More than 150 local nonprofits received project support dollars from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture for 2026. As summer begins, the Cleveland grant maker is ready to welcome a new group of creatives, who must complete two project grants before eligibility for unrestricted operating support kicks in.

One South Euclid brings residents together every summer through its annual Food Truck Park Concert Series.Project support grants cover everything from concerts to stage shows to photo exhibitions. Though summer is around the bend, CAC funding keeps hearts and minds warm all year long, says Jake Sinatra, director of grantmaking strategy and communications.

“This year, more than 150 local nonprofits received a project support grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture,” Sinatra said in an email. “We are excited to see how our grantees use their public funds to fill their communities with vibrant, creative programming. The arrival of summer is marked by the buzz of festivals, camps, and concerts happening nearly every day. We feel fortunate to play a role in bringing life to these events, which bring residents and visitors so much joy.”

Project grants range up to $7,500, with maximum amounts based on applicant budget size and available funding from CAC. The grant provider requires a 1:1 match, up to 50% of which can be met through in-kind contributions. Applications for 2027 will be accepted until Thursday, June 25 at 4:30 p.m., according to the organization.

Among this year’s grantees is One South Euclid ($7,500), a community development corporation bringing residents together through its annual Food Truck Park Concert Series. As the name suggests, the summer-long soiree features live music paired with food from local businesses.

Live music is free, though food trucks from eateries such as Grippy’s Sauce Company and Sig Tacos are a cash-only affair. More importantly, the event brightens the community through a mix of entertainment and cultural connection, says One South Euclid executive director Kristian Hunter.

“It’s an opportunity to create a positive neighborhood experience,” says Hunter. “With so many negative things happening in the world, this is a chance for residents to have fun, or to attract new people who may be looking to buy a home. This is a selling point for us.”

One South Euclid will utilize CAC funding for event planning, productions costs, and to pay performers. These dollars bridge critical funding gaps while aligning the organization with CAC’s larger mission, adds Hunter.

“We view this event as a tool for connection and a sense of civic pride,” Hunter says. “We’re helping to build a more connected South Euclid and contributing to the cultural vitality of Cuyahoga County.”

Participants in the Youth Challenge Theatre Troupe produce and direct their own holiday-themed shows.It’s showtime
Cleveland’s Youth Challenge ($7,500) nonprofit is celebrating its 50^th anniversary this year – a half-century of providing free sports, recreation, and arts programming to children with physical disabilities. Opportunities scale by age, ranging from painting and basketball to more teen-focused activities like archery.

Older attendees also perform with the Youth Challenge Theatre Troupe, putting on annual holiday shows for friends, family, and the wider community. In past years, the ensemble has staged variety shows along with whimsical productions that sent young actors to the moon or Hogwarts.

Though non-disabled volunteers assist with physical needs, the participants themselves direct, choreograph, and produce the entire program, says Youth Challenge arts manager Megan Smith.

“Every show turns out different, but also funnier, because the kids are hilarious,” says Smith. “It’s about empowering them to make decisions to shape the vision they want. Being part of the theater arts is unlike any other experience – you’re being vulnerable, which is hard for kids and teenagers. But we have a welcoming space here where these kids can be themselves and be appreciated for that.”

Rehearsals for this year’s holiday show begin in October, culminating in a Dec. 5 production at the 2,000-seat Lakewood Civic Auditorium, a bold move from the 400-seat Parma-Snow Library gathering space. This new challenge will be met by funding that covers both the space and a post-show reception, Smith says.

“We could do this program in our gym with speakers and a projector,” says Smith. “But this grant affords us theater space and assistance from arts professionals. It elevates and amplifies the experience and makes it feel as authentic as possible. We have so much fun, but we’re serious about this, too, and want to put on a serious production.”

The Thea Bowman Center provides musical instrument instruction and performing arts education for children ages eight to 13.Too legit
Joining the summer lineup, the Thea Bowman Center ($7,500) is busy bringing youth arts and culture to Mt. Pleasant residents. Along with a food pantry and senior activities, the center provides musical instrument instruction and performing arts education for children ages 8–13.

Programing is held Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., from June 8 to July 30. Each summer ends in a showcase of everything the kids learned, says executive director Jeremy Taylor.

“Mt. Pleasant has seen a lot of poverty and disinvestment,” Taylor says. “This work is enriching kids culturally and enhancing them from the standpoint that says, ‘Hey, this is a different career or volunteer path I can get into.’”

CAC grants cover program supplies, materials, and marketing. Just as crucially, the funding helps legitimize the center in the eyes of the community, says Taylor.

“CAC helps so many organizations, so it means so much to our families when (the organization) is supporting little old Mt. Pleasant on the southeast side of Cleveland,” he says. “All of us are coming together to share in that support of these kids.”