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New Trustees Appointed to Cuyahoga Arts and Culture (CAC) Board

Photo Credit: Bob Perkowski

CLEVELAND (April 16, 2009) – The Board of Cuyahoga County Commissioners today appointed two local leaders to the five-member Cuyahoga Arts and Culture (CAC) board of trustees. Tapped to fill vacancies on the board, which governs public funding for arts and culture in Cuyahoga County, were Vickie Eaton Johnson and Sari Feldman. Feldman and Johnson are scheduled to be sworn in formally at the CAC trustees’ annual meeting on May 12, 2009. Each will serve a three-year term.

Vickie Eaton Johnson, executive director of Fairfax Renaissance Development Corporation, holds degrees from Baldwin-Wallace College and Cleveland State University. Said Steven A. Minter, president of the CAC board, “Ms. Johnson is a community development professional who has worked to integrate public art and foster arts organizations in the Fairfax neighborhood. She has served on the board of Karamu House and recently helped in the search and selection of their current managing director. She brings a range of interests and talents to this board.” Johnson, who serves as Karamu House’s current board chair, will resign that position in accordance with CAC Code of Ethics.

Sari Feldman is the executive director of the Cuyahoga County Public Library (CCPL), a system widely acknowledged as one of the finest in the nation. Citing Feldman’s qualification for CAC board service, Minter noted, “Through her efforts, Ms. Feldman has demonstrated tireless support for arts and culture and a commitment to collaboration. CCPL has worked continuously with local museums to improve public attendance.”

Consistent with CAC policy, nominees for the board of trustees were identified by Board President Minter and his fellow trustees in consultation with the leadership of the Community Partnership for Arts and Culture (CPAC). According to Minter, principle criteria for considered candidates were: expertise in arts and culture; civic, educational, and business leadership with broad arts and culture knowledge; gender and racial diversity; and knowledge of the public sector.

Cuyahoga County Administrator James McCafferty, speaking on behalf of the Commissioners commended Feldman and Johnson. “Both Sari and Vickie have shown a vested interest in this community as a whole. They have proven themselves to be advocates for arts and cultural programming by continuing to lend support to the arts and our local museums. Their combined public experience and skills will allow both CAC and their grantees to expand and thrive in the future.”

Vacancies on the CAC board were formed when the terms of trustees Linda Abraham-Silver and Santina Protopapa expired on March 31, 2009.

Cuyahoga Arts and Culture makes grants using public funds to support the arts and cultural assets that enrich our lives and enhance our community’s appeal. County residents and visitors currently benefit from more than one-hundred organizations and programs that receive matching grants from CAC. For additional information, visit http://www.cacgrants.org.

Press Release- New CAC Board Appointees (PDF)

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