Cuyahoga Arts & Culture (CAC) is seeking panelists to review applications for 2027 grants. Panel reviews will take place online in September 2026.

As the local public funder for arts and culture in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, CAC strives to uphold its values of stewardship and trust in all of its work, especially in its panel review process.

Each fall, CAC convenes a panel of diverse arts and cultural professionals from outside the region. Panelists are carefully vetted by staff and charged with evaluating applications through an online written review process.

CAC will hold one grant panel in 2026:

• 2027 Project Support: Grants up to $7,500 for 501c3 nonprofit organizations presenting arts and cultural projects in Cuyahoga County in 2027. 

We are currently accepting self-nominations and reviewing candidates to join us for our 2027 Panel Review, taking place this fall. Panelists play a pivotal role in Cuyahoga Arts & Culture’s grantmaking, serving as an extension of the CAC team through the panel review process.  Submission does not guarantee placement on a panel. Panelists will receive a $200 honorarium for their complete participation in the panel review process.

About the Panel
Panel reviews take place through an online written review. There is not formal convening or panel discussion. The results of the panel are made available on CAC’s website and shared with applicants.

 Panelist Duties

• Attend a 1-hour virtual training for your assigned panel around CAC’s funding criteria and scoring process.
  • Wednesday, September 9, 2026 at 12pm ET
• Review applications: this work is done remotely, on your own time.
  • Most panelists will review between 20-25 applications.
  • Reviewing and preparing comments/score typically takes 5-10 hours.
• Submit scores:
  • Project Support Panelists will submit final scores and comments by Wednesday, September 30, 2026

“I know this work isn't easy and I appreciate how you refine the application and processes each year to better meet your goals and hold organizations accountable for how they are working with their communities. In my experience as a panelist, I have always appreciated [CAC’s] professionalism, your steadfast commitment to your mission to serve your community through arts and culture, and how you operate as a team.” – Past CAC Panelist 

Interested in serving as a panelist for CAC? Please complete the panelist interest form..