Dear Community Members,

We are reaching out to seek your support for Robin VanLear, a dedicated artist and long-time resident of Cleveland Heights, who is facing a significant challenge. Robin's tenancy at the Coventry P.E.A.C.E. Campus is ending on January 31, 2025, and she urgently needs our help to navigate this transition.

Robin has been an integral part of our community, contributing her artistry and creativity through numerous free, community-focused events and programs. Her work has enriched our lives and brought us together in celebration of the arts. However, she now faces the daunting task of finding new studio space while dealing with extenuating personal circumstances—her daughter is undergoing surgery and will require Robin's care and support.

Robin's accomplishments are numerous and a source of pride for our community:

• Founder and Artistic Director of Parade the Circle: Robin created this annual event, which attracts over 15,000 participants and 80,000 spectators each June. It is a colorful, musical, non-commercial celebration of grassroots creativity that has become a beloved tradition in Cleveland
• Director of Community Arts at the Cleveland Museum of Art: Robin has led community arts initiatives, including the Chalk Festival and the Lantern Festival, engaging hundreds of adults and children in making art and fostering a love for creativity
• Award-Winning Artist: Robin has received prestigious awards such as the Governor's Award for Outreach from the Ohio Arts Council and the Robert P. Bergman Prize from the Cleveland Arts Prize
• Innovative Collaborations: She has worked with organizations like the Cleveland Opera on Tour, the Cleveland Orchestra, Cleveland Chamber Music Festival, City Music, the Cleveland Playhouse, Playhouse Square, and the Cleveland Public Theatre creating performances and installations that have brightened our community

We are asking for your voices and support in two critical ways:

1. Advocacy for Short-Term Lease: Robin is seeking clemency from the library to extend a short-term lease option beyond January 31, 2025. This extension would provide her with the necessary time to manage her personal responsibilities and fulfill her professional commitments, including several ongoing artistic projects and fellowship requirements. Your emails to the library board expressing support for Robin's request can make a significant difference. Please find the email addresses of Heights Library board members here.
2. Assistance in Finding New Studio Space: Robin needs our help to locate a new studio space where she can continue her invaluable work on large puppets and community projects with neighborhood access. If you know of any available spaces or have connections that could assist in this search, please reach out and lend a hand. At the time that Robin needs to move spaces, we will need to support her in this move with the helping hands of volunteers and assistance in gathering moving funds! 

Robin's contributions to our community have been immense, and now it's our turn to support her during this challenging time. Whether or not she can remain at the Coventry P.E.A.C.E. Campus, our collective efforts can help ensure that she continues to thrive and inspire us all.

Please join us in supporting Robin VanLear by:

• Sending emails to the library board advocating for a short-term lease.
• Sharing any leads or resources for new studio space [and moving assistance / donation of moving funds]
• Spreading the word within our community to rally more support.

Together, we can make a difference and show Robin that her community stands with her. Thank you for your support!