Public Input Sought on How to Spend Millions in Arts Grants: Two Public Forums Offer an Opportunity to Help Shape Spending Policy 10. November 2010 Administrator News Release Cleveland (November 10, 2010) - In just four short years since its founding, Cuyahoga Arts & Culture has distributed nearly $50 million in public funds for arts and cultural programming in Cuyahoga County. Founded after the passage of “Issue 18” in 2006, CAC has proven itself as an effective funding agency, and now it will explore new ways to ensure it is making the most significant impact with its annual investment of nearly $15 million. To gather this input, CAC is holding two public forums. The first forum will take place on Monday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. at the Lakewood Public Library. The second forum will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. at the Shaker Heights Public Library. Both meetings are free and no RSVP is required.“We’re proud of having facilitated three very successful grant cycles, but there are always opportunities to improve the way we operate,” said CAC Executive Director Karen Gahl-Mills. “As a public agency, we feel it is important for CAC to get feedback from the people we were established to serve, and we’re trying to do this in the most open and transparent process as possible.”CAC has created a draft spending plan to begin the discussion. “The draft is intended to be a jumping off point for people to start thinking about and building from,” said CAC Trustee Matt Charboneau. “We want people’s creativity and ideas. Should we spend more on special projects? Should we dedicate more for arts education? Is there some great unexplored opportunity to make the most of this incredible resource that does so much to maintain our artistic and cultural heritage?”The draft spending plan and details about the public forums are available from the CAC Web site. People are encouraged to download and review the spending plan prior to the forums. Anyone who cannot attend the forums is welcome to submit their ideas for consideration.CAC is a political sub-division of the State of Ohio, which collects a dedicated tax on cigarettes sold in Cuyahoga County to fund local arts and culture organizations. All regularly scheduled CAC Board meetings are open to the public. For additional information about the forums or about CAC’s grant program, call 216.515.8303 or visit www.cacgrants.org.Draft Spending Policy