SPACES welcomes Cuyahoga County Artists, Curators, and Creators
SPACES offers project-based support through The Urgent Art Fund to Cuyahoga County artists, supported by residents of Cuyahoga County and Assembly for the Arts through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. This support is geared toward the creation of “urgent art” that is socially, politically, or culturally responsive. We are designating funds specifically for such projects taking place in the public realm, helping artists immediately engage their community in dialogue about the most pressing issues.
In addition to financial support— $4,000 awarded to 12 artists —SPACES will provide access to our on-site artist workshops that are outfitted with tools and equipment to facilitate the production process. SPACES Program Manager will also assist grantees in securing a public display space (outside of SPACES) in Cuyahoga County. Grantees will receive a one-year SPACES ArtsPass Membership and Assembly for the Arts Membership which gives free access to networking and artist professional development opportunities throughout the year!
Artist(s) will have the opportunity to apply to both cycles. Each cycle, jurors will select 6 projects to receive the Urgent Art Fund. All Projects MUST be completed and publicly displayed by December 31, 2024 regardless of date awarded.
Applications are Open:
Cycle One: February 16 (noon EST) - April 15, 2024 (11:59PM EST)
Cycle Two: May 20 (noon EST) - July 22, 2024 (11:59PM EST)
All applications will receive constructive feedback compiled from the jury and have the opportunity to apply to both cycles (but may only receive one award).
About Cuyahoga Arts & Culture
Cuyahoga Arts & Culture (CAC) is one of the largest local public funders for arts and culture in the nation, helping hundreds of organizations in Cuyahoga County connect millions of people to cultural experiences each year. Since 2007, CAC has invested more than $193 million in more than 420 organizations both large and small, making our community a more vibrant place to live, work and play. Cuyahoga Arts & Culture is a strong steward of the public's money, investing nearly $12 million annually in organizations that bring arts and culture to life in our communities. Each year CAC support tens of thousands of arts and culture programs and events that enhance the lives of Cuyahoga County residents.
Mission: To inspire and strengthen the community by investing in arts and culture.
Vision: All Cuyahoga County residents experience a meaningful cultural life.
At Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, we are committed to supporting the people and organizations that create cultural experiences that are important to our residents’ health and vitality. We take our responsibility as stewards of these dollars seriously. To that end, CAC values:
Connection: We believe we can go farther together. We nurture the relationships that we have and actively seek out new partnerships that will enable us to better serve the entire population of the County.
Discovery: We value continuous improvement and strive to bring a spirit of innovation and creativity to all of our work. Recognizing that stewardship of resources can require us to act boldly as well as thoughtfully, we actively seek out new opportunities in line with our values.
Equity: We recognize that our society is challenged to overcome a complex web of inequities, and we believe that CAC is responsible for operating with an awareness of legacies of privilege and power that have effects on opportunity, access and resources. This awareness will inform all of our policies and practices, including funding criteria, program development, hiring, and resident engagement.
Service: We exist to support all of Cuyahoga County’s residents and strive to lead by listening and acting in partnership with our cultural partners and community residents.
Stewardship: We are accountable to all County residents for ensuring that resources – both human and financial – are managed prudently and to their best use now and for years to come.
Trust: We operate with integrity and strive to be worthy of the public’s trust. We operate transparently and openly, and we assume positive intent, actively seeking the best in each person and situation.
In all its work, CAC spends public funds in line with its values of stewardship and trust. CAC consistently receives the highest audit rating from the State of Ohio, with no audit findings or comments. In addition to receiving a clean audit report each year since its inception, CAC was awarded the highest audit rating and the Auditor of State Award for fiscal year 2016; a link to CAC’s most recent audit is available online.
