Cleveland Institute of Art joins Say Yes Cleveland scholarship program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 2, 2022

CLEVELAND—Say Yes Cleveland (SYC) is excited to announce that the Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA) has agreed to join the coalition of private colleges and universities that participate in the Say Yes scholarship program.

Diane Downing, Executive Director of Say Yes Cleveland, said: “The Cleveland Institute of Art is one the premier art schools in the country, and we are thrilled that our scholars now have this exceptional local option available to them through our scholarship program.”

“Say Yes Cleveland and CIA share the goal of empowering young people through education and resulting careers,” said CIA President + CEO Grafton Nunes. “We are proud to partner with Say Yes in providing CMSD students with the platform and the process to make their visual dreams a reality for the benefit of themselves and their community.”

“CIA is deeply committed to co-creating the future of the City of Cleveland, and this partnership plays a key role in furthering our mission of cultivating creative leaders, inspiring people, strengthening our communities, and contributing to a thriving and sustainable economy through an innovative education in art and design,” said Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs + Chief Operating Officer Kathryn Heidemann, who will become CIA’s President + CEO on July 1, following Nunes’ retirement. “This is a win-win opportunity for these students, for CIA, and for the City of Cleveland.”

CIA signed an agreement in March to join the Say Yes to Education Chapter Alliance Higher Education Compact. The Compact is a group of more than 120 private colleges and universities across the country that have committed to raising the high school and college graduation rates of low-income and underrepresented students through participation in the Say Yes scholarship program. Other local institutions that participate in the Compact include Case Western Reserve University, John Carroll University, the Cleveland Institute of Music, and Baldwin Wallace University.

As part of this agreement, the Cleveland Institute of Art has agreed to offer a minimum of two, but up to five new Say Yes Scholarships each year to eligible applicants who gain admission to CIA from the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. For accepted applicants whose annual family household income is at or below $75,000, the Cleveland Institute of Art provide a grant that is equivalent, at minimum, to the cost of full tuition and mandatory fees. For accepted applicants whose annual family household income is more than $75,000, Say Yes Cleveland will provide a Choice Grant of up to $5,000 per year that can be applied to tuition and mandatory fees.

- 30 -

Say Yes Cleveland contact
Jon Benedict
Jbenedict@sayyescleveland.org
216.409.6160

Cleveland Institute of Art contact
Michael C. Butz
mcbutz@cia.edu
216.421.7404