In The News

CAC issues biggest distribution of grants for the coming year, along with CARES funding

November 11, 2020cleveland.com

Charna Sherman, president of the CAC board, expresses gratitude for the assistance. “This is really a terrific win” for the alliance states Sherman. Read the full story.

Sherman Helps Illuminate a Dark Chanukah during the Pandemic with Poetry

December 15, 2020Jewish Federation of Cleveland

Cantor Rebecca Carmi asked Sherman to join her family in performing a “Festival of Song” in association with the Cleveland Israel Arts Connection. Watch the performance.

Cuyahoga Arts & Culture (CAC), Arts Cleveland and the Arts & Culture Action Committee (ACAC) Announce Alliance

December 7, 2020broadwayworld.com

Cuyahoga Arts & Culture (CAC), Arts Cleveland and the Arts & Culture Action Committee (ACAC) have announced the formation of an arts and culture alliance in Cuyahoga County, beginning in 2021.

“After months and even years of laying the groundwork, we are thrilled that the transformative efforts of so many are coming to real fruition,” said Charna E. Sherman, president of CAC's Board of Trustees. “This new alliance will ensure that Cuyahoga County continues to be shining example for arts and culture in the nation.” Read the full story.

CAC distributes CARES funding in support of Cuyahoga County's creative economy

OCTOBER 17, 2020cleveland.com

Cuyahoga Arts and Culture (CAC) will receive $2,664,000 to distribute to arts and culture nonprofits.

The funding will provide critical funding to Cuyahoga County’s arts and culture sector, which has experienced devastating loss of revenue and jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We have not spoken with one voice in the past, will be more catalytic precisely because we are doing this hard work in aligning our interests and our voice,” says Charna Sherman, president of the CAC board of trustees. Read the full story.

CAC Board President, Charna Sherman joins CIA extending congratulations and optimism to the Class of 2020

May 2020Cleveland Institute of Art

It’s time to celebrate at Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA).

“You are the glue and the vision that is going to bring us all together... I cannot wait to see what you bring to this world.” —Charna Sherman

Alumni and friends from around the world recorded messages of congratulations to share with CIA students, faculty, and staff—and especially the Class of 2020. Watch the video messages along with Charna’s complete message starting at 01:45.

It Takes Two 2020 Winner Announcement

April 27, 2020groundworksdance.org

“I did this as head of Cuyahoga Arts Culture because having a vibrant arts and culture community is just so critical to our entire ecosystem... Thanks to all of you.” —Charna Sherman

Read the announcement.

GroundWorks DanceTheater's annual fundraising gala goes live, online

April 24, 2020groundworksdance.org

The Groundworks “dance” debut went live as the contest shifted to an online competition—It Takes Two, GroundWorks DanceTheater’s annual fundraising gala.

The inspiration for Rosie v. Rona came from one of Charna's favorite local dress designers — Project Runway contestant and founder of Yellowcake, Valerie Mayen — who just like ROSIE the Riveter, swiftly drafted her small army of sewers to fight this deadly co-RONA-virus, by making thousands of masks for our local hospitals. That's right, we can beat this mortal enemy by hanging tough and together! See the competition and vote.

Sherman recommends promoting Jill Paulsen to Executive Director of Cuyahoga Arts & Culture

February 12, 2020

Sherman, president of CAC’s Board of Trustees, explained that the search process has been transformational in “helping us clarify the critical strategic work this County needs for arts and culture.” Paulsen’s long tenure and demonstrable success as interim executive director led Sherman to recommend Paulsen’s promotion to Executive Director. Read the news release.

FEBRUARY 2020 — ideastream.org

“What became clear is what we needed was stability. We needed the expertise of the person in our own house,” Sherman said after CAC’s February trustee meeting. Read the article.

FEBRUARY 2020 — cleveland.com

“She stepped up to the plate and kept CAC, our board, our team and all of our partners not just running meanwhile, but thriving,” the board’s president, Charna Sherman, said before a unanimous vote to disband a search committee and promote Paulsen. Read the article.

Sherman participates in GroundWorks DanceTheater's annual fundraising gala

December 2019

Charna Sherman joins the 2020 class of Celebrity Dancers at It Takes Two, GroundWorks DanceTheater's annual fundraising gala, the highly-anticipated Dancing with the Stars-style competition featuring local celebrity dancers paired alongside GWDT dancers.

Sherman rejoins FRONT Board of Directors

December 2019

FRONT re-appoints Charna Sherman to serve on the Board of Directors. FRONT International: Cleveland Triennial for Contemporary Art—A regionwide art program that brings together international, national, and regional artists, curators, and scholars to propose a new format for biennials and triennials.

CAC Board votes to continues annual funds for local organizations supporting artists

December 11, 2019The Plain Dealer

“You don’t achieve ends of equity smoothly, but the results now are proof positive that we can move toward real change,” says Charna Sherman, CAC board president. Read the full story.

Sherman pleased as CAC unanimously approves about $11.8 million in grants to 277 local arts groups

November 13, 2019The Plain Dealer

“I can’t get over the dynamism of our entire arts community and the increase in positivity and working together,” states board president Charna Sherman. Read the full story.

Sherman and her connection to Pandemonium

August 2019Cleveland Public Theatre

Charna reflects on the "electricity of the uber-creative" found at Pandemonium, the Cleveland Public Theatre (CPT) annual fundraising extravaganza. PANDEMONIUM 2019: ALCHEMY takes place September 7, 2019, where the CPT campus will transform into a labyrinth of theatre, dance, visual, and performance art. Read more about the event and the complete interview.

Sherman eager to support new executive and continue arts funding

APRIL 2019

"There is a sense that we really need to move quickly," Sherman said. "We are now operating on almost half of what we had originally, and what we want to find is: what's the stream that's going to bring us back to where we started?" Article by David C. Barnett, ideastream.com

Sherman pleased CAC extends the reach of arts funding in 2019

November 2018The Plain Dealer

The trustees of Cuyahoga Arts & Culture (CAC) approves the distribution of over $12 million in grants to a record 282 Greater Cleveland arts organizations in 2019, 25 more than in 2018. Read the full story.

Sherman names Hanson as CAC's liaison in the search for a new executive director

September 2018

Newest board member Gary Hanson serves as CAC’s liaison in the effort to search and present a candidate for the executive director position. Estimated board approval, Spring 2019. Read the full story.

Sherman elected to President, CAC, Board of Trustees

August 2018

Charna Sherman transitions from Vice President to President of the Board of Trustees, Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.

Sherman re-appointed to CAC, Board of Trustees

June 2018

Charna Sherman, who serves as President of the Board of Trustees for the Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, has been re-appointed for the term April 1, 2018 - March 31, 2021. Article by Peter Krouse, cleveland.com; Article by Scott Suttell, Crain's Cleveland Business; Article at Cleveland Jewish News

The Ruby Shoes Fund proudly supports FRONT International installation

June 2018

Ruby Shoes sponsored an extensively reviewed installation at FRONT International of a sculpture by acclaimed artist A. K. Burns titled The Dispossessed, after feminist Ursula K. LeGuin's 1974 novel of the same name, which in her words explores "the lines of gender." Article by Alex Greenberger, ARTnews; Article by Zack Hatfield, Artforum

Sherman, CAC trustee, wants money in the hands of artists

February 2018The Plain Dealer

"At some point, we have to move from process to actually helping artists in our community," states Sherman. Read the full story.

Sherman, CAC trustee, understands the need for a more equitable way to distribute grants to artists

December 2017The Plain Dealer

The Board of Trustees of Cuyahoga Arts & Culture met to approve its $14 million operating budget for 2018 and deal with other administrative matters. Read the full story.

Sherman elected to VP, CAC, Board of Trustees

April 2017

Charna Sherman appointed to the position of Vice President of the Board of Trustees, Cuyahoga Arts & Culture for the term April 1, 2017 - March 31, 2018.

Sherman advances diversity at CAC’s Annual public meeting and grant ceremony

November 2016 The Plain Dealer

Cuyahoga Arts & Culture approves $14.5M in grants, and fields questions about proposed shift in individual artist grant program. Read the full story.

Sherman serves as executive producer of art installation of Melting American Dream at RNC

July 2016

Over the 2016 RNC, Sherman served as the Executive Producer of an art installation by two Brooklyn artists, Nora Ligorano and Marshall Reese, at The Transformer Station, whereby a 3,000-pound ice sculpture of The American Dream was melted down.

Sherman elected to FRONT International Board of Directors

Summer 2016

FRONT International appoints Charna Sherman to serve on the Board of Directors. FRONT International: Cleveland Exhibition for Contemporary Art is a new large-scale, multi-venue, citywide contemporary art program that will take place in Cleveland every three years. FRONT is set to launch its first edition, An American City, in 2018.

Sherman confirmed as Trustee of Cuyahoga Arts and Culture Board

July 2016

Cuyahoga County Council confirmed County Executive Armond Budish’s nomination of Charna Sherman to serve on the Cuyahoga Arts & Culture Board of Trustees for a three-year term.

CAC Board funds free public Cleveland Orchestra concert

April 2016The Plain Dealer

The board of Cuyahoga Arts and Culture voted to spend $175,000 to fund a free public concert by the Cleveland Orchestra in Public Square. Read the full story.

Sherman defends Moses in Mock Trial

April 2016

Charna E. Sherman recently secured the acquittal of Moses in The People vs. Moses, A Mock Trial at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law’s Moot Court room. The People were represented by the former US Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, who charged Moses with aiding and abetting the murder of the first born of Egypt. Read the reviews. Follow on Facebook.

The Ruby Shoes Fund proudly supports the Cleveland Institute of Art Spring Exhibition: Women to Watch - Ohio.

Spring 2015

The Ruby Shoes Fund supported CIA’s Community Works series, shining a spotlight on Women to Watch - Ohio. The Women to Watch Exhibition was on display at The Reinberger Galleries April 2 - May 2, 2015, and received rave reviews. The Cleveland Institute of Art, in collaboration with the NMWA, hosted this first-ever Ohio exhibition. The NMWA is the only museum in the country dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments of women artists through exhibitions, acquisitions, educational initiatives and archival research. Charna E. Sherman was a board member of the Cleveland Institute of Art.

Sherman helps rising talent reach the "white lights" of Broadway

December 2013

In celebration of a milestone, Sherman arranged in April for a small troupe of talented “Broadway wannabes” to put on a reading of a new original play for Cleveland investors. In a dream come true, the show's opening in December met with rave reviews from the New York Times. Read reviews.

Sherman co-chairs Leadership Cleveland event

November 14, 2013

Charna E. Sherman Law Offices Co., LPA sponsored the LC12—Raising the Bar (Leadership Cleveland, Class of 2012) quarterly meeting, an evening featuring the Cleveland Institute of Art's Reinberger Galleries CIA alumnus Richard Anuszkiewicz, one of the giants of 20th-century American art.

"Charleaders" cheer on Cleveland Public Theater and the Gordon Square Arts District

October 10, 2013

Charna Sherman and Char Fowler invited over 75 women leaders from across the community to join them as “Charleaders” for the incredible work underway at the Cleveland Public Theater and the Gordon Square Arts District (GSAD) on the advancement of women and girls in the theatre. Click here to see photos from the event or connect on the GSAD Facebook Page.

Sherman Featured in "The Road to Independence: 101 Women's Journeys to Starting Their Own Law Firms"

July 2011Published by American Bar Association

In this first-ever publication, The Road to Independence: 101 Women's Journeys to Starting Their Own Law Firm, the ABA turned to 101 women among the nation’s most successful lawyers to recount their experiences and insights in creating law firms of their own, either as a solo practitioner or with others, over multiple decades. The book was published in July 2011 by the ABA's select Commission on Women in the Profession, and has received much acclaim.