CAC’s 2013 Report to the Community Demonstrates Positive Impact of Public Funding for Arts and Culture in Cuyahoga County

21. April 2014 Staff News Release

Cuyahoga Arts & Culture (CAC) today released new data demonstrating that public funding for arts and culture continues to have a positive impact on the residents of Cuyahoga County. The data, as well as stories highlighting the impact of funding on CAC-funded organizations, are highlighted in CAC’s 2013 Report to the Community, “Your Investment. Strengthening Community.” A PDF of the Report to the Community is available at cacgrants.org.

“Public investment in arts and culture benefits Cuyahoga County by enhancing educational opportunities for residents of all ages, enriching our quality of life, and supporting our economy,” said Sari Feldman, president of Cuyahoga Arts & Culture’s Board of Trustees. “We look forward to continuing our efforts to strengthen the community by investing in arts and culture.”

The Report highlights ways that Cuyahoga Arts & Culture is making a difference for our community through its support of cultural organizations of all sizes. These organizations help:

  • Enhance education for Cuyahoga County residents of all ages, from classes and field trips for elementary school students to programs at senior centers all over the County. In 2012, CAC-funded organizations served more than 1.2 million children.
  • Enrich our quality of life. Whether an outdoor summer festival, a concert series at a museum, or a new program at a nature preserve, events and programs funded by CAC make Cuyahoga County a great place to live, work and play. In 2012, CAC-funded arts and culture organizations served 5.5 million residents and visitors, and nearly 50% of admissions were free of charge.
  • Support our economy. The nearly 200 arts and culture organizations that CAC funds annually represent a significant sector of Cuyahoga County’s economy, supporting more than 9,000 jobs and spending more than $345 million in our community. “At Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, we perform our work on behalf of a community that believes and invests in creativity,” said CAC’s executive director, Karen Gahl-Mills. “We’re pleased to share the impact of these investments in our region’s cultural assets, demonstrating public dollars at work for the public’s benefit.”