Our Mission
The West 117 Foundation, Inc. provides leadership to raise private sector funds, steward the assets received, and make grants in support of Studio West Development, LLC; West 117 Development, LLC; and its partners.
Our Vision
The West 117 Foundation, Inc. will generate philanthropic resources to support entrepreneurship, arts, culture, health, and human services to create a hub for Cleveland’s LGBTQ+ ecosystem, in collaboration with the Studio West Development.
Culture
The West 117 Foundation is committed to making every aspect of their project inclusive and accessible for all members of the LGBTQ+ community. From our partnerships with local LGBTQ leaders from across the spectrum of identities and backgrounds to making sure all spaces are ADA compliant so all visitors can enter with ease. We believe this inclusivity begins with our community members seeing themselves reflected in the space at all levels from onstage talent to bartenders, so we are forming a hiring committee comprised of members who represent a variety of experiences, races, sexual identities, genders, and ability levels to ensure intersectional representation at all levels.
“We will generate philanthropic resources to support entrepreneurship, arts, culture, health, and human services to create a hub for Cleveland’s LGBTQ+ ecosystem“
The West 117 Foundation VISION
Programming
Renovation of the Phantasy entertainment complex will provide large scale venues to elevate drag and create a focal point for the LGBTQ community. These venues will allow us to create new opportunities for artists as well as revive lost and displaced events from Cleveland’s past that deserve celebration. Studio West is also creating a co-working space and podcast studio to generate low barrier-to-entry opportunities for LGBTQ enterprises. Alongside entertainment events, we will also feature educational programming for all ages on a variety of topics from drag history to financial literacy.
Become A Founding Member
Be a Founding Member of The West 117 Foundation and help enhance the economic and cultural opportunities for ALL members of the LGBTQ Community of Greater Cleveland.