Assembly For The Arts

ASSEMBLY FOR THE ARTS CONVENES, COORDINATES, AND COLLABORATES WITH EVERYONE WHO LIVES AND WORKS IN GREATER CLEVELAND TO STRENGTHEN AND SUPPORT THOSE IN THE REGION WHO CREATE, PRESENT, EXPERIENCE AND APPRECIATE ALL FORMS OF ARTS AND CULTURE.

LIST OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS FISCAL YEAR 2021-2022 (JULY 1, 20 - JUNE 30, 2022) ASSEMBLY FOR THE ARTS (ASSEMBLY) WORKS TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE WHO LIVES AND WORKS IN GREATER CLEVELAND BENEFITS FROM A DIVERSE AND EQUITABLE ARTS AND CULTURAL SECTOR, AND RECOGNIZES THAT THE ARTS ARE AN ESSENTIAL, DEFINING ELEMENT IN THE QUALITY OF LIFE, SOCIAL FABRIC, AND ECONOMIC VITALITY OF THE REGION. ASSEMBLY SUPPORTS THIS AIM BY SERVING CULTURAL NONPROFITS, ARTISTS, AND CREATIVE BUSINESSES THROUGH ADVOCACY FOR INCLUSIVE CULTURAL POLICY, RACIAL EQUITY INITIATIVES, RESEARCH AND MARKETING THAT ELEVATES ARTS AND CULTURE IN THE REGION. DURING THE 2021-22 FISCAL YEAR, ASSEMBLY FOR THE ARTS ACCOMPLISHED THE FOLLOWING: ARTS AND CULTURE SECTOR SUPPORT - ASSEMBLY FOR THE ARTS HOSTS FREE EDUCATIONAL CONTENT ON ITS OWN WEBSITE AND MAINTAINED THE ARTIST RESOURCE CENTER CREATIVE COMPASS. BOTH WEBSITES INFORMATION REGARDING BUSINESS PLANNING FOR ARTISTS, RESEARCH ABOUT GREATER CLEVELAND ARTS AND CULTURE, GRANTS, LOANS, AND OTHER RESOURCES TO SUPPORT CREATIVE INDUSTRIES. COLLECTIVELY, THE SITES HAD NEARLY 40 THOUSAND USERS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR. ASSEMBLY ALSO LED NUMEROUS CONVERSATION TO OFFER SUPPORT AND INFORMATION ABOUT THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND ITS CONTINUED ECONOMIC EFFECTS ON CREATIVE WORKERS. ASSEMBLY PROVIDED FISCAL SPONSORSHIP FOR A NUMBER MISSION-DRIVEN ARTS AND CULTURAL PROJECTS INCLUDING, FOR EXAMPLE, A DANCE ORGANIZATION TO PRESERVE POSITIVE HIP HOP CULTURE, A PHOTOGRAPHY-BASED ORGANIZATION EMPOWERING UNDERSERVED YOUTH, AND A SERIES OF HEALING THROUGH CREATIVITY COURSES. ARTS AND CULTURE POLICY - ASSEMBLY FACILITATED MULTIPLE COMMUNITY DIALOGUES, FORUMS AND INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS TO DEVELOP A SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WOULD INCLUDE AND UTILIZE THE STRENGTHS OF CREATIVE INDUSTRIES IN CITY OF CLEVELAND POLICY MAKING. THOSE COMMUNITY-LED RECOMMENDATIONS WERE POSTED PUBLICLY ON ASSEMBLY'S WEBSITE AND PRESENTED TO PUBLIC OFFICIALS THROUGHOUT THE REGION WHO CONTINUE TO REFER TO THEM. ECONOMIC IMPACT RESEARCH - ASSEMBLY FOR THE ARTS PARTNERED WITH ARTS AND CULTURE NONPROFITS ACROSS THE STATE OF OHIO TO ANALYZE THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF ARTS AND CULTURE, AS WELL AS CODIFY THE ECONOMIC TOLL OF BUSINESS CLOSURES ON CREATIVE INDUSTRIES. DATA WAS PUBLISHED FOR THE STATE OF OHIO AS WELL AS REGIONALLY. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CONSULTANCIES - STAFF OFFERED FREE INDIVIDUALIZED COUNSEL TO ARTISTS, CULTURAL NONPROFITS, AND CREATIVE BUSINESSES AND THOSE WISHING TO ENGAGE WITH THEM. SESSIONS PRIMARILY PROVIDED STRATEGIC ADVICE POINTING TO PERTINENT RESEARCH AND COMMUNITY CONTACTS THAT COULD SUPPORT THEIR ARTS AND CULTURAL ENDEAVORS. ASSEMBLY STAFF PROVIDED 786 HOURS OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND ONE-ON-ONE COUNCIL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. RACIAL EQUITY INITIATIVES - ASSEMBLY WAS FOUNDED WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR HAVE DISPROPORTIONATELY LOWER ACCESS TO ARTS AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES THAN PREDOMINANTLY WHITE COMMUNITIES. ASSEMBLY DEVELOPED AN ARTS LEADER RESIDENCY PROGRAM TO SUPPORT SMALL CREATIVE BUSINESSES, ARTISTS, AND NONPROFITS WITH A RACIAL EQUITY LENS. ASSEMBLY ENGAGED WITH A CONSULTANT TO SUPPORT NEW PROGRAMMING AND POLICIES THAT ARE EQUITABLE AND TRANSPARENT. TACTICS TO ADDRESS SYSTEMIC RACISM USING ARTS AND CULTURE WERE ALSO INCLUDED IN THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AN ARTS-INCLUSIVE CITY NOTED ABOVE.