Jeremy Johnson named 2023 Arts Advocate of the Year

The Music Settlement hosted their Annual Meeting on Monday, September 18, 2023. This meeting gives TMS the opportunity to provide a snapshot of the past fiscal year ending June 2023, a glimpse into the future, and honor the individuals and organizations who have been instrumental to our success. The Music Settlement is now 111 years old and aging gracefully with expansion, growth, and innovation!

The 2023 Arts Advocate of the Year Award recognizes an individual or organization that demonstrates excellence in advocating for our local or regional arts ecosystem.

We are honored to present this year's Arts Advocate of the Year award to Jeremy Johnson. Jeremy is an outspoken champion for the role of the creative sector in improving America’s communities. As President and CEO of Assembly for the Arts, our region’s arts council, he lives and breathes Assembly’s mission to unify and strengthen greater Cleveland’s arts and culture sector. Jeremy and Assembly actively seek to expand the pie of resources for, and increase equity within, the sector.

A native Clevelander from the Hough and Glenville neighborhoods, Jeremy is a first-generation college graduate. He went to University School and attended Kenyon College, University of Iowa, and Rutgers Business School’s Institute for Ethical Leadership. He has served on civic, cultural, and higher education boards, including, currently, University Circle, Inc. and the AEP6 Equity Task Force for Americans for the Arts.

Jeremy got his start in the arts right here as a student at The Music Settlement and is emblematic of all to which The Music Settlement aspires – he works wholeheartedly every day to inspire and welcome all to our music and arts community in Cleveland to learn, create, celebrate, and heal.

Read Jeremy's moving acceptance speech here.

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