Support for Artists Planning Team in Formation

Cuyahoga Arts & Culture (CAC) is pleased to announce a planning team of Cuyahoga County artists and community leaders is in formation. The team will bring their expertise and leadership to gather public input on the best ways CAC can provide funding and support to artists and creative people in Cuyahoga County. The work of the planning team will begin in June.

The planning team members, to date, are:

  • 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
  • Kevin Harp, 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
  • Johnny Wu - owner, producer - Media Design Imaging
The planning team will work collaboratively and listen to community voices to develop new approaches to support artists. The charge of the team is to recommend potential approaches to support artists and creative people to CAC’s board of trustees later this fall. Work will kick off in June and continue through the summer. The planning team will also host public meetings to gather additional input from Cuyahoga County residents and artists. An independent facilitator will help the planning team sort through public feedback to form recommendations.

This work will be grounded in key elements affirmed by our Board at the December 2016 meeting.

CAC remains committed to funding and supporting artists in Cuyahoga County. We are grateful to the artists and community leaders who have supported this new approach and are bringing their time and expertise to this co-creation process. We look forward to sharing additional updates.

How can you get involved?
  1. If you wish to volunteer, CAC will help you get involved. Contact Jake Sinatra, manager – special projects & communications at jsinatra@cacgrants.org or 216-515- 8303 x103.
  2. Stay tuned to this blog for updates on the work or sign up sign up for our e-mails at cacgrants.org.
  3.  Learn more about the Planning Team with this fact sheet