By Ellie Evans
Meg Matko, director of community relationships at the Cuyahoga County nonprofit arts council Assembly for the Arts, knows the art scene can feel a bit competitive — and that’s exactly why the organization created a program to give local artists a boost.
The Assembly for the Arts Boost Fund is a new program designed to randomly select individual artists to receive funding for supplies, projects, studio rentals and maintenance, travel and more. 140 artists of all backgrounds, mediums and experience levels – 50 of which already have – will receive $1,500 this year to help advance their missions as artists, thanks to per-pack taxes on cigarettes sold in the county, which are funneled through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture.
“We wanted to develop a new program this year that was more accessible to artists who are new to the grant process and have never applied for a grant before, artists who are still early in their careers and artists who are intimidated by applying to traditional, merit-based grants where their work is evaluated,” Matko says. “(The Boost Fund) is meant to reduce the competitiveness between artists and exist on the idea that all artists are worthy of receiving funding to make their work, regardless of where they are in their career.”
Matko tells Canvas that some of her favorite stories of how cycle-one Boost Fund recipients spent their money include one artist who was able to put on a show dedicated to performing their own original music after over a decade of producing for other musicians, and another who was able to start replenishing their art supplies after losing them in a house fire.
“The grant is small but mighty,” Matko says. “It’s wonderful to see artists get funding when they never thought they could, to watch how that validation really changes their perspective about their own work and to remind them what they do should be supported.”
Fifty more artists have received or will receive Boost Fund money since cycle one’s close, as the cycle two deadline was Aug. 18. Forty artists will be selected in the third and final cycle running from Oct. 22 to Nov. 20.
Matko notes three goals Assembly for the Arts aims to achieve with its Boost Fund program.
“We really want to measure the impact of this program and see how it performs,” Matko says. “We also want to build relationships with new folks and get word about us out there, and then we’d like to see the program expand.”
Matko would love to see Cleveland embrace the idea of providing direct support for its arts, and the work being done by Assembly for the Arts is a step in the right direction, as the Boost Fund program allows Assembly of the Arts to “get funding out faster and at a lower cost.”
“Over the years, I have been a really big advocate for guaranteed income for artists, and in some ways, I feel the Boost Fund is a baby step towards a model of guaranteed income for the arts,” Matko says.
Assembly for the Arts “endeavor[s] to strengthen and support the arts and culture ecosystem through direct service, advocacy and collaboration,” Matko says.
Here’s how some of this year’s recipients are using the support—and the advice they have for fellow creatives:
Responses have been edited for clarity and brevity.
Rachel Yurkovich
Using video and collage to explore the intersections of human-made and natural worlds, Yurkovich highlights overlooked consequences of human behavior. Her work, including the Foreign Bodies series and Ransom Notes to Civilization, invites viewers to pause, reflect, and find humor and quiet truths in everyday fragments.
• How the Grant Helps:
“The Boost Fund grant allows me to make supply and technology purchases I might otherwise have to put off or avoid altogether. Having the equipment on hand lets me apply for more exhibition opportunities.”
• Best Advice for Artists:
“Go to the studio even if you have nothing to work on or just don’t feel like it. Dedicate that time to art and inspiration, like reading a book or sketching. Keep the routine of showing up because it could lead to something.”
Tracey Wiley
Wiley uses poetry to connect with others and explore life. Her work, inspired by personal experiences and those of others, aims to inspire and uplift through themes of love and spirituality.
• How the Grant Helps:
“This grant allows me to experience the publishing process with less financial concern.”
• Best Advice for Artists:
“The best advice I’ve received is not to compare my work to others. There’s a niche for all of us.”
Jurnee Ta’Zion
Ta’Zion, an award-winning artist and curator, works in painting, printmaking, drawing, ceramics, and 3D art. Growing up in a family of Black artists, she creates art that explores personal growth, tackles challenging subjects, and inspires her community.
• How the Grant Helps:
“My favorite experience with this grant was getting to create a custom mixed-media painting for Smino, an artist that changed my lie and inspired my career.”
• Best Advice for Artists:
“The motto of my friend Jae Capo—“create daily”—stays on my mind and keeps me going.”
Zach Angeloni
Angeloni, a Cleveland-based musician, blends genres to explore human experiences through relationships, memories, and storytelling. His lyrics use imagery and wordplay, inviting listeners to find their own meaning in the music.
• How the Grant Helps:
“With the Boost Fund, I’m recording my second full-length album, exploring the full potential of new songs and creating a fuller sound. This allowed me to work with other local musicians and studios and experiment beyond my usual folk-forward, stripped-down style.”
• Best Advice for Artists:
“Write what you know. It’s easy to feel like your story may be overshadowed by the vastness of the world, but your experiences and what you want to share are important, and someone will relate.”
McKinley Wiley
Wiley documents artistic journeys and intergenerational experiences through photography and film. His work celebrates self-discovery, community, and a passion for life and fine art.
• How the Grant Helps:
“The Boost Fund has allowed me to expand beyond my artistic practice in photography into printmaking. Currently, I’m a member at Zygote Press, where I create monoprints from my photographs.”
• Best Advice for Artists:
“When one door closes, another opens.”
For more than six decades, the Cleveland Arts Prize has played both historian and cheerleader—documenting the region’s artistic legacy while championing those who create it. Since 1960, CAP has honored more than 400 artists, cultural leaders, and organizations whose vision has enriched Northeast Ohio’s cultural life. This fall, it will welcome a new class of honorees—poets and guitarists, public artists and arts advocates—whose work continues to shape the region’s creative landscape.
Here are this year’s winners:
Emerging Artist Award: Ali Black, a vital voice in Cleveland’s literary scene whose latest poetry collection, We Look Better Alive, explores the struggles and resilience of Black women.
Mid-Career Artist Award: Jason Vieaux, a Grammy-winning guitarist and longtime Cleveland Institute of Music instructor. Known for his international performances and local community engagement, Vieaux is celebrated for offering free concerts, teaching in underserved areas, and inspiring audiences with his artistry.
Lifetime Achievement Award: Mark E. Howard, a sculptor, painter, muralist, and textile artist whose works have graced some of the city’s most prominent public spaces, including the Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland Hopkins Airport, and the Cleveland Public Library.
Honoring Cultural Leadership
In addition to its juried discipline awards, CAP recognizes individuals and organizations whose impact extends beyond the studio or stage:
Special Citation from the Board of Trustees: Jennie Jones, a 93-year-old renowned photographer, author, and visual historian whose 27,000 images have documented Cleveland’s architecture and urban life for more than five decades.
Barbara S. Robinson Prize for the Advancement of the Arts: Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation, for extraordinary philanthropic support of institutions like The Cleveland Orchestra, Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland Public Theatre, and Cleveland Institute of Art. The award honors leadership and advocacy in strengthening the region’s cultural infrastructure.
Robert P. Bergman Prize: Greg Peckham, whose 20 years as executive director of LAND Studio transformed Cleveland’s public spaces through art and placemaking initiatives. Peckham now brings his vision for equity and access to the Cuyahoga Valley Land Conservancy.
Martha Joseph Prize for Distinguished Service to the Arts: Robin Pease, a playwright, actor, educator, and founding artistic director of Kulture Kids. Of Native American descent and a member of the Mohawk Nation, Pease’s interactive performances celebrate Indigenous heroes and history, fostering empathy and cultural pride in audiences of all ages.
A Legacy of Impact
Founded by the Women’s City Club in 1960, the Cleveland Arts Prize—the nation’s oldest municipal arts award—has become a prestigious platform for celebrating creativity in all its forms. Its influence extends far beyond the awards themselves, building public appreciation for the arts, inspiring future generations, and elevating Northeast Ohio as a cultural destination.
“Our 2025 winners and honorees reflect the extraordinary range of creativity, innovation, and impact shaping the cultural life of our region,” says Effie Nunes, Executive Director of the Cleveland Arts Prize. “They are masters of their craft, but also vital voices in our community. We are proud to celebrate their achievements and the inspiration they bring to us all.”
The 65th Annual Cleveland Arts Prize Awards Ceremony will be held Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at the Simon and Rose Mandel Theatre at Cuyahoga Community College’s Eastern Campus. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the program beginning at 6:30. Guests can expect an evening of live performances, heartfelt tributes, and the presentation of the 2025 prizes, followed by a lively reception in the theatre lobby.
Tickets start at $20 for students and go up to $250 for VIP access. For more information, visit clevelandartsprize.org.
