CLEVELAND (June 15, 2023) – Neighborhood Connections has approved $401,211 in grants to support 112 projects in Cleveland and East Cleveland. Cuyahoga Arts & Culture (CAC), the local public funder for arts and culture, will co-fund 24 of these resident-led arts and culture projects through a partnership with Neighborhood Connections.
Highlights of the grants include:
- Hessler Homeowners Association was awarded $3,760 to grow to have an additional concert this year as well as continuing the concert started last year. They will also want to be more active and intentional in community outreach, sharing information more broadly to invite more community members, and adding features like a potluck meal to create more sharing and relationship-building.
- Little Africa Food Collaborative was awarded $3,290 to offer a unique, interactive experience that encourages people to take part in a healthy lifestyle. Chefs and artists can share their culinary and artistic talents, while also providing an opportunity for the public to learn about the benefits of healthy eating and living.
- Riverside Park Community Outreach Committee received $4,465 for their "Healthy Lifestyles Matter" project, a summer camp in Kamm’s Corner dedicated to teaching children between the ages of 1st & 6th grade the importance of healthy social, physical, nutritional, and environmental practices.
- Avid Arts Collective was awarded $2,149 to create an inspiring, cultural mural with Guatemalan scenery and celebrating diversity. The aim is to embrace culture, while elevating the neighborhood with beauty and vitality.
“These grassroots organizations demonstrate the creativity and ingenuity that permeate Cleveland’s neighborhoods. And the individuals organizing these initiatives are just a few of the tens of thousands of people who are contributing to making our community a better, more just, and connected city.” said Tom O’Brien, program director of Neighborhood Connections. “Our partnership with CAC allows Neighborhood Connections to support many grassroots arts and culture projects that otherwise would not get essential financial support.”
Cuyahoga Arts & Culture granted $60,000 to Neighborhood Connections in 2023 to support community-based arts and culture activities organized by and for Cuyahoga County residents. CAC defines arts and culture broadly to include nature, science, cultural heritage, and history in addition to other art forms. Through this partnership with Neighborhood Connections, CAC has co-funded more than 440 resident-led arts and culture projects in Cleveland and East Cleveland since 2013.
“The projects and people supported by Neighbor Up grants continue to play a vital role in spotlighting arts and culture in Cleveland and East Cleveland neighborhoods,” said Jill M. Paulsen, executive director of Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. “CAC is proud to be a partner in supporting these community-led efforts.”
Since 2003, Neighborhood Connections has invested more than $15 million in resident-led projects in Cleveland and East Cleveland.
Neighbor Up grants are offered several times each year to groups of residents in Cleveland and East Cleveland and, for projects related to the pandemic, to residents in Cuyahoga, Lake and Geauga counties, to do projects that improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods. Groups are encouraged to work with partners and to propose creative solutions to challenges in their community.
View a list of funded projects here.
About Neighborhood Connections
Neighborhood Connections is a nationally recognized community-building program established in 2003. Its mission is to fuel the power of neighbors to create, together, an extraordinary world right where they live. Our small grants program is one of the largest in the country. For more information, visit NeighborUpCLE.org.
About Cuyahoga Arts & Culture
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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About the author
CAC Staff