Three Lakewood Organizations Receive Funding

[Bill Grulich]

Three Lakewood organizations have qualified for general operating support from the Cuyahoga County Cultural and Arts (CAC). Beck Center for the Arts (score of 84), Cleveland Artists Foundation (score of 84), and Lakewood Historical Society (score of 81) went through a rigorous process to qualify for funds.

Congratulations to Cindy Einhouse, executive director of Beck Center for the Arts, Sharon Dean, executive director of Cleveland Artists Foundation, and Mazie Adams, executive director of The Lakewood Historical Society on a job well done.

The funding comes from the 10-year tax on cigarettes that Cuyahoga County voters approved in November of 2006. The purpose of CAC's General Operating Support grant program is to use public dollars to make grants to support our area's valuable arts or cultural organizations, ensuring their long-term stability.

Check out these organizations:

Cuyahoga County Cultural Arts http://cacgrants.org/cuyahoga.arts.and. ... .php?id=13

Beck Center for the Arts http://beckcenter.org/

Cleveland Artists Foundation http://www.clevelandartists.org/

Lakewood Historical Society http://lakewoodhistory.org/

Please consider supporting these Lakewood organizations with a donation.

Bill Grulich

[Bill Call]

Lakewood's fair share is about $750,000 per year. I wonder how much the City will receive?

Amortized over 30 years that would support a $15 million dollar bond issue that could build a new Beck Center. Of course that won't happen.

My guess is that most of the institutions on the list will get $75,000 or so to fund various face painting festivals. The bulk of the money will disapear into the pockets of the politically well connected. But thats ok, it's for the arts.

And as we all know the arts are important to economic development and a healthy economy. Of course if they were really that importance they wouldn't need huge operating subsidies to survive.

[Ivor Karabatkovic]

But thats ok, it's for the arts.

[dl meckes]

Of course if they were really that importance they wouldn't need huge operating subsidies to survive.

I could say the same thing about schools. I might want to opt out of paying for other people's children. If we made parents responsible for their children's education, my property taxes wouldn't be so high.

We could use the private school or private college model.

For some reason, we think that schools are important, so we ask the community to help pay for them.

Having arts programs is good for a healthy community and arts groups contribute educational and economic aspects as to the betterment of the entire region.

How much would we lose by not assisting the Cleveland Orchestra stay strong? Couldn't they make more money if they played Hip Hop and had good-looking dancers in sexy outfits back them up?

[Jeff Endress]

Couldn't they make more money if they played Hip Hop and had good-looking dancers in sexy outfits back them up?

I've been subscribing to the Cleveland Orchestra for a long time. Can't say that I think hip hop would work, but I'm all for the dancers.

Jeff

[Bill Call]

How much would we lose by not assisting the Cleveland Orchestra stay strong?

Nothing.

If the arts crowd really cared about the arts they would pay more for their tickets. Why not subsidize banks, grocery stores, shoe stores, movie theaters, strip clubs or drug stores? Aren't they important?

25 years ago Cleveland was home to 75 or so fortune 500 companies. Virtually all have moved out of town. Having an orchestra didn't keep one company in town and didn't bring one company here from out of town.

The orchestra would do just fine if they paid the hired help a little less. If The first violinist cost$100,000 per year instead of $200,000 the orchestra could actually make a profit.

[Jeff Endress]

The orchestra would do just fine if they paid the hired help a little less. If The first violinist cost$100,000 per year instead of $200,000 the orchestra could actually make a profit.

And then the Cleveland Orchestra could join the ranks af such superb groups as the Nashville Symphony. As long as we're advocating removal of one crown jewel, why not more. Let's sell the Museum collections. Close the Zoo, auction off the animals. Build condos at Big Met. Maybe we can figure out a way to offload all the professional sports teams, especially given the subsidies they enjoy via their lease arrangements. As long as CLeveland is in decline, we might as well get rid of whatever is left that can keep (or draw) people here.

Jeff

[Todd Shapiro]

Bill is right if people care about the arts go support them! If people vote with their money and their feet that they would rather go to the bar, watch Tv, go to the movies or go to a Hip-Hop show then support the Cleveland Orchestra so be it. In the past 15 years we have lost a Ballet, two hockey teams, and a WNBA team because people are unable or unwilling to support these institutions. I know times are tough in Ohio ( all I gotta do is look in my own wallet) but I see people out drinking at the bars, going to the Browns games 73,000 strong every Sunday and people are shelling out upwards of $100 to see The Police, Bruce Springsteen or Kenny Chesney. If the Cleveland Orchestra or any other form of entertainment isn't financially viable let it go to Nashville or wherever. No one is going to move to the Cleveland area from another region because the Cleveland Orchestra plays x number of Thursdays a year. Spend that money on job creation or give it back to the people to spend how they please. I am not a smoker but my Mother is. Give her back that 18 cents a pack and she'll spend it at the mall on her hobbies or maybe she'll go out to dinner and spend it there. It will then travel though the local economy numerous times possibly creating jobs. As sad as it may be to those in the Arts community most of us really aren't that concerned if the Cleveland Orchestra is there or not.

[Bill Grulich]

[Ivor Karabatkovic]

No one is going to move to the Cleveland area from another region because the Cleveland Orchestra plays x number of Thursdays a year

actually...

Just had a phone conversation with my Aunt in Germany yesterday. We were talking about music and she mentioned that she's been listening to some radio station more frequently because they play Cleveland Symphonic Orchestra music on there non-stop.

So,
if there's people around the world that have the chance to follow the Cleveland Symphonic Orchestra, it says a lot for Cleveland.

Any tourist that comes to this city asks about them. I've dealt with a fair share of them since I've worked for the Indians for the past two years. They always bring up the Orchestra.

And I'm sure 18 cents a pack isn't crippling the funds of families in Ohio. If you want to save real money, quit smoking. Your life insurance rates will drop and you'll get that 18 cents a pack back in no time so you can go and enjoy those 18 cents at the mall.

[Ivor Karabatkovic]

As sad as it may be to those in the Arts community most of us really aren't that concerned if the Cleveland Orchestra is there or not.

you're making a general assumption. Just because YOU don't care about the arts and aren't in the arts community doesn't mean others that aren't don't care either.

My observation about the tourists asking about the Orchestra and caring isn't based on one phone call with my aunt. It's based on constant nagging by out of town fans (especially the Yankee fans) as well as family friends who come from out of country that are curious about what there is to do here in Cleveland.

Gotta pick up my uncle on halloween night. He's coming from Germany to Atlanta for work and then flying up here on his personal time to catch Bruce Springsteen at the Q for a night.

[Corey Rossen]

Not to change the subject, but...Go Tribe!

Corey

[Ivor Karabatkovic]

woohoo!

[chris richards]

One of the big draws for me to move back to the Northeast Ohio area was the arts. I knew the economy wasn't good, but the arts are superb. To me, the arts are more important than a big income. Many of my friends and coworkers feel the same way.

Having lived in the south for a good 5 years, I was amazed at how many people asked me about the Cleveland Museum of Art and the symphony. Even the Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony has a reputation that reaches far from the borders of Ohio. The arts are very important to the image and culture of a city, it's a very good thing that organizations and people support them, because once they are gone, there's nothing left to build upon.

[Bill Call]

Lakewood is a city, not an arts organization or cultural institution. Therefore, the City will receive nothing.

I was referring to organizations located in the City like the Beck Center. Will the Beck Center be receiving any where near $750,000? We will see.

But, since you’re so positive about everything and seem to have a crystal ball for knowing about the future, I'm sure you will have a difficult time understanding my position.

I understand your position. You think that organizations like the Playhouse Square Foundation and the Cleveland Orchestra and others are economic engines that help drive an otherwise dismal economy. If that is so why can't they stand on their own feet? Why do they need a subsidy?

Cuyahoga County has lost tens of thousands of good paying manufacturing jobs over the last 30 years. Where is the subsidy for manufacturing? How about a subsidy for the banking industry or the real estate industry or the food industry?

For the last 30 years the economic game plan for this area was to tax profit making business to subsidize non profit business. In a sense I guess the game plan is succeeding. Most of the profit making businesses have left town.

I use the term face painting festivals as a metaphor. The Secret Arts Star Chamber Committee will throw a few crumbs to local theaters or arts groups so they can pretend they are giving back to the community.

If the people who use the Playhouse Square or the Orchestra or other arts organizations really cared about the arts they would be willing to pay a few dollars more for their tickets. What would happen if ticket prices were raised? My crystal ball says the art lovers would stay home.

Hey, I have an idea!!

Why not tax the arts to pay for a subsidy for manufacturing jobs? Every time you go to a movie, buy art, go to Playhouse Square or rent a DVD you would pay a special tax dedicated to preserving manufacturing jobs!!