Cleveland Heights resident Marsha Dobrzynski wins Cleveland Arts Prize

Marsha Dobrzynski with students from Roxboro Elementary who worked with Young Audiences artists on a Chinese cultural art residency.

Cleveland Heights resident Marsha Dobrzynski was selected as a 2011 Cleveland Arts Prize recipient for her role as executive director of Young Audiences. Since 1994, her work has inspired young people in Northeast Ohio through arts and education.

Dobrzynski will receive the Martha Joseph Prize for Distinguished Service to the Arts at the 51st Cleveland Arts Prize Award event on Tuesday, June 28, at 6 p.m. 

When Dobrzynski assumed the leadership of Young Audiences, the organization was on the verge of bankruptcy. Through her tireless commitment to establishing a financially sound organization, with the capacity to serve many children, she turned things around. Today, Young Audiences operates on a budget of nearly $2 million and serves more than 242,000 children each year. Her goal remains to introduce an increasing number of children to the joy and excitement of the arts.

The mission of Young Audiences is to enrich the lives of children and promote creative learning by uniting arts and education. Young Audiences offers programs in dance, theater, music and visual art. With a legacy of service in offering quality, hands-on experiential learning in the arts, Young Audiences has more than 110 experienced teaching artists who not only excel in their art form, but also love working with and inspiring children of all ages.