History of Support for Artists
Because Cuyahoga Arts & Culture was created to make grants to nonprofits, we do exactly that through our Support for Artists grant program—invest in the nonprofits that are best equipped to deliver support and services to Cuyahoga County artists.
In 2017, the Support for Artists Planning Team (SFAPT) was formed to bring community voices to the table to help identify new approaches to provide meaningful support to artists. The planning team was a group of Cuyahoga County residents – both artists and community leaders—who contributed their expertise and time to identify approaches to provide support for artists and creative people in Cuyahoga County.
The planning team was a working collaboration among team members, residents, CAC staff, and CAC board members. Informed by Cuyahoga County residents and artists, the SFAPT made its recommendations to CAC’s Board of Trustees in December 2017.
View a fact sheet about the Support for Artists Planning Team.
At its February 13, 2018 meeting, Cuyahoga Arts & Culture's Board of Trustees approved a detailed workplan with milestones for providing support to Cuyahoga County artists in 2018 and beyond, based on the work of the Support for Artists Planning Team.
Team Members
Donald Black Jr., artist, educator, consultant – Acerbic
Bryan Bowser, program director and assistant professor, arts management & entrepreneurship - Baldwin Wallace University
Talise Campbell, artistic director - Djapo Cultural Arts Institute
Gwen Garth, founder & ceo - Kings & Queens of Art, board member - Cuyahoga Arts & Culture
Mr. Soul, artist, illustrator - Mr. Soul 216
Letitia Lopez, executive director - Julia De Burgos Cultural Arts Center
Liz Maugans, co-founder, executive director - Zygote Press
Vince Robinson, co-owner, musician - Larchmere Arts
Jake Sinatra, manager - special projects & communications - Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, musician
Christina Vassallo, executive director - SPACES
Marc White, regenerative specialist - Rid-All Green Partnership, fashion designer
Jordan Wong, designer, illustrator, artist - WONGFACE
Timeline
December 2016 – CAC Board of Trustees Identify Key Elements for Future Artist Support
May 2017 – Support for Artists Planning Team formed by CAC
June 12, 2017 – Community Innovation Network Selected to Facilitate SFAPT
June 28, 2017 – SFAPT Kickoff and Retreat – Bi-Weekly Meetings Begin
September 16, 2017 – Public World Café for Cuyahoga County Artists Held at Rainey Institute
November 2017 – Public Town Hall Meeting
December 2017 – SFAPT to Present Recommended Approaches to CAC Board of Trustees
Other Programs
From 2009-2016, Cuyahoga Arts & Culture invested in the Creative Workforce Fellowship, a program of Arts Cleveland (formerly Community Partnership for Arts & Culture). During this time, CAC made grants totaling more than $4-million to provide fellowship support to more than 160 artists in Cuyahoga County.
Learn More
For more information contact Jake Sinatra, manager - communications & special projects, at jsinatra@cacgrants.org or 216.515.8303 x103.
