Cuyahoga Arts & Culture Grants
Cuyahoga Arts & Culture believes that investing in arts and culture inspires our community, builds stronger neighborhoods and ultimately enhances the quality of life for all Cuyahoga County residents.
This is achieved through our primary grants: General Operating Support, Project Support, and Cultural Heritage.
Assembly for the Arts: Financial & Funding Resources
Assembly for the Arts is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a focus on advocacy, cultural policy, racial equity initiatives, research, marketing that elevates the region, and services for nonprofits, artists, and creative businesses. Put simply, Assembly is here to “expand the pie” and increase equity in Cleveland’s arts and culture industries. It is governed by a volunteer board with a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. More than 50% of Assembly for the Arts board members are women or non-binary people and more than 40% are BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color). Assembly by design operates in close partnership with Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, a government agency and Assembly for Action, a 501(c)4 political action nonprofit to serve the entire creative sector.
The Ohio Arts Council’s grant programs are grouped into four categories supporting organizations, arts learning, and individual artists:
- Operating Support | Awards to support an organization’s operations
- Project Support | Awards to support organizational projects
- Arts Learning | Awards to support purpose-driven experiences for educators and learners of all ages
- Individual Artists | Awards that recognize excellence, preserve cultural traditions, and offer developmental support
Learn more about the grants they offer in each category by downloading their Grant Overview pamphlet, which offers a snapshot of each program.
SPACES commissions artists from around the world—at all stages of their careers—to make new work that is responsive to timely issues. They use these projects as a jumping off point to create educational initiatives that help develop a more informed citizenry. They also distribute grants to artists outside of their residency and exhibition programs.
In writing his book Think Outside the Box Office (TOTBO), Jon Reiss drew on his own experiences distributing his film Bomb It, in addition to interviews with countless other filmmakers, distributors, publicists, web programmers, festival programmers and marketing experts to create the first step-by-step nuts and bolts guide to marketing and distributing a film in the 21st century. Jon’s goal was to provide a written resource to help other filmmakers and media content creators achieve their goals in distributing and marketing their films.
This mission continues, but now includes a live educational experience to accompany the information found in the book.
SPACES offers project-based support through The Urgent Art Fund to Cuyahoga County artists, supported by Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. This support may go toward production expenses and artist commissions for 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 Artist Initiatives Coordinator will also assist grantees in securing a public display space (outside of SPACES) in Cuyahoga County. Grantees will receive a one-year ArtsPass SPACES Membership, which gives them free access to networking and artist professional development opportunities throughout the year.
Decentralized Pictures Foundation
Decentralized Pictures (DCP) is a 501c(3) nonprofit organization seeking to discover new and innovative filmmaking talent. They run a democratic film fund that allows their online community of creatives, film fans, and industry professionals to decide who is most deserving of their support. Submit your film idea, and if the world loves it, they’ll help you make it.
Steven Soderbergh’s production company, Extension 765, launched a $300,000 pot of money in April on DCP’s platform. The Andrews/Bernard Award will help multiple filmmakers find the funds needed to finish their English-language fiction features or shorts.
INCLUDES 1 – $100,000 GRANT AND 1 – $200,000 GRANT
SAG-AFTRA FOUNDATION – EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND DISASTER RELIEF FUND
The Foundation offers several Emergency Financial Assistance Programs to eligible, dues-paying SAG-AFTRA members who are in urgent financial need due to an unexpected life crisis, such as a natural disaster, accident, health crisis creating a financial burden, loss of work due to an illness, loss of work due to a strike or production shut down, loss of housing due to an eviction, death in the family, or other emergency crisis situations described in IRS guidelines which pertain to providing emergency financial assistance grants to individuals.
BROADCASTERS FOUNDATION OF AMERICA
Broadcasters Foundation of America has two types of grant programs. Their Monthly Grants support broadcasting professionals who are no longer able to work due to an illness, accident, or other misfortune. Their Emergency Grants support those affected by natural disasters and home emergencies.