CLEVELAND — Cleveland’s arts and culture is unmatched, with world class institutions and local artist. Mayor Justin Bibb wanted the highlight them and strengthen our creative economy. So, for the first time, the city has a Senior Strategist for the arts. And Rhonda Brown had a reason to come back home to Cleveland.
“I knew I wanted to return home and then as I started to network and meet people and then I heard about this opportunity,” said Rhonda Brown, the City of Cleveland’s Senior Strategist for Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy.
A Shaker Height native, Brown parents founded the nation’s first, for profit, Black-owned fine art gallery in 1980. An artist herself, she spent much of her professional career in Chicago, serving most recently as president of the City Colleges of Chicago Foundation. She’s no stranger to this intersection of politics and art from her work in the windy city.
"The reflexive relationship between artists and a municipality. What does that look like?” asked Brown “How does how does an artist have a seat at the table? And in all aspects of the work that we do, what could that look like?"
It could look like the art exhibit on City Hall’s second floor. Over 50 painting, photographs and drawing by local African-American artists, co-curated by Brown. For months, she has been talking to artist and established art venues to develop a plan for the city.
"How to attract and support artists, building an effective creative economy? And what does that look like? What is the creative workforce in the city of Cleveland look like?" said Brown.
A newly created $3 million Transformative Art Fund will bring 6 to 12 innovative projects here. Under Brown’s direction, it could change the way we interact with art.
"What are the ways in which vacant land can be thought of as re-imagining creative space for communities?” Brown remarked.
Such as bringing art into public spaces, like the West Side Market. Attracting an audience to a space is what art does. Building pride and community investment is part of the reward.
"They give people reason to spend more time to eat, to spend more money,” said Brown. “It helps build an economy."
Six months into a 2-year position, there is much more to uncover. For Brown, she’s just as happy to explore more opportunities, as she is to be back home.
“It’s the best job I've ever had,” said Brown.
The city approved the money for the Transformative Art Fund last Monday. Projects should reflect the diversity and richness of Cleveland. Artists have until the end of March to apply for grants ranging from $250,000 to $500,000.
