A little in. A lot out.

An investment in the community, by the community, for the community

It all adds up

Public policy that includes arts and culture is vital to our region’s prosperity.  Local, national and international research proves that arts and culture offers important measurable impacts via a region’s education, economy and quality of life.  Simultaneously, arts and culture produces intrinsic value for those that participate in arts and culture activities.  For these reasons, we encourage development of policies that ensure these benefits are recognized and arts and culture is supported.

Arts and Culture:

Improves Academic Performance
Students engaged in arts and culture have improved academic performance in areas of reading and math.  These students organize ideas more clearly, behave better and stay in school.  As an example, Cleveland School for the Arts and the Newton D. Baker School of the Arts consistently produces reading, writing and math proficiency scores at the top of the Cleveland Municipal School District as well as higher attendance rates.

Strengthens our Economy
Arts and cultural organizations provide nearly 4,000 jobs in the region and generate $1.3 billion in regional economic activity.  Visitors to a sampling of organizations in Cuyahoga County alone generate $94 million in gross regional product and sustain over 2,000 additional jobs outside of the arts and culture sector.

Transforms Neighborhoods
Arts and culture are a magnet for retail districts and restaurants, small businesses and professionals, and new residents seeking lively locations and safe populated streets.  Northeast Ohioans need only look to neighborhoods like Fairfax, Tremont, the Warehouse District, Asia Town, East 4th St. and Detroit Shoreway for local examples of such positive impacts.

Improves Community Attractiveness
As our region competes for the best and the brightest in the knowledge economy, our arts and culture assets provide a critical edge.  Entrepreneurs, their companies and their staffs want to live in places with diverse populations and creative thinkers.  In fact, in a 2001 study conducted for the Greater Cleveland Growth Association, area business leaders cited availability of arts and culture among the key reasons for living in the Cleveland area.