There is growing concern in the arts community that rising rents are making Greater Cleveland less affordable for artists. They need not only housing but also artists’ studios, rehearsal spaces, production facilities and other places where they can create.
The nonprofit Assembly for the Arts is holding a public meeting this week that will bring together representatives from Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb’s administration, community development groups, artists and others to discuss creating affordable live-work spaces and other housing and workspaces for artists. The event will take place from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 13, at SPACES Gallery, 2900 Detroit Avenue, Cleveland. Assembly prefers that attendees register on its website, though it is not required.
“We face a serious issue of artists not having the space they need to support their creative businesses, which are an important economic engine in the community,” Jeremy V. Johnson, Assembly’s president and CEO, said in a statement. “This community conversation is designed to bridge communication among experts, including artists, to brainstorm real solutions to space access and ownership.”
We know that there are spaces like the ArtCraft building where artists have been displaced, and when they have had to relocate, affordability has been an issue.
Deidre McPherson, Assembly for the Arts chief community officer
Deidre McPherson, Assembly’s chief community officer, pointed to the ArtCraft building on Superior Avenue as an example of the recent loss of affordable workspaces for artists. The building is slated to become the Cleveland police headquarters.
“We know that there are spaces like the ArtCraft building where artists have been displaced, and when they have had to relocate, affordability has been an issue,” she said. “There are solutions out there in other parts of the country. We’re bringing people together to start to talk about what will work here.”
McPherson said solutions could include co-ops for artists or programs that help artists buy live-work and other spaces. She said having the right workspace is often essential to having a successful business. Artists can be stunted if they’re in a space they have outgrown but remain in it because it is affordable. She said this is also true of artists working out of space that isn’t up to code.
“We’ve heard of artists facing challenges with buildings where there are maintenance issues,” McPherson said. “But that’s what’s affordable.”
If artists can’t realize their full potential because of affordability issues, Greater Cleveland’s arts economy could suffer, she said.
Panelists include Joyce Pan Huang, the Cleveland planning director; Ajha Dean Phillips of the Cleveland Black Arts Movement; and Aisia Jones, vice president of community empowerment at MidTown Cleveland, the community development corporation.
The meeting is part of Assembly’s REvision: Creative Spaces community conversation series.
The nonprofit’s focus includes advocacy, cultural policy and racial equity initiatives for Greater Cleveland’s arts community,