CLEVELAND-ELYRIA RANKED 12th AMONG 20 MOST ARTS-VIBRANT LARGE COMMUNITIES IN THE NATION

The 8th Annual Arts Vibrancy Index from SMU DataArts Compiles List of 40 Most Vibrant Arts Communities Across the U.S., Based on Measures of Per Capita Supply, Demand and Government Support for the Arts

CLEVELAND, OH, November 13, 2023 – SMU DataArts, the National Center for Arts Research, released its 8th Arts Vibrancy Index, which identifies Cleveland-Elyria as number 12 in the list of 20 large communities in the United States through an analysis of the level of supply, demand, and government support for the arts in more than 900 communities across the country. Organized into three separate lists based on community population size, totaling 40 communities across the country, this year’s Arts Vibrancy Index is the first to include numerical rankings since 2020, a reflection of arts organizations returning to in-person activities and performances following the easing of pandemic restrictions. Cleveland, along with neighboring Elyria, has consistently appeared on the Arts Vibrancy Index since its debut on the rankings in 2018. 

This year, Cleveland is ranked 12th on the annual list of large communities in the nation -- the highest ranking it has ever achieved.     

Related research by SMU DataArts shows that Local Arts Agencies (LAAs) like Assembly for the Arts and Cuyahoga Arts & Culture are powerful catalysts of arts vibrancy which ensure that the arts remain an integral part of community life. Fluctuations in a community’s ranking occur from year to year for a variety of reasons, including the opening of an arts district or closing of a performance space as well as local economic conditions. 

Cuyahoga Arts & Culture (CAC) is the region’s largest funder for arts and culture. Since 2006, CAC has invested $230 million in over 470 organizations, including SMU Data Arts, to gather and share local nonprofit arts data through CAC’s grant application process.

“It’s important to have data to demonstrate the strength of Cuyahoga County’s creative community,” said Jill M. Paulsen, executive director of Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. “Each year, CAC-funded organizations contribute information to SMU DataArts to help us tell the story of the sector’s impact and shine a light on their work.”

Jeremy V. Johnson, CEO and president of Assembly for the Arts, said, “Cleveland is now ranked 12th in the nation in terms of Arts Providers, Arts Dollars, and Government Support, joining the company of arts-heavy cities such as New York City, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia. The Arts Vibrancy Index demonstrates the arts’ enduring importance, resiliency, and vibrancy in Greater Cleveland, which is why it’s essential to maintain public support for this important part of our economy.”

Arts-vibrant communities can be found in every region of the United States—a finding which arises from an objective analysis of the data, and not from selecting communities by hand to achieve geographic representation.

“The arts and culture sector was hit hard by the pandemic, and some organizations and communities are still recovering. The Index is an opportunity for communities to affirm and celebrate the individuals and organizations that are the sources of arts vibrancy in their region, whether that’s artists who have mastered a local craft tradition over generations, a cultural festival that families enjoy year after year, or a cherished historic theater, museum, or arts-education center. For organizations, funders, local citizens, and public officials, the Arts Vibrancy Index is a powerful resource that leverages data-driven evidence to illuminate how the arts contribute to an area’s economy and public life,” stated Dr. Zannie Voss, Director of SMU DataArts. “One way that public leaders can spark arts vibrancy in their communities is by expanding funding for local arts agencies, which spurs arts employment, stimulates more artistic activity, and increases the strength of geographically dispersed arts-vibrant cultural resources throughout communities.”

The Lists

In addition to the top arts-vibrant communities listed in the Arts Vibrancy Index, arts-vibrancy scores for every county in the United States can be viewed on an interactive map that identifies arts and cultural strengths that are present in every community. (Also known as Metropolitan or Micropolitan Statistical Areas, these communities have boundaries that are defined by the United States Census Bureau.)

Large Communities (population: 1 million +)

On the list of the most arts-vibrant communities with populations of 1 million or more, one city is new to the list: Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI. San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA, sits at the top of the list for the first time since 2018 and Philadelphia, PA, has moved into the top 5 for the first time ever. After debuting in the 20th spot in 2020, Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN, has skyrocketed to the 11th spot.

  1. San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA
  2. New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ
  3. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
  4. Boston, MA
  5. Philadelphia, PA
  6. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
  7. Frederick-Gaithersburg-Rockville, MD
  8. Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, TN
  9. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA
  10. New Orleans-Metairie, LA
  11. Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
  12. Cleveland-Elyria, OH
  13. Cambridge-Newton-Framingham, MA
  14. Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
  15. Pittsburgh, PA
  16. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
  17. Seattle-Bellevue-Kent, WA
  18. Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
  19. Chicago-Naperville-Evanston, IL
  20. St. Louis, MO-IL

 

Medium Communities (population: 100,000 – 1 million)

Medium communities are home to populations ranging from 100,000 to 1 million people. Canton-Massillon, OH, is new to this list, while Santa Fe, NM; San Rafael, CA; and Pittsfield, MA, have appeared on the list of top medium communities every year since 2015. Ann Arbor and Kalamazoo-Portage, MI, are returning to this list following their 2022 debuts. 

  1. Pittsfield, MA
  2. Santa Fe, NM
  3. Ithaca, NY
  4. San Rafael, CA
  5. Kalamazoo-Portage, MI
  6. Boulder, CO
  7. Missoula, MT
  8. Canton-Massillon, OH
  9. Burlington-South Burlington, VT
  10. Ann Arbor, MI

Small Communities (population <100,000)

Small communities are defined as areas with populations under 100,000. Jackson, WY-ID, and Bennington, VT, have made the list of small communities every year since 2015, with Jackson maintaining its ranking as first among small communities for the past four years.

  1. Jackson, WY-ID
  2. Brevard, NC
  3. Steamboat Springs, CO
  4. Bennington, VT
  5. Easton, MD
  6. Glenwood Springs, CO
  7. Hailey, ID
  8. Juneau, AK
  9. Brookings, SD
  10. Oneonta, NY

The overall Arts Vibrancy Index is composed of 13 unique measures which cover aspects of supply, demand, and public support for arts and culture, and are adjusted for cost of living and population differences among communities. In this year’s index, the analysis approach was updated to weight the 13 inputs based on their relative explanatory power for the underlying concept of arts vibrancy. This approach improves measurement consistency in the face of data availability delays or other changes in individual datasets from year to year. All financial metrics have been adjusted for cost of living in order to level the playing field. The cost of doing business varies based on local conditions, so the same dollar goes further in some communities than others.

ABOUT ASSEMBLY FOR THE ARTS

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, and Fred & Laura Ruth Bidwell. www.assemblycle.org

ABOUT CUYAHOGA ARTS & CULTURE

Cuyahoga Arts & Culture (CAC) is the region’s largest funder for arts and culture, helping hundreds of organizations in Cuyahoga County connect millions of people to cultural experiences each year. Since 2006, CAC has invested $230 million in over 470 organizations, making our community a more vibrant place to live, work and play. CAC is a separate government entity and a political subdivision of the State of Ohio. For more information, visit cacgrants.org.

ABOUT SMU DATAARTS

SMU DataArts, the National Center for Arts Research, is a project of the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University. The mission of SMU DataArts is to provide and engage both organizations and individuals with the evidence-based insights needed to collectively build strong, vibrant, and equitable arts communities. Its research efforts range from academic papers published in leading journals, applied research undertaken with community partners, and actionable insights shared directly with arts practitioners. Its programs provide business intelligence tools and resources to help arts leaders leverage data to answer critical management questions and connect research analyses to their own work. Recent publications include research reports on emergence from the COVID-19 crisis; the alchemy that drives high performing arts organizations of color; audience diversity, equity and inclusion in large performing arts organizations; impact of investments made in diverse creative communities; and more. 

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Media Contacts:

Malissa Bodmann

216-536-7517

by Assembly for the Arts

Groundbreaking Study Reveals Economic and Social Impact of $533-Million Nonprofit Arts and Culture Sector in Cuyahoga County

Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 Study Centers Equity in Economic Research and Highlights Vital Role of Arts and Culture in Building More Livable Communities

CLEVELAND, Oct. 12, 2023 — Assembly for the Arts today announced that Cuyahoga County’s nonprofit arts and culture industry generated $533,156,171 in economic activity in 2022, according to the newly released Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6), an economic and social impact study conducted by Americans for the Arts. That economic activity — $389.8 million in spending by nonprofit arts and culture organizations and an additional $143.3 million in event-related spending by their audiences — supported 8,637 jobs and generated $104.2 million in local, state, and federal government revenue. Spending by arts and culture audiences generates valuable commerce to local merchants, a value-add that few other industries can compete with.

Building on its 30-year legacy as the largest and most inclusive study of its kind, AEP6 uses a rigorous methodology to document the economic and social contributions of the nation’s nonprofit arts and culture industry. In Cuyahoga County, more than 1,000 audience members participated in the survey and 172 nonprofit organizations supplied financial and audience information – about 35% of nonprofit arts and culture organizations in the county. The study also surveyed audiences of color for the first time ever.

“The results of this study affirm what many of us in the arts community already knew: the nonprofit arts and culture sector is an important economic contributor in Cuyahoga County. More than that, a vibrant arts and culture community keeps residents engaged in their communities and brings people from outside the area to experience the world-class cultural experiences we are so fortunate to have here,” said Jeremy V. Johnson, president and CEO of Assembly for the Arts, which coordinated the study in Cuyahoga County.  “We can confidently say the nonprofit arts and culture sector’s economic impact is much greater than this survey reports considering just 35% of Cuyahoga County arts nonprofits participated in this voluntary survey.”

Nationally and locally, the extensive research reveals proportional economic and community impacts among attendees at BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) and ALAANA (African, Latinx, Asian, Arab, Native American) organizations to the overall national average.

Chinenye Nkemere, chair of Assembly for the Arts’ Board of Trustees, said it's important that this study now includes communities of color in the data collection. “Cuyahoga County has a rich history of supporting BIPOC and ALAANA culture through the arts. It’s vital that national surveys like AEP6 collect data to a broad spectrum of audience members. These performances are critical to celebrating and highlighting the creative expertise of communities of color — and moreover, that audiences and organizations of color are essential economic contributors of our local economy,” Nkemere said.

Key figures from Cuyahoga County’s AEP6 study include:

  • Cuyahoga County’s arts and culture industry generates $143.3 million in event-related spending by its audiences.
  • 19.9% of arts and culture attendees were from outside the county in which the activity took place. Their spending is vital income for local merchants.
  • 88.4% of respondents agreed that the activity or venue they were attending was “a source of neighborhood pride for the community.”
  • 86.2% said they would “feel a sense of loss if that activity or venue was no longer available.”

Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne applauded Cuyahoga County’s participation in the survey. “Our arts and culture scene is a big part of what makes Cuyahoga County a vibrant place to live and to visit. This survey demonstrates how important it is to residents that we have world-class institutions, smaller arts groups and everything in between. There’s no doubt that when we support the arts, we are investing in Cuyahoga County’s economic and community well-being,” Ronayne said.

Rhonda K. Brown, Senior Strategist Arts, Culture & Creative Economy for the City of Cleveland, said she is excited about the findings. “The results of this survey affirm that when we talk about how to stimulate economic development in Cleveland, arts and culture must be at the table because of the sheer impact they have on our local economy. It’s equally important to acknowledge the role arts and culture play in fostering community pride all around the city of Cleveland,” Brown said.

Nationally, the Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6) study reveals that America’s nonprofit arts and culture sector is a $151.7 billion industry—one that supports 2.6 million jobs and generates $29.1 billion in government revenue.

“Arts and culture organizations have a powerful ability to attract and hold dollars in the community longer. They employ people locally, purchase goods and services from nearby businesses, and produce the authentic cultural experiences that are magnets for visitors, tourists, and new residents,” said Nolen V. Bivens, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts. “When we invest in nonprofit arts and culture, we strengthen our economy and build more livable communities.”

The Participating Arts and Culture Attendees

1,011 people completed the AEP6 audience-intercept survey while attending a performance, event, or exhibit — or otherwise visiting a cultural event or facility —in Cuyahoga County during the period from May 2022 through June 2023. Assembly for the Arts extends its thanks to the following local partner organizations that promoted and allowed Assembly for the Arts to conduct the audience intercept surveying at their events/venues:

Beck Center for the Arts; CAN Journal; Cleveland Institute of Art; Cleveland Institute of Music; Cleveland Museum of Art; Cleveland Play House; Cleveland Public Theatre; Dance Cleveland; Dancing Wheels; Djapo Cultural Arts Institute; Dobama Theatre; Future Ink Graphics (FIG); Great Lakes African American Writer’s Conference; Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival (GCUFF); Julia De Burgos Cultural Arts Center; Kaiser Gallery; Karamu House; Les Delices; Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland (moCa); Museum of Creative Human Art (MOCHA); Musical Theatre Project; Near West Theatre; Oh Sew Powerful; RidAll Green Partnership; The Cleveland International Film Festival; The Cleveland Orchestra; The International Women’s Air and Space Museum; The Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage; Rock & Roll Hall of Fame; ThirdSpace Action Lab; Twelve Literary Arts; Western Reserve Historical Society.

The Participating Nonprofit Arts and Culture Organizations

This study could not have been completed without the cooperation and participation of the 172 nonprofit arts and culture organizations in Cuyahoga County, listed below, that provided the financial and attendance information necessary for the analysis.

A-C

Academy for Dramatic Arts; America Asian Pacific Islander Organization; America Scores Cleveland; Apollos Fire the Cleveland Baroque Orchestra; Art House; Art Therapy Studio; Artful Ohio; Artists Archives of the Western Reserve; Arts Impact; Assembly for the Arts; Association of African American Cultural Gardens; Association of Concert Bands; Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music; Bay Village Community Band; Bay Village Historical Society; Bayarts; Beck Center for the Arts; Blue Water Chamber Orchestra; Borderlight Festival; Brite Winter Cleveland; Broadway School of Music & the Arts; Brook Park Library Friends; Cain Park (City of Cleveland Heights); Cassidy Theatre; Cavani String Quartet; Center for Arts-Inspired Learning; Chagrin Arts; Chagrin Documentary Film Festival; Chagrin Valley Little Theatre; Chamberfest Cleveland; Children’s Museum of Cleveland; Choral Arts Society of Cleveland; Cis Music Boosters; City Ballet of Cleveland; Citymusic Cleveland; Cleveland Architecture Foundation; Cleveland Art Association; Cleveland Arts Prize; Cleveland Ballet; Cleveland Botanical Garden; Cleveland Cello Society; Cleveland Chamber Choir; Cleveland Chamber Music Society; Cleveland Classical Guitar Society; Cleveland Comedy Festival; Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation; Cleveland Dance Project Company; Cleveland Institute of Art; Cleveland Institute of Music; Cleveland International Film Festival ; Cleveland Jazz Orchestra; Cleveland Museum Of Art; Cleveland Museum of Natural History; The Cleveland Orchestra; Cleveland Opera; Cleveland Photographic Workshop; Cleveland Play House; Cleveland Pops Orchestra; Cleveland Print Room; Cleveland Public Theatre; Cleveland Restoration Society; Cleveland Rocks Past Present and Future; Cleveland School of Dance; Cleveland School of the Arts; Cleveland State University Art Gallery; Cleveland Uncommon Sound Project; Collective Arts Network; Convergence-Continuum; Cuyahoga Community College Jazzfest

D-F

DANCEcleveland; Dancing Wheels Company & School; Djapo Cultural Arts Institute; Dobama Theatre; Donauschwabens German American Cultural Center; Downtown Cleveland Alliance; Dunham Tavern Museum; Encore Chamber Music Institute; Ensemble Theater; Foluke Cultural Arts Center; Foundry Project Arts Incubator; Friends of the Beachwood Library; Friends of the Berea Library; Friends of the Chagrin Falls Library; Friends of The Cleveland Orchestra; Friends of The Mayfield Library; Friends of The Olmsted Falls Library; Friends of the Solon Library; Friends of the South Euclid-Lyndhurst Library; Friends of the Southeast (Bedford) Library; Friends of the Strongsville Library; Front Exhibition Company; Future Ink Graphics (FIG)

G-I

Graffiti Heart Corporation; Great Lakes African American Writers Conference; Great Lakes Science Center; Great Lakes Theater Festival; Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival; Groundworks Dancetheater; Heights Arts Collaborative; Historical Society of Old Brooklyn; Ideastream; Ingenuity Cleveland; Inlet Dance Theatre; Institutional Community Development Corporation; Intermuseum Conservation Association

J-L

Jewish Federation of Cleveland; Julia De Burgos Cultural Arts Center; Karamu House; Kings & Queens of Art; Kulture Kids; Lake Erie Ink: A Writing Space For Youth; Lake Erie Nature & Science Center; Land Studio; Latinus Theater Company; Les Delices; LGBT Legacy Project; Literary Cleveland; Local 4 Music Fund

M-O

Maelstrom Collaborative Arts; Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage; Mandel Jewish Community Center Arts and Culture Program; Morgan Art of Papermaking Conservatory & Educational Foundation; Morrisondance; Murphy Irish Arts Center; Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland; Musical Upcoming Stars in the Classics; Naach Di Cleveland; Nature Center at Shaker Lakes; Near West Theatre; North Coast Men's Chorus; Northern Ohio Children's Performing Music Foundation; Oh Sew Powerful; Open Doors

P-R

Parma Symphony Orchestra; Piano International Association of Northern Ohio; Playhouse Square Foundation; Praxis Integrated Fiber Workshop; Quire Cleveland; Radio on the Lake Theatre; Rainey Institute; Refresh Collective; Renovare Music; Restore Cleveland Hope; Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum; Rocky River Chamber Music Society; Roots of American Music

S-U

Sculpture Center; Shaker Heights Interest Group; Shaker Historical Society; Solon Community Band; Spaces; Talespinner Childrens Theatre; The Brecksville Theatre; The Children's Museum Of Cleveland; The City Club of Cleveland; The Cleveland Orchestra; The Cleveland Winds (The Cleveland Wind Symphony); The Contemporary Youth Orchestra; The Italian American Museum of Cleveland; The Music Settlement; The Musical Theater Project; Ukrainian Museum-Archives; United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Cleveland (Arts Programming); University Circle (UCI) Arts & Culture Program

V-Z

Valley Art Center; Verb Ballets; Wagner Museum of Art; Wake Up and Lives Actors Studio; Waterloo Arts; Western Reserve Chorale; Western Reserve Historical Society; Westlake Historical Society; Zygote Press

The full report, a map of the 373 study regions, and a two-page economic impact summary for each, can be found at AEP6.AmericansForTheArts.org. Cuyahoga County’s report can be downloaded at assemblycle.org/aep6.

For more information,  follow @Americans4Arts

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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, and Fred & Laura Beth Bidwell. www.assemblycle.org

The Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 study was conducted by Americans for the Arts, the nation's leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education. It was supported by The Ruth Lilly Endowment Fund of Americans for the Arts. Americans for the Arts' 297 study partners contributed both time and financial support to the study. For a full list of the communities who participated in the Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 study, visit AEP6.AmericansForTheArts.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Malissa Bodmann
malissa@compellingcommunicationsllc.com
216-536-7517

by Assembly for the Arts

ASSEMBLY FOR THE ARTS BOARD ELECTS NEW LEADERSHIP

All-female slate of officers will lead the arts council board during critical time to secure additional public funding for the arts 

CLEVELAND, OHIO — Assembly for the Arts’ Trustees have elected a new slate of all-female officers to lead the nonprofit regional arts council for greater Cleveland. Their work will be instrumental in generating more resources and elevating equity for arts and culture in Cuyahoga County and beyond.  

Chinenye is a strategic thinker. She has over 10 years of experience in asset building, community engagement and education advocacy. She holds a B.A. in Political Science, African Studies and African American Studies from The Ohio State University, with a focus on race and electoral politics.  

ChiChi is a proud Teach for America-Houston alumna, teaching middle school American History, Texas History and English. She gained essential skills in community development and wraparound services for Black and Latino students and families. 

She is focused on creating large-scale systems change predicated on radically inclusive racial and gender equity. As such, she co-founded Enlightened Solutions, a social advocacy research think tank focused on the lived experiences of Black Women. 

ChiChi is the current Board Chair for The Assembly for the Arts, the VP of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the Junior League of Cleveland and board member of Preterm Cleveland and member of the NAACP of Greater Cleveland. She also served as a member of Mayor Justin Bibb's Transition Team (Equity in Action).

The new officers elected at a recent meeting of the Board of Trustees are:  

  • Chinenye (ChiChi) Nkemere, Enlightened Solutions - Chair 
  • Carrie Carpenter, Huntington National Bank - Vice Chair 
  • Shanelle Smith Whigham, KeyBank - Vice Chair 
  • Kelly Falcone-Hall, Western Reserve Historical Society - Secretary 
  • Sandra Madison, Robert P. Madison International Inc. - Treasurer 

Kathy Blackman from The Grog Shop has also joined Assembly’s board. 

 “Assembly was founded two years ago with a mission to increase equity in the arts, and our board has always been purposefully diverse to represent many points of view. I’m excited to work with our new Board officers, all of whom have distinguished backgrounds as advocates, especially as we launch into our essential work of increasing funding for artists and arts organizations. We are very fortunate to have these smart and savvy women leading Assembly’s board during this important time for our community,” said Jeremy V. Johnson, president and CEO of Assembly for the Arts. 

More information about Assembly’s board is available on Assembly’s website at https://assemblycle.org/about/board-of-trustees/.  

 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 

by Assembly for the Arts

Announcing the 2023 Arts and Culture Honor Roll

The following public officials were recognized in 2023 for their contributions to arts and cultural policy:

  • Senator Sherrod Brown, United States Senate
  • Senator Matt Dolan, The Ohio Senate
  • Councilwoman Yvonne Conwell, Cuyahoga County Council

Assembly for the Arts recognized U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ohio Senator Matt Dolan (R-24) and Cuyahoga County District 7 Councilwoman Yvonne Conwell during its annual Public Officials Recognition Breakfast. Brown, Dolan and Conwell were recognized for their contributions to arts and cultural policy and their advocacy for the creative economy in Cuyahoga County.

The Public Officials Recognition Breakfast is an annual tradition for arts and culture supporters that began in 2015. The event is an important recognition of public-private partnerships throughout creative industries in Northeast Ohio. Arts leaders, corporate representatives, artists, and community members of all kinds attend to connect and build relationships with government officials. KeyBank sponsored this year’s Public Officials Recognition Breakfast.

More information at www.assemblycle.org.

Mayor Keith Ari Benjamin, Village Of Bratenahl
Mayor Annette M. Blackwell, City Of Maple Heights
Jake Sinatra, Cuyahoga Arts & Culture
Donna Collins, Ohio Arts Council
Councilman Kevin Conwell, City of Cleveland
J Bradley Deane, Office of Senator Sherrod Brown, U.S. Senate
Mayor Benjamin Holbert III, Village Of Woodmere
Peter Lawson Jones, Ohio Arts Council
Councilman Judson Kline, Orange Village Council
Councilman Nathaniel Martin, City of East Cleveland
Jill Paulsen, Cuyahoga Arts & Culture
Tarra Petras, City Of Cleveland
David Razum, Office of Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne
Councilwoman Sandy Spinks, City of Bedford
Mayor Kim Thomas, City Of Richmond Heights
Councilmember Meredith Turner, Cuyahoga County Council

View Photos from the Breakfast

by Assembly for the Arts

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

by Assembly for the Arts

Artist Engagement and Planning Update

ARTIST ENGAGEMENT AND PLANNING UPDATE

Assembly for the Arts has received a grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture to help shape artist funding in the community. This means over the next several months, we will engage artists and residents and listen to their ideas on the best ways to support artists, both financial and non-financial.

Assembly is designing a focused listening, engagement, and planning effort with artists and residents that will result in a community-driven plan for how CAC’s 2024 Support for Artist funds will be spent.

Assembly and CAC are committed to expanding the pie and increasing equity in Cleveland’s arts and culture sector. We are excited for this next phase of our organizations’ work together.

Stay tuned for more soon. If you’d like to sign up for updates, make sure you receive our newsletter.

by Assembly for the Arts

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.

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SMU Data Arts Top 20 Large Community Arts Vibancy Index 2022

by Assembly for the Arts

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:

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

 

by Assembly for the Arts

Amplify the arts within a new administration

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.

APPLY HERE

by Assembly for the Arts

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 

by Assembly for the Arts