At a fiery meeting, Cuyahoga Arts and Culture moves toward outsourcing a controversial grant program to Assembly for the Arts
Source: Steven Litt, cleveland.com
Date: April 20, 2023
Abstract:
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Cuyahoga Arts and Culture, the public agency that collects and distributes cigarette tax money for the arts across the county, appears to be moving toward offloading the management of a controversial grant program for individual artists.
During a fiery board meeting Wednesday at the main branch of the Cleveland Public Library downtown, the CAC board voted to award a $20,000 grant to the nonprofit Assembly for the Arts, Greater Cleveland’s new arts council, to “refresh’’ earlier research from 2017 about how best to provide grants to individual artists.
Cleveland Scores Highest Among Midwestern Communities on Two Key Measurements of Arts Vibrancy
Analysis from the 2022 Arts Vibrancy Index reveals Cleveland, Ohio with a score in the top 1% of communities on measurements of Arts Dollars.
The city shows particular strengths in the amount of earned revenue generated from artistic programs and the total compensation paid to arts and cultural employees per capita – higher than all other large midwestern communities on these two sub-measures.
Assembly for the Arts is proud to have played a role in partnership with Cuyahoga Arts & Culture in providing important community context for the data.
Arts group hopes grants will spur change in long-ignored neighborhoods in Greater Cleveland
Source: Signal Cleveland
Date: April 14, 2023
Abstract:
Few people associate redlining and art. Assembly for the Arts says that redlined communities often lack arts investment, including “areas of significant arts activity” that can help make a neighborhood more walkable. Assembly’s Creative Impact Fund (CIF), which is accepting applications through May 7, will award $6,250 grants to artists and artist collectives to create “transformative arts projects” in 16 Greater Cleveland communities.
City Hall seeks its first high-ranking advocate to boost arts and culture as a major economic driver
Source: Steven Litt, cleveland.com
Date: April 13, 2023
Abstract:
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Cleveland is widely known as a haven of the arts with strong local philanthropy and public funding through Cuyahoga County’s cigarette tax for arts and culture. The city’s government, however, has not been known for playing a consistent and highly visible role in supporting the city’s cultural riches. That could soon change. The city is now seeking applicants for a new high-level position in the office of Mayor Justin Bibb called Senior Strategist, Arts, Culture and Creative Economy.
Where Cleveland artists can affordably live and create is up for discussion Thursday
Source: ideastream
Date: April 10, 2023
Abstract:
Greater Cleveland’s creative sector, still recovering from the pandemic, is considering where it will live and work in the future. A recent survey of Cuyahoga County artists receiving ARPA funding found that 79% were concerned about having enough money to pay bills. A panel discussion Thursday brings together artists, community leaders and real estate professionals focused on ways to make housing and creative space more accessible and affordable.
Assembly Hosts Cleveland Planning Director and Community Leaders to Discuss Artist Space
Conversation to center on finding solutions for artists’ spaces to live/work/create
CLEVELAND, OHIO — As development projects expand throughout Greater Cleveland, often pioneered by artists and creatives, there is a long-standing challenge in Cleveland’s creative community: where can artists affordably live, work and create? Assembly for the Arts will bring together the community to discuss this important economic issue on April 13 as part of Assembly’s REvision: Creative Spaces community conversation series.
Jeremy V. Johnson, president and CEO of Assembly for the Arts, said the scarcity of affordable space for artists is a genuine concern in the region. “We face a serious issue of artists not having the space they need to support their creative businesses, which are an important economic engine in the community,” he said. “This community conversation is designed to bridge communication among experts, including artists, to brainstorm real solutions to space access and ownership.
The ”Creative Spaces” discussion is the second of Assembly’s series REvision — pressing issues. real discussion. new possibilities. REvision is a series of thought-provoking presentations and community dialogues focused on re-envisioning the state of Greater Cleveland’s creative industries. Topics will address pressing issues in our arts and culture community, create points of discussion and offer possibilities for positive change and equity. REvision is free to attend.
The Thursday, April 13 session will feature:
- Joyce Pan Huang, Director, Cleveland City Planning Commission
- Aisia Jones, Vice President of Community Empowerment, MidTown Cleveland
- Ajha Dean Phillips, Cleveland Black Arts Movement
- Julie Schabel, Wave Space Studio
- Ismail Samad, Loiter East Cleveland
- Sarah Paul, Associate Professor of Sculpture + Expanded Media, Cleveland Institute of Art
The “Creative Spaces” discussion will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 13, at SPACES Gallery, 2900 Detroit Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44113. To register for this free event, visit Assembly’s website at https://assemblycle.org/creative-spaces/.
ABOUT ASSEMBLY
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
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