The new rules change the dollar amount given to artists and how frequently they can apply to the program. The agency has reduced the individual grants from 20-thousand-dollars to 15-thousand. Any one artist can only get the grant twice, during the life of the program. And there will be greater emphasis on demonstrating how an artist's work benefits the public.
Theater director and past Fellowship winner Raymond Bobgan accepts the new rules, but doesn't want to see the funding go any lower. He argues that the Cleveland area is now seen as a national leader because of it's commitment to artists
RAYMOND BOBGAN: It really makes a statement about our community, and it really makes a difference about how those artists view those grants, and what they can do with them.
The cigarette tax has funded the Fellowships since 2009. The plans are to re-open the application process in May.
