most recently served as president at the City Colleges of Chicago Foundation. The Ohio State University graduate previously held development roles at Chicago’s Joffrey Ballet and Museum of Science and Industry. An artist herself, her parents founded the first for-profit, Black-owned fine art gallery in the country in 1980 in Shaker Heights.