Mon 2/13 @ 3:30PM
The recent election and the opening salvos fired by the new president have electrified huge numbers of Americans and turned them into activists. There was a similar reaction from the Cuyahoga County arts community when Cuyahoga Arts and Culture, tasked with distributing the tax money raised by the arts and culture levy announced last November that it intended to repurpose the small portion of the money set for art makers and redirect it to solving social problems in the community.
One thing these two reactions have in common is that they awakened people who were not at all political or even civically engaged and made them aware that many of those with power will do detrimental things if they are not watched or believed they are not being watched. Many elected officials, or those in organizations such as Cuyahoga Arts and Culture, have gotten pretty comfortable with citizens’ apathy and disinterest. That’s when the bad stuff starts.
Right now, the issue of the money earmarked for what were originally called Creative Workforce grants — money awarded to local artists in a blind juried competition to allow them to produce more work — is in limbo. The plan announced late last year to have an organization in Washington D.C. oversee a new type of grant that could be awarded to anyone in the community with an idea for using art to address a community need fell apart when artists suddenly stood up and went “Wait a minute here!”
Artists and other interested members of the community packed Cuyahoga Arts and Culture’s December board meeting, and plan to do the same when the board meets again in the Miller classroom at Idea Center in PlayhouseSquare on Mon 2/13 @ 3:30. For more information, go here.
The more people show up, the more CAC will feel pressure to be more public in its deliberations and more transparent about its decisions.
One more thing you can do: go to Facebook and “like” the Alliance for Artists in Cuyahoga County page. This is an informal, open group that emerged from a January meeting at the Happy Dog at the Euclid Tavern to air opinions and ideas around the changes CAC proposed. Join the discussion.
Read our previous coverage of this issue here:
coolcleveland/artists-speak-euclid-tavern-cuyahoga-arts-culture-changes/
coolcleveland/artists-to-hold-public-discussion
Cleveland, OH 44115
Cleveland, OH 44115
2 Responses to “Artists: Plan to Attend Cuyahoga Arts & Culture Board Meeting at PlayhouseSquare’s Idea Center”
Cuyahoga Arts & Culture
We want to be sure residents know that CAC is not redirecting funding away from artists to “solve social problems in the community.” CAC is committed to providing flexible funds that enable artists to create, just as we’ve done since 2009. We aren’t interested in forcing artists into project grants. Going forward, we do expect that CAC-supported artists make a “community impact.” That same requirement has been a part of our project support and general operating support programs since 2011. At CAC, we believe that art can be both excellent and in service of the community. We’ve posted more information about the six essential elements of support for artists, which the CAC Board discussed and affirmed in December 2016.
We also want to be sure people know that support earmarked for artists is not “in limbo.” At December 12, 2016 meeting, CAC’s Board of Trustees clearly and unanimously voiced support for continuing to use public funds to support Cuyahoga County artists and approved funds to do so.
During the coming months, we want to hear from artists and residents about what meaningful support for artists could look like. CAC will talk with groups of residents and artists to better understand who the artists in our community are, and what approaches CAC can take to provide meaningful support in line with our mission. We will be sure to share any additional information about this work as it becomes available.
Sincerely,
Karen Gahl-Mills
CEO & Executive Director
Cuyahoga Arts & Culture
Tony Vasquez
I am a local radio show programmer that features Afro-Latin / Latin Jazz music at WRUW 91.1 fm. here in Cleveland.
I also have a national syndicated Latin Jazz show.
I am currently assembling my own home studio for producing my shows.
I would like to see more opportunities for grants for individual radio show producers/programmers that feature non-commercial, ethnic or traditional music (Latin , Blues, Jazz, classical, etc).
The grants would be for the purpose of buying audio equipment and the many other expenses needed.