Cultural Liaison Program

A Quick Overview

The Cultural Liaison Program will serve as a one-stop-shop for support, resources, and connections for Akron artists and creatives seeking to connect with the business and civic community. The service will be a resource and connector for the broad community hoping to engage local artists for commissions and projects. Plus, this work will support all artistic disciplines, including dance, performing arts, music, photography, visual art, literary arts, editors, etc.

This program is made possible thanks to the matching Knight Arts Challenge grant and our kind supporters.

 

Our Timeline

Phase One (January 2019): Artists Applications and Resourcing
For the first few months, we’ll be engaging with artists to complete the Cultural Liaison Program Application, so that businesses across our county can most easily interact with local artists and their work. Artists, before Phase One officially begins, we encourage you to revisit your artist statement (and/or CV) and get your W-9 ready.

Phase Two (March 2019): Program Introduction to Summit County Businesses
Starting in the spring of 2019, we’ll be rolling out the details of the programs to local businesses and nonprofits including:
•  A central location to engage artists for projects, board service, and other community projects
•  Guidance and support in developing RFPs, call for artists, contracts, and MOUs with creatives
•  Resources to help engage employees with the arts and culture community

Phase Three (June 2019): Full-Steam Support for Artists and Business Community
The program will be fully operational in the summer of 2019 providing support to the Summit County businesses (as listed above), and support to Summit County artists, including:
•  Support in navigating opportunities to partner with organizations interested in commissions
•  Connections to opportunities to make work, grant opportunities, and additional support

 

When we engage artists, our community wins.

Research and data across the county and the world agree that supporting artists supports our communities. In fact, Randy Cohen for American for the Arts, says, “The arts are fundamental to our humanity. They ennoble and inspire us—fostering creativity, goodness, and beauty. The arts bring us joy, help us express our values, and build bridges between cultures. The arts also are a fundamental component of healthy communities, strengthening them socially, educationally, and economically—benefits that persist even in difficult social and economic times.”

Artists help unify our communities and strengthen our economy, and with this new Cultural Liaison Program, we’ll help to connect even more artists with local opportunities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Cultural Liaison Program is not set-up to serve as free agent services. Instead, it will be a program uniquely knowledgeable about our local community and work to connect our cultural assets in unique ways.