Art.Culture.Connection.

Come together: Arts Innovation Summit seeks unity, collaboration in uncertain times
The 7th Annual Arts Innovation Summit & Performance at Baldwin Wallace University this week will cover diversity, collaboration, funding, and support for artists and the arts—with a conversation and performance by Mourning [A] BLKstar.
Film’s big fall: A look at upcoming CLE film festivals and their thought-provoking content
As fall approaches, the season is ripe for upcoming film festivals. Three festivals that focus on unique and timely topics are already beginning. 
Bouncing back through Arts & Culture: CAC annual report highlights resilience in the arts
Cuyahoga Arts & Culture in July released its 2021 annual report, showing resilience, support, and hope for arts and cultural organizations in Cuyahoga County—despite the struggles during the ongoing pandemic. 
Free Stamp: All things free in the #CLE for July 2022
The best things in life are free, indeed, and our monthly “Free Stamp feature rounds up all the free #CLE events that get our "stamp" of approval.
 
Assembly for the Arts launches a new type of residency for artists and arts entrepreneurs
Assembly for the Arts is now accepting applications for 10 to 15 Arts Leadership Residencies, which will start this fall.
Inspiring the uninspired: Destination Dream Foundation aims to motivate youth through the arts
Artist and entrepreneur Jada Renee has fond memories of her grandparents’ home on Forest Avenue in the Buckeye neighborhood. Today she has embarked on an ioby crowdfunding campaign to transform the property into INDI Art House — a place dedicated to youth workforce development programming, mental health, and the arts. 
Boosting the dream: Cuyahoga Arts & Culture grants set these two artists on an upward trajectory
Cuyahoga Arts & Culture's Support for Artists program can launch artists' careers with grants and other assistance. Two artists share their stories of how the CAC helped bring their visions to realities. 
Summer (arts) loving: With CAC funding, these summer arts camps aim to cultivate minds and bodies
Summer is coming and it's time for camp! Thanks to Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, there are a bunch of camps that will engage the kids' minds and bodies while having a fun summer break.
Interested in 2023 Cuyahoga Arts & Culture funding? Join today's virtual workshop
If you've ever thought about applying for a Cuyahoga Arts & Culture grant, today is the day to find out more. Get the details on the CAC Zoom interactive workshop happening today, Wednesday, May 4. 
Two cents: Creatives campaign for a slice of Cleveland's Rescue Plan funds
Creative organizations around Northeast Ohio are using a postcard campaign to lobby City Council to allocate just 2% of Cleveland's $511 million American Rescue Plan Act money to revitalize the region's arts, entertainment, and culture entities hit hard by the pandemic.
Reflections and Predictions: 2021 was a year of ups and downs, with hope building for 2022
It's been a long two years since the beginning of the COVID pandemic. While we may be physically and emotionally drained, Cleveland and its residents had some noteworthy accomplishments. This week, we take a look back at 2021 with the FreshWater staff reflecting on the past year and looking forward to events and projects in 2022.
A little help goes a long way for artists weaving our communities back together
In a joint partnership, Cuyahoga Arts & Culture and Neighborhood Connections   awarded $59,587 in grants to support 22 artists and entrepreneurs working on projects related to the pandemic in Cleveland and East Cleveland.
Staging a comeback: CAC Culture Heritage Grant winners elevate new voices
Cuyahoga Arts and Culture provided its newly-established Cultural Heritage Grants this year to 11 culturally-specific organizations to to support to new work and performances—both virtually and in person—at a time when a resurgence of COVID-19 cases is keeping audience capacity limited at some venues.
Unidos por el Arte shines light on local Latinx artists
Now in its third year, Julia de Burgos' Unidos por el Arte program uses Cuyahoga Arts & Culture grant money to funds projects by local Latinx artists.
CONVERGE: the LGBTQ arts event in photos
The CONVERGE visual arts exhibition is drawing to a close Saturday. FreshWater managing photographer Bob Perkoski documented the massive arts event dedicated to LGBTQ art and artists. 
In his own words: Democracy is stronger with the arts
Jeremy V. Johnson, CEO and president of Assembly for the Arts, pleads the case for supporting the arts in Cleveland before Monday's debate between the two Cleveland mayoral candidates. 
Wrapped up: Shaker artists add new utility box wraps, creating public art all over the city
Shaker Heights is newly adorned with eight new wrapped utility boxes along the Red and Green RTA Rapid Transit lines in its fifth year of SHAC on TRAC.
Starving artists: COVID-19 continues to impact arts and culture as we try to return to normal
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to devastate the creative community and they aren’t making up lost ground. Cuyahoga Arts & Culture is doing its best to help its grant recipients regain their footing and adapt to new programming tactics.

 
Students, artists team up with Cuyahoga Arts & Culture to tout LGBTQ+ Pride and racial equity
this summer, artist and Civil Rights activist Amanda King has been busy with her “It’s Almost Tomorrow” mural in Public Square as part of #VoicesofCLE project and her participation in Learning Lab.
The big idea: City Club’s archives inspire one artist to create a video series on important moments
When theater artist Chris Szajbert found herself out of work during the pandemic, she got creative and found a unique way to embark on a new video series.