Meet Stephanie Kluk | Owner & Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Stephanie Kluk and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Stephanie, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Starting my own business has always been a goal of mine since college. Fast forward many years later, after a variety of non-profit arts management jobs, I finally felt ready to take the leap. I started Future Ink Graphics (FIG) at the start of Covid. It wasn’t the plan but became the best and worse time to do it. I had been discussing my ideas and how I wanted to run my own space and a colleague said to me “you have been doing this for 20 years for other people, why don’t you do it for yourself”. That was the final push I needed. Once the idea was formed, the hard work began. Working with a variety of organizations that support entrepreneurs, I began to create my business plan. From there it has been continuously building on the relationships I have in the community as well as developing new ones.

Without the help of community, I wouldn’t have been able to get FIG up and running. As an artist myself, and working with creatives for years, I saw the gaps in training and skill building for creative entrepreneurs especially women and creatives of color. After conducting focus groups and discussions among local artists and designers, I knew that the need was there and I knew FIG could be a space for creatives to grow and find support. FIG has been operating for over a year and the process of starting and sustaining is always present and changing.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

I see myself as an artist and arts administrator. After receiving my BFA in Photography from the Columbus College of Art and Design, Columbus, OH, I moved to Chicago, IL. While in Chicago, I exhibited my artwork throughout the city and worked as the Program Director for the Chicago Artists’ Coalition. This position made me realize my passion for helping other artists. In 2008, I moved to Cleveland and became the Program and Community Enrichment Manager at Art House, Inc. where I managed a variety of programs that included free art education classes for children and families. I also helped develop a Program Coordinator position for Shore Cultural Center, and sat on the Board of Directors for the Cleveland West Art League (CWAL) for six years. I was elected Board President of CWAL in 2014 and helped lead the organization through its first strategic plan. That same year I was awarded a scholarship by the Cleveland Foundation to enter the National Guild’s Community Arts Education Leadership Institute. I feel continuing education and training is really important throughout one’s career. In 2016, I became the Director of Operations and Co-Executive Director, respectively, of Zygote Press. When I began to create solid plans for opening FIG, I left Zygote and joined CAN Journal as the Development Manager which allowed me time to launch Future Ink Graphics (FIG). In 2022 I left CAN and dedicated all my time to FIG. Now my work is all about growing and developing FIG and its programs. 

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

Cleveland has a lot of fun and interesting places to visit. Many people aren’t aware of Cleveland’s active arts scene. First, I would invite everyone to the Pivot Center for Art, Dance and Expression, which houses not only FIG, but a variety of other arts and culture organizations. The Pivot Center is located just south west of the city. It has a large, vibrant community, with great food, music and local talent. There is the Cleveland Museum of Art, which is free all year round. There are small grassroots arts organizations, such as SPACES Gallery, The Cleveland Print Room, 78th Street Studios and more that have some of the best artwork in town. It is also just a couple of minutes from Cleveland’s Lake Erie shores which are surrounded by parks and beautiful public areas. Cleveland is still a fairly affordable city, so staying somewhere nice on a budget, whether it’s a hotel or Airbnb, is still easy to find.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

Wow, there are so many people! The saying “it takes a village” also applies to starting your own small business from scratch. The list of who to thank and give recognition to would take up this whole article! I have many mentors, from my parents and family members to professionals and colleagues who have taken this path and have helped support me along the way. When I started FIG, I created an advisory committee with 10 members. Each brought different experiences and expertise to the table. The help and support I received was, and still is, humbling. The trust from funders and city leaders was beyond anything I could have hoped for. One person key to my success is my friend and FIG Art Director, Yana Mikho-Misho. Yana was the first to step up and support my vision, and stood by me through all the ups and downs. She helped shape FIG’s message and her knowledge, skills and experience fit perfectly with the mission and goals of Future Ink Graphics. She is dedicated to FIG and our successes are a direct result of her efforts and passion.

Website: https://futureinkgraphics.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fig_futureinkgraphics/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-kluk-2a736430/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100047850321697

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UtlnGs_0VY

Image Credits
Yana Mikho-Misho Lauren Mailey