About the Creative Impact Fund 

The Assembly for the Arts Creative Impact Fund (CIF) will be awarded to sixteen (16) artists, art collectives, and informal groups with $6,250 for flexible funding and project-based placemaking. Our goal with this Fund is to support the investment and growth of transformative arts projects with a focus in redlined communities that lack arts investment, developing areas of significant arts activity, and promoting increased walkability. This Fund will help lay the groundwork for the City of Cleveland’s Rescue & Transformation Plan, which identified Arts and Neighborhood Amenities as a priority.    

The Creative Impact Fund is open to individual artists or art collectives of all expressions, including but not limited to painting, sculpture, photography, film/motion pictures, dance, ballet, theatre, music, comedy/improv, writing/literature, architecture, design, and fashion. In addition to funds, CIF also includes professional development, marketing support, and connections (creative, business, and institutional). Priority will be given to artists of color and art collectives with diverse representation. The Creative Impact Fund is funded by Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. Individual artists, multi-disciplinary artist collectives, and informal groups are encouraged to apply.   

The Creative Impact Fund Includes: 

• $6,250 includes up to $2,500 in unrestricted support and $3,750 in project support  
• 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    

Eligibility

• The Creative Impact Fund is open to individual artists and artist collectives that reside in Cuyahoga County.
• Applicants must be 18 years of age or older.
• Applicants cannot be staff or board members of Assembly for the Arts or Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.
• Applicant projects must be centered around arts and culture and focused in creative discipline including, but not limited to, visual art, media/film, dance, theater, music, comedy/improv, literature, design and/or craft.
• Eligible Creative Impact Fund projects must take place in one of the following neighborhoods:
  • Asiatown
  • Broadway-Slavic Village
  • Buckeye-Woodhill
  • Central-Kinsman
  • Clark Fulton
  • East Cleveland
  • Fairfax
  • Glenville
  • Hough
  • Lee Harvard
  • Midtown
  • Mr. Pleasant
  • North Collinwood
  • Shaker Square
  • South Collinwood
  • St. Clair Superior
  • Union Miles

• Applicants do not need to reside in one of listed neighborhoods to be eligible for this program, however they must be able to demonstrate partnership or collaboration with residents of the community where their project is being proposed.
• Only one application per artist will be accepted. Please note: artists applying as part of a collective, will not be eligible to submit an individual application.

How to Apply

Interested artists and teams can apply using the online application found on this Assembly web page using the Apply button above.

Paper applications will be accepted for accessibility reasons on a case-by-case basis. If you have a disability and require assistance in applying for CIF, please contact cif@assemblycle.org

The CIF application is available in English only. Spanish translation services are available upon request.

Selection Criteria 

Applications will be evaluated for funds based on the following criteria:

• Artist or collective demonstrates past creative project management experience
• Artists or collectives that have limited past creative or project experience must be able to illustrate a plan to support the development of their proposed project
• Project is feasible within the confines of the proposed budget
• Project centers arts and culture and stimulates the investment and growth of redlined communities in the City of Cleveland or the City of East Cleveland
• Project is innovative and imaginative and demonstrates engagement with the community

Review Process

CIF grantees will be selected by a 3-5 person jury that includes artists, administrators, and community leaders from outside of the arts and culture industry, with one member of the jury from outside Greater Cleveland.

For questions and full program details, see the Program Guidelines and FAQ buttons above.

For additional questions, please email cif@assemblycle.org

Creative Impact Fund Information Sessions

Learn more about the Creative Impact Fund and how to apply at our upcoming info sessions.

Wed, March 22 / 4-5:30pm at East Cleveland Public Library 

Tues, March 28 / 12-1:30 pm via Zoom

Thurs, March 30 / 6-7:30pm at Union Miles Development Corp

FAQ 

How much of the $6,250 should be project vs. flexible funds? Awardees can use up to $2,500 (maximum) as flexible funding and the remaining $3,750 must go towards your project.

What does flexible funding and project funding mean? Flexible funding means the funds are unrestricted and monies can be used to support both yourself and/or the project. Project funds are to be used to cover costs for developing, producing, and presenting your project. A budget is required as part of the CIF application. We encourage good practice around project management, budgeting, planning, and documenting. Recipients will have the accountability of budgeting and keeping documentation of expenses for final reporting, including receipts.

In addition to project and flexible funds, what else do CIF awardees receive? In addition to the $6,250, artists/collectives will receive support from Assembly’s staff who will be available to advise project leads in support of their project goals and needs. This includes connections to institutional partners, potential collaborators or thought partners, professional development, and marketing support. Awardees will also receive a complimentary Assembly for the Arts membership.

Are there any geography restrictions? Applicants must reside in Cuyahoga County.

Who is this Fund for? Open to individual artists, art collectives or informal groups (ages 18 and older) of all creative expressions, including but not limited to painting, sculpture, photography, film/motion pictures, dance, ballet, theatre, music, comedy/improv, writing/literature, architecture, design, fashion, archaeology, history, natural history, or the natural sciences. In addition to funds, CIF also includes professional development, marketing support, and connections (creative, business, and institutional). Preference will be given to artists or art collectives who reside in redlined communities.