Members of the Northeast Ohio arts and cultural community have made great strides in the past year. Just last spring, over 500 individuals convened in Cleveland City Hall for the first Arts and Culture Summit. Since that time, several arts related initiatives are under active consideration, including support for county-wide public funding for arts and culture. Cleveland City Council is considering a Percent for Art program. We are seeing unprecedented connections and collaborations between artist, arts entrepreneurs, smaller arts organizations and other groups within the larger community. Artist's lofts are the buzz in development. The news regularly carries stories of the importance of the creative class, and there are untold meetings and seminars working to get the word out that the success of our region, as it redefines itself and attempts to re-build itself for this century, is in many ways dependent on its creative workers. Those individuals, organizations, and political structures are doing their jobs. However, none of these efforts will succeed unless the public steps up to the plate and makes a conscious and concerted commitment to support this work. These creative workers require support in the form of income, payment for their services. "Cool" Clevelanders must become active participants, not bystanders. It is not up to the other guy anymore! In these tough economic times, we all must make choices. Choose to support these assets, or we will lose them, and the opportunities that go with them. HOW? *Get out to a gallery walk or art opening if you haven't. Not just for the wine and food, but for the art. Look at it carefully and make a purchase. Art is a bargain in Northeast Ohio. Invest in the art community, for your home or your office. Consider art and craft by the artists of northeast Ohio for personal gifts and corporate gifts. *Still mourning the departure of the Cleveland Ballet? Forget about it! Cleveland Ballet Stars Raymond Rodriguez and Karen Gabay are home for the summer with their dance troupe, Pointe of Departure. Support them and the many smaller regionally based dance troupes that are creating and performing in our region. The prices are right, the venues intimate. In The Plain Dealer, Mon 6/16, Gabay is quoted saying: "It would be nice if we felt the city wanted it, but we don't see that. A company from New York or a Broadway show is more glamorous. It's discouraging." ENCOURAGE them and others --- buy a ticket and see some dance! *Enjoy the theatre, the full range we have in Northeast Ohio. Remember CTIX for those spur-of-the-minute discounted seats that make it easier on to see more of the Broadway shows at Playhouse Square. And for that "off Broadway" experience, try Cleveland Public Theater, Dobama, Beck Center or any of the many community based theatre groups offering great theatre at great prices. Support them, and you will reward yourself with the experience. *Become an educated consumer, become involved, and support the discussion about public funding for the arts in Northeast Ohio. We are decades behind in this one --- citizens in Columbus and even Dayton support the arts with their tax dollars. Philanthropists from our past built us some great institutions, but this is a new day and that system no longer exists. It is the responsibility of each and every one of us to nurture the full range of artistic assets available in our region. *Take your children --- they are the next generation of "arts consumers!" Support the arts with YOUR dollars. Invest in the arts community as it has invested in your community. Commentary by Cool Cleveland contributor Joan Perch artpower@yahoo.com

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