There's been a minor changing of the guard at Cuyahoga Arts and Culture. By replacing someone who's had a long career with a person at the beginning of his, it puts a younger face on the arts funder's board of trustees. David Bergholz, who retired after 15 years as executive director at the Gund Foundation, has stepped down, and the organization has appointed Matthew Charboneau in his place. Charboneau — a graduate of the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music and longtime leader of the Up Ensemble — also leads the Council for Small Enterprises (COSE) Arts Network. He was sworn in last week.
At the COSE Arts Network, Charboneau helps artists get a leg up on the economy with services that help them think entrepreneurially. The group also sponsors programs like the annual Arts Business and Innovation Awards, taking place next week. In the running for individual artist awards are clothing designer Valerie Mayen and her company Yellowcake; designer and performer Jeremy Paul of First Cut Studios and Theater Ninjas; and playwright Eric Schmiedl. Finalists for the Arts Business Award are Actors' Summit Theatre, Cleveland Public Art, the Ingenuity Festival, and the Velvet Box, Inc. Finalists for the Young Arts Entrepreneur Award include glass artist Scott Goss and clothing designer Michael Kubinski. Winners in each category get $1,000. The reception and awards ceremony start at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 28, at Cleveland Public Theatre (6415 Detroit Ave.). For information, go to cose.org or call 216.592.2222.
Organizations that plan to ask Cuyahoga Arts and Culture for money in their "Project Support" category need to file their Intent to Apply form by June 8, 2010. Entry forms are available at CAC.org, and you're not eligible to apply unless you submit the form. Organizations applying for Project Support will also have to submit an Ohio Cultural Data Project funder report for 2009. The Ohio Cultural Data Project is probably starting to taste like medicine to arts and cultural nonprofits. It's a lot of detail-oriented information to provide, but they're certain it's good for you. OCDP hopes to give typically understaffed nonprofits a detailed management tool, as well as an online grant-application process that can be used to apply to a range of funders. Information is available at ohculturaldata.org.
