FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 29, 2007
Contact:
Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission: Jessica Fagan – 614.995.7552; jfagan@culture.ohio.gov
Karamu House: Gregory Ashe – 216.795.7070; gashe@karamu.com
Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission Approves $100,000 for Karamu House
Columbus, Ohio – The Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission approved $100,000 at its quarterly meeting today for the Karamu House in Cleveland.
Karamu House encourages and supports the preservation, celebration and evolution of African-American culture in Cleveland, and provides a vehicle for social, economic, and educational development in the community. The center’s Cultural Arts Education Program provides a variety of services and classes in dance, music, theater, writing, and pottery. Karamu House will utilize the $100,000 appropriation to replace a boiler unit in the Early Childhood Development Center, and to renovate the dance floor in the upper dance studio in the theater.
The Commission approval, coupled with the signing of legal agreements, allows the Karamu House to be reimbursed on a pro rata basis with funds appropriated in Am. Sub. H.B. 699 of the 126th General Assembly. Cuyahoga County General Assembly members who voted in favor of the bill include Senators Timothy Grendell, Lance Mason, Dale Miller, Shirley Smith and Robert Spada; Representatives Michael DeBose, Timothy DeGeeter, Matthew Dolan, Mike Foley, Thomas Patton, Michael Skindell and Kenneth Yuko; former Senators Eric Fingerhut and C.J. Prentiss; and former Representatives Annie Key, Sally Conway Kilbane, James Peter Trakas and Claudette Woodard.
The Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission is a state agency that helps enhance the quality of life for Ohioans by improving the state’s cultural facilities. Since 1988, the Commission has disbursed nearly $400 million of capital funds appropriated by the legislature and Governor for facility improvement projects at non-profit theaters, museums, historical sites and publicly owned professional sports venues.
The Commission partners with non-profit groups and local governments on nearly 250 projects in 65 of Ohio’s 88 counties. For more information on the Commission, visit www.culture.ohio.gov.
