CreativeOhio has selected five Cleveland arts leaders for its 2026 Advocacy Leadership Institute (ALI), a six-month program launching in May that provides hands-on workshops, site visits, and policy discussions on arts advocacy. The Cleveland cohort is part of a statewide class of 25 participants from 13 Ohio cities.

The selected leaders are Pita Brooks, Executive Director of SPACES; Shannon Morris, Executive Director of Artful Ohio; Sheffia Randall-Nickerson, Chief Engagement and Collaboration Officer at University Circle Inc.; Veronica Thornton, consultant and writer at Vee’s Consulting/The Creative Healing; and Matt Weinkam, Executive Director of Literary Cleveland.

CreativeOhio Executive Director Sarah Sisser said the participants “exemplify the strength and diversity of the creative community in Northeast Ohio.” The program is supported by The George Gund Foundation, the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, and other funders.

Source: https://www.spacescle.org/news/2026/03/30/northeast-ohio-arts-leaders-selected-for-creativeohios-2026-advocacy-leadership-institute