Source: Cleveland.com
Date: December 27, 2023
Abstract:
Cuyahoga County’s public funding for the arts has recently been featured in the local news cycle. Cuyahoga Arts and Culture (CAC), the agency responsible for disbursing funds collected from the countywide cigarette tax, is managing a 50% drop in revenues since the tax began to be collected in 2007. Local news articles have highlighted — among other things:
1) Issues surrounding CAC’s funding of individual artists.
2) Highly contentious CAC board meetings, and
3) Questions on the feasibility of a countywide levy campaign to increase the 30-cent-a-pack cigarette tax amid infighting among leaders in the arts community.