ABOUT
Art and culture illuminates, empowers, soothes, enrages, amuses, informs, disquiets, consoles and uplifts.
It can inspire awe and create wonder. It can bridge societal and perceptual divides, ineffably interweaving us with each other as humans, or joining us as humans to the larger world. Art changes lives.
It’s essential. It’s central to our region’s identity and economy. It’s a significant contributor to the well-being of ourselves and our communities.
Our job at Arts Cleveland is to advance arts and culture in Cuyahoga County.
This singular mandate is multifaceted: We’re a data-driven organization that does a lot of things for a lot of people (see Services and Goals). But mostly what we do is make connections.
We’re an advocate
and a champion for arts and culture. We work to make sure influencers and policy makers are keeping the arts top-of-mind in all of their decision making.
We’re an ally
linking artists and arts and culture organizations to each other and to the knowledge, skills, resources and networks they need to fan their creative spark.
We’re an ambassador
actively uniting the arts community and facilitating connections between it and other sectors to fuel the creative power of our region’s economy.
Together with our partners, we ensure that the region’s arts and culture sector continues not simply to survive, but to thrive, and for generations to come.
Our Organization
Arts Cleveland was founded in 1997 and incorporated as a 501(c)3 nonprofit in 2000 under the name Community Partnership for Arts and Culture. The organization changed its name to Arts Cleveland in 2018.