This summer, Cuyahoga Arts & Culture has had the pleasure of welcoming intern Elisa Gauntner to the grantmaking team. Elisa is a rising Junior at Baldwin Wallace University studying Arts Management and joins CAC as a part of the Cleveland Foundation summer internship program. She is a strong advocate and participant of the arts in Cleveland, having previously completed internships at Beck Center for the Arts and Near West Theatre, and volunteering at Playhouse Square, Ingenuity, and a number of other local arts nonprofits. 

During her time with CAC, Elisa has played a role within a wide range of projects. She has worked with incoming applications firsthand, communicating with organizations to ensure accurate information, and has created a variety of communication tools and social media content.  

When asked about her internship, Elisa shared, “This experience has been transformational, as I have had the opportunity to learn firsthand what many only get to experience once they’re already on the job. Both academically and socially, there are many factors and influences that have pointed me toward specific career paths. This experience with CAC has allowed me to expand my perspective on what my career can be or what it might look like. I have genuinely enjoyed and appreciated the structure, reality, and expansive network that this position has offered me.” 

CAC would like to thank Elisa for her contributions, hard work, openness to learn, and fresh perspective that she has brought to the team this summer. We hope that these experiences help guide you as you and your peers shape the future of arts and culture locally and beyond. In addition, we thank The Cleveland Foundation and their Internship program, for the opportunity to share the work of stewarding public funding for arts and culture, and to invest in a current and future arts leader.