Pat Cerillo, Cypress Research Group, does demographic studies of artist populations, and complete a survey of Cleveland artists. Some of the findings:

• 20% of artists in the area are under the age of 30
• One third over the age of 50
• Majority white
• Most (7 in 10) generate little or no income from art
• Most (77%) complete their art in their home
• 91% own their own
• Half prefer living in a neighborhood with a high concentration of artists
• Two-thirds prefer to work at home (half said they need more space)
• Almost half (42%) would move to improve their work space
• About half live in an urban environment
• Majority of visual artists want 1,100 sq ft. for living space and 500 sq ft. for work space

Visual artists place high premium on:

• Natural light
• Storage
• High ceilings
• High-speed data lines (for e-commerce enable artists web sites)
• Walkable neighborhood and space to sell work
• Safe neighborhood
• Close to other artists
• Affordable spaces

Cerillo to Friedman (at Northeast Shores/Waterloo arts district): Stick to your branding message and the tone, it's going to be a success because its consistent to the place.

Q&A session

Local artist Susie Frazier Muller: In cultural and business community in Cleveland it seems like the mindset is shifting a litte bit to let the neighborhoods own the message. What's your experience (Friedman) for garnering money and is there a larger message for Cleveland from what Germany did to link attractions. Would it be possible to link districts and market it as an arts region?

Friedman: a handful of CDCs are doing arts marketing. Arts Collinwood started as part of Northeast Shores. Other CDCs have kept arts groups in house. Detroit-Shoreway has good integration of arts. We're so deliberate of selling arts brand in region.  There isn't any one group that has the right to direct all the marketing for the CDCs so we don't know who to look to.

additional comments from panelists:  if all the CDCs are fighting over same pie, won't have a regional voice.