By Elizabeth Weinstein
This holiday season arrives during a particularly challenging time for independent artists and makers. Rising material costs from tariffs and the ripple effects of the recent government shutdown have created tighter margins for creative professionals who were already balancing the demands of running a small business. As photographer and author Greg Murray puts it, “Being a working artist means wearing a lot of hats: photographer, marketer, editor, accountant, fundraiser and advocate. It’s not just about taking pictures; it’s about storytelling, connection and consistency.”
But Cleveland’s creative community has always been resilient, and this season, showing up for local artists matters more than ever. Supporting makers goes far beyond holiday shopping — though that certainly helps. This season, here are five meaningful ways to support the artists and makers who keep Cleveland’s creative spirit alive.
1. Show Up: Attend Markets, Events and Exhibitions
“The most meaningful way to show support for artists is to show up! Buy their work, attend their shows and tell their stories,” says Deidre McPherson, chief community officer at Assembly for the Arts, a nonprofit working to promote equity, unify the arts and strengthen Greater Cleveland’s creative community. “Visit galleries, attend performances and local holiday markets. Your enthusiasm helps keep Cleveland’s arts community visible, valued and vibrant.” Rachel Bernstein, executive director of Heights Arts, adds: “When you buy from a local artist or maker, you are supporting the people who live and work in your own community. The creative economy preserves and reflects our culture, and supporting it only serves to enrich our and others’ lives where it counts — in our own neighborhoods and business districts.” The Heights Arts Holiday Store, she notes, features “one-of-a-kind work people can connect to from artists and makers within their own community. These works are created with intention, and make meaningful gifts for loved ones.”
2. Buy Direct: Purchase Art, Prints and Gift Cards
One of the most direct ways to make an impact is to purchase an artist’s work. “Buy their prints,” says Lauren Pearce, a mixed media figurative artist who works out of 78th Street Studios. If an artist’s original work is outside your budget, buying a print can go a long way toward helping them pay their bills. Pearce says the idea that purchasing a print lessens the value of the original work is simply incorrect. And if you’re feeling generous, you can visit an artist at their studio and give them a $15 gift card as a token of your appreciation for the work they do, Pearce suggests.
Murray, who specializes in commercial and editorial animal photography, agrees that direct investment matters: “Community support is important. When local businesses, organizations or individuals invest in my work, whether through licensing images, hosting exhibitions or commissioning portraits, it allows me to continue giving back through animal rescue photography and charitable projects.” People can also book sessions with Murray, purchase gift certificates or buy his 2026 wall calendars featuring animal photography.
3. Spread the Word On- and Offline
“Beyond purchasing art, one of the most meaningful ways to support artists is through genuine engagement: sharing our work, telling friends about us, leaving reviews and helping spread the word about what we do,” says Murray. “Every post shared or kind comment left might seem small, but it truly helps independent artists reach new audiences and stay visible in a busy digital world.” And if art is something you value, “take a moment to share how the arts have touched your life, within your own network or from whatever platform you may have available to you,” adds Sarah Sisser, executive director and CEO of CreativeOhio, the statewide advocacy organization for creatives and the creative economy. “The most powerful advocacy tool any of us has is our own story. Those personal stories are often what move hearts, shape priorities and remind decision-makers that creativity isn’t a luxury, but essential to who we are as Ohioans.”
4. Give Experiences That Last Beyond the Holidays
When it comes to meaningful gifts, experiences often outlast things. “The holiday season is as good a time as ever to see a performance, take a class, explore a gallery, learn about history, or create something with your friends or family,” says Jill Paulsen, executive director of Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. And those experiences don’t have to be one-time events — they can be gifts that keep giving year-round. A Cleveland Museum of Art membership offers free admission to ticketed exhibitions for members and their guests, plus member-only previews and special events, while MOCA Cleveland memberships provide free daily admission and other member-exclusive perks. For performing-arts lovers, Playhouse Square gift cards or Cleveland Orchestra subscriptions bring live music and theater all season long. And for the lifelong learners on your gift list, workshop and class gift certificates offer hands-on creative experiences. The Cleveland Institute of Art’s continuing education classes cover everything from ceramics to puppet making, while Heights Arts and Valley Art Center in Chagrin Falls offer workshops in painting, jewelry-making and more.
5. Donate to Arts Organizations That Heal
“Art has incredible properties, whether we’re creating, viewing or sharing it. Art is known to reduce stress, release dopamine and enhance cognitive functioning,” says Michelle Epps, executive director of Art Therapy Studio on Cleveland’s east side. “Art is part of what makes us human; it connects us, heals us and reminds us of our shared experience.” Art Therapy Studio provides art therapy and therapeutic art programs to Greater Cleveland residents, with a focus on serving vulnerable populations. “More than 85% of the individuals we serve live at or below the poverty level and many are often living with disabilities, mental health challenges or the effects of aging,” Epps adds. “The most impactful way to support Art Therapy Studio this holiday season is by making a charitable gift to the Christine M. Treu Memorial Fund. This fund directly supports our community art therapy and therapeutic art programs, allowing us to offer programs to the public at little or no cost.”
Giving your time can be equally valuable. Cuyahoga Arts & Culture — the county’s largest source of consistent funding dedicated to supporting nonprofit arts organizations — funds more than 300 groups that provide programs in every ZIP code. More than 55% of CAC-funded programs are free of charge. “Getting involved is a great way to connect with the groups CAC supports,” says Jill Paulsen, CAC’s executive director. “In a given year, the hundreds of nonprofit organizations we fund engage more than 10,000 volunteers and board members.”
Whether through financial gifts, donated time as a volunteer, gallery docent or board member, or simply showing up to free community programs, supporting arts organizations ensures creativity and healing remain accessible to everyone — not just those who can afford to pay.
