Consistent Funding Levels Support Arts and Culture Programs Across Cuyahoga County as Nonprofits Face Continued Challenges Caused by the Pandemic
CLEVELAND – Cuyahoga Arts & Culture (CAC) awarded grants totaling $11,755,225 to 273 Cuyahoga County-based nonprofit organizations through its 2023 General Operating Support, Project Support and Cultural Heritage grants. 27 nonprofits will receive CAC funding for the first time. Since 2006, CAC has invested $230 million in 472 organizations.
Grants awarded are as follows:
- 193 Project Support grants totaling $1,350,592;
- 68 General Operating Support grants totaling $10,184,930; and
- 12 Cultural Heritage grants totaling $219,703.
The grants were approved by CAC’s Board of Trustees during a public meeting on Wednesday, November 9th. A diverse panel of arts and culture experts reviewed and scored the Project Support and Cultural Heritage grant applications in September. General Operating Support grant recipients were awarded level grants in 2023, the second year of a two-year grant cycle.
“We are proud to grant nearly $11.8 million to 273 arts and culture organizations across Cuyahoga County for 2023. We continue to be impressed with the arts and culture nonprofits that are managing complex situations, making tough decisions, and yet still launching more programs to serve residents,” said Jill M. Paulsen, CAC’s executive director. “COVID-19, inflation, and staffing shortages have not spared our arts nonprofits, and we are proud to support them as they push ahead to produce inspiring programs that serve our community. While times have been difficult for the creative sector, today we celebrate the 273 opportunities we have to connect with arts and culture in the year ahead.”
Paulsen noted that through careful planning, CAC has kept its funding levels steady for the past four years. “Public funding is vital for arts organizations, especially as the impact of the pandemic continues to play out.” she said. “We are grateful that this community supports and benefits from its local nonprofits.”
CAC’s General Operating Support grants provide unrestricted, multi-year support grants to arts and cultural organizations based in and serving Cuyahoga County. Grants awarded range from $14,198 to $1.164 million and support nonprofits that have a primary mission to provide arts or cultural services for the public. CAC has kept steady its investment in the General Operating Support program despite declining revenues, providing flexible support to more than 65 organizations over the past four years.
The Project Support grants fund projects of all sizes in Cuyahoga County. Grants range from $1,056 to $18,730 and support a variety of programs and events.
CAC’s Cultural Heritage grants provide flexible funding for organizations with a primary mission of arts and culture that are representative of a culturally-specific population. 12 nonprofits received grants ranging in size from $5,000 to $30,000.
Cuyahoga Arts & Culture (CAC) is the region’s largest funder for arts and culture, helping hundreds of organizations in Cuyahoga County connect millions of people to cultural experiences each year. Since 2006, CAC has invested $230 million in 472 organizations, making our community a more vibrant place to live, work and play. CAC is a separate government entity and a political subdivision of the State of Ohio. For more information, visit cacgrants.org.
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CAC Staff