Collinwood Votes on Community Arts Projects

How would you spend $120,000 for arts programming in North Collinwood? Over 500 residents and employees in the neighborhood voted on just that. Once the ballots were tallied, nine projects were funded.

The Ballot Box Project kicked off on a sunny Friday in early March with Democracy on the Move, a parade that weaved throughout the residential streets where the projects will primarily take place. Thirty musicians and 40 artists and residents marched through the streets bringing people out of their homes to enjoy the show. 

A young boy pointed toward the parade when one of the parade walkers handed him a flag with the Ballot Box logo. He and his dad smiled gleefully waving their flag as the parade continued past their home. Parents and children, seniors and singles came outside to enjoy the sights and sounds of democracy. This excitement was echoed through the neighborhood into the commercial district, with owners and shoppers taking leave of their business to check out the parade. The route concluded at the first polling site where inside the musicians circled up for a jam session with dancers showing off their best moves.

"The parade is the first time I felt the arts district connected with the neighborhood," said Linda, a longtime resident who was so pleased that she even joined the parade with her dog.

It felt like a party at each of the four voting locations. Each site was just as popular as the first. We needed bigger rooms and we ran out of voting booths. Artists on the ballot didn't miss a day of voting to promote their ideas, while people of all ages and backgrounds came out to vote on their favorite projects. 

 "I care more about this election than the real one," said one resident as she was checking in to get her ballot. "This vote will actually impact the community." 

Voting began on Friday, March 4th at the Slovenian Workman's Home and continued through March 16th at Collinwood High School. Residents came out to vote in full force at the four public voting locations: Slovenian Workmen's Home, Collinwood Recreation Center, Salvation Army, and Euclid Beach Villas. Voting was brought to the youth at Collinwood High School, where over 100 students experienced voting for the first time. Many of the projects on the ballot were about activities for the youth. 

The desire for The Ballot Box Project to continue in the future has been unanimous. Everyone was excited about the projects. Some residents came out to engage the arts for their first time. Several people registered to vote in the general election, and youth had their first real voting experience

By Julia DiBaggio

Resident of neighborhood since 1956. Worked on East 185th street since 1970.

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Volume 8, Issue 4, Posted 6:27 PM, 04.06.2016