Learning Lab Announces Cuyahoga Artists, Nonprofits

From the Cuyahoga Arts & Culture:

January 22 2020

CLEVELAND (January 22, 2020) – Cuyahoga Arts & Culture (CAC) and the Center for Performance and Civic Practice (CPCP) have selected the second cohort of Cuyahoga County artists and nonprofit partner organizations who will participate in CPCP’s Learning Lab program (list follows).

With support from CAC, CPCP is offering a second round of its Learning Lab program – a professional development program designed to train artists in civic, social, public and placemaking practices – in Cuyahoga County. The program also connects artists to local nonprofit partners and provides funding to explore and implement collaborative, project-based work.

Artists submitted applications and were selected by CPCP. Priority funding went to artists that foster artistic expression deeply rooted in and reflective of historically marginalized or underrepresented communities. Artists will receive a $500 stipend to participate alongside the organizational partners in three days of workshops facilitated by CPCP. The sessions are focused on skill-building in cross-sector collaboration and CPCP's approach to arts-based community led transformation. Upon completion of the training, the artists will pair up with a CAC-funded nonprofit and receive up to $7,500 in funding to codesign public projects informed by Learning Lab’s practices. A minimum of $4,500 goes to each artist for their project.

Learning Lab projects from the first cohort include a range of projects that connected artists and residents and deepened engagement in neighborhoods. For example, a collaboration between outdoor educator Tom Maseveg and FutureHeights activated a mini-park off of Lee Road in Cleveland Heights that uses augmented reality. The Asomdwee Arts project, a collaboration between Mt. Pleasant NOW Development Corporation and artist mr.soul resulted in a mural that depicts African-American history and helps showcase the neighborhood.

“Cuyahoga Arts & Culture is committed to supporting artists in Cuyahoga County, and the Learning Lab was so well received by artists and community partners, that we felt it was important to offer it again, said Jill M. Paulsen, interim CEO + executive director for CAC. “The program connects community organizations and artists and offers professional development to artists, which many artists identified as a gap in the community. We were impressed with the results from the first cohort and look forward to seeing how this group uses art and culture to strengthen our community.”

The artists selected are:

Malaz Elgemiabby

Amanda King

Meredith King

Valerie Mayén

Devon Sauve

Chris Seibert

Ron Shelton

Julia Rosa Sosa

Darnell Weaver

George Williams

Karen Williams

Ann Yu

The nonprofit partner organizations selected are:

Baseball Heritage Museum

Doan Brook Watershed Partnership

Downtown Cleveland Alliance

Esperanza

Foluke Cultural Arts Center

Hispanic Police Officers Association

International Women's Air & Space Museum

Judson

Julia de Burgos Cultural Arts Center

The City Club of Cleveland

University Circle Inc

West Side Catholic Center

More information about the Learning Lab is available at http://www.cacgrants.org/LearningLab.

Cuyahoga Arts & Culture (CAC) is one of the largest 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 2006, CAC has invested more than $193 million in 420 organizations both large and small, making our community a more vibrant place to live, work and play. For more information, visit cacgrants.org.

This press release was produced by the Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. The views expressed here are the author’s own.