Dear Governor-Council representative-Mayor-esteemed decision maker, YOU!

We hope this finds you well. We are writing you today on behalf of all the artists we know who are really making a difference in our city, in our neighborhoods, in our schools and in our studios. We want you to know a little more about the ingenuity and distinctive contributions these artists make, as neighborhood builders, town criers, DIYers, makers, craftspersons, skilled technicians, visionaries, occupiers, and eco-creatives.

 We are writing to tell you about our Arts Advocacy Fluxus Project (AAFP). It is in part funded by the Ohio Arts Council, George Gund Foundation and Cuyahoga Arts and Culture. The AAFP is an artist-made, open source toolkit designed to mobilize arts and culture workers to better project their needs, concerns and advocacy for a stronger future. The AAFP engages Zygote’s emerging artists and interns in the process of creating effective communication materials based on existing research by developing a visual language to better communicate and disseminate this existing data. These packets will inventively advocate for the arts and culture sector and educate young artists about the importance of being more outspoken for the amazing work being done in our sector.

The problem has not necessarily been lazy advocacy, but the fact that many of us don’t have a developed vocabulary with which to understand, criteria with which to evaluate, and vehicles to disseminate communications about our contributions to everything from economic development to education. AAFP is an effort to develop these things so that artists can communicate to descision-makers and get to their planning tables.

Jen Craun is art director of this creative package, orchestrating young artistic recruits to brand arts-related statistics and factoids that they uncover through research. CPAC is guiding our interns through the incredible maze of arts research about this region. Interns and students will develop an edition of 500 printed works that will be added to the AAFP kits for circulation. The kits will also have components that can be downloaded, and will contain simple suggestions regarding how you can use these tools too in your everyday campaign to aid you in how people need to better understand what you do as an artist and an arts supporter.

Stay tuned for more information about the AAFP Happenings. We will invite City Council, Neighborhood Development staff, and educators to a variety of community arts get-togethers. Zygote aims to widen the circle of future advocates, to share the narratives of this region, and to promote the merits of artistic efforts as they impact our greater community. For more information on this project and for ways you can get involved, please contact Jen Craun jen@zygotepress.org

Zygote Press

1410 East 30th Street

Cleveland, Ohio 44114

zygotepress.com

216.621.2900

Holiday Off the Wall Show + Sale

Noon to 5 pm Saturday, December 7

Noon to 4 pm Sunday, December 8

through January 4, during regular gallery hours.

Wood Engraving Exhibition

Curated by: Eric Gulliver

January 7 – February 15, 2014

Opening reception 6 to 9 pm January 7

Gallery Hours

Wednesday + Saturday NOON-4PM

Additional Hours by Appointment