Esther Robinson, founder, ArtHome

Artists are not just window dressing, artists are many of us. Cleveland is a thought leader in ability of arts and artists to come out of exclusivity silos and think about what it is to be a good neighbor.

With 80,000 art graduates a year...we've seen a collapse of the merit system. We don't have enough cash to support all the artists. So, what does a culture support system supposed to look like for artists?

Help artists with financial literacy and home ownership for artists with curricula in art schools. And building artist-centric home buying course. Artists being able to own homes, for example, adds stability and a "college" of financial understanding. If you believe that culture supports your community then as a community we need a support system for those who create that culture.

If giving a subsidy for artists what are they doing to better that neighborhood (from the community development organization perspective)? What would happen if artists moved from outsiders to artist-neighbors -- what would happen to the culture in America?

Models include Assets for Artists in the Berkshires. Founded by Blair Benjamin, it's an asset development program administered through a development council with funding from the state giving match grants for education classes, small business creation and homeownership for artists.

Homeownership is a big issue in NYC. There's a no artist welcome attitude in low income buy in program. She's working with Pratt and Center for Arts and Community Change to form working groups and "on the ground knitting" for how to get community development past this issue.

Greg Peckham, director, Cleveland Public Art

Artists and public should have role in the way our city looks as it grows or shrinks. In places with poor built environment there are usually larger issues that underly.

A city can be regenerated, which is a word that relates to what's biological in character.

Artists are expert at uncovering expressing and repurposing the assets of place from building and publci spacs to community stories. They are natural place makers who assume in the course of making a living a range of civic and entreprenuerial roles.

Buckeye Neighborhood redevelopment plan talking about Soul of Buckeye Festival which draws thousands of people once a year -- that gets to what the neighborhood is trying to do and think at a larger level about this pocket part at E. 118th and Buckeye. How can we build off that? Commissioned two artists for large mural project and reusing half of a large parking lot for more park space.

Aligning resources and respecting skill sets at the table and respecting that artists can contribute to the same agenda.

Matthew Galluzzo, district manager, Penn Avenue Arts Initiative in Pittsburgh

Over last six years use arts as catalyst to revitalize 10 block area on Penn Avenue.  Study showed 5,000 artists live in Pittsburgh with 10 percent living in a small concentrated area around Penn Ave. as the commercial district. Not a historic district; could be zoned for commercial or residential. Sixteen buildings owned by the city which helped with a scattered site development plan. Now have 100,000 sq. ft. developed. Vacancy rate dropped from 48% to 18% in the district. Galleries, restaurants, Pittsburgh Glass Center, etc. 

How they empower artists?

Building ownership -- connect artist to bankers and act as a conduit. So far, the meetings have attracted an average of 25 artists and bankers and have a record of at least one transaction

Artist loan and grant fund -- development opportunities; grants for facade renovations; helps underwrite artists who want to invest in their own building.

Unblurred -- a big event for the district every first Friday of the month. Costs a couple of thousands of dollars a year to produce maps of events in the district.

R cubed -- showcase of three East end neighborhoods.