YOUNGSTOWN, OH (March 11, 2026): Dani Dier, Chief Business Officer of the Henry H. Stambaugh Auditorium Association (Stambaugh Auditorium), has been selected as a member of the 2026 Cohort of the CreativeOhio Advocacy Leadership Institute (ALI), an initiative which has become a nationally recognized model for statewide arts advocacy. The program is aimed at empowering Ohio’s arts and culture leaders with the skills and strategies needed to advocate for a stronger creative sector. Dier is one of 25 leaders chosen through a competitive application process. representing 13 cities across Ohio.

With the second cohort launching in May 2026, the six-month immersive program includes workshops, site visits to cultural hubs, and in-depth policy discussions with lawmakers and advocacy experts. Participants will gain the knowledge and insight to influence public policy, secure funding, and strengthen the statewide network of arts advocacies. 

“CreativeOhio’s Advocacy Leadership Institute is an important effort to raise the bar on civic literacy and engagement among Ohio’s arts and cultural leader,” said CreativeOhio Executive Director, Sarah Sisser. “We are excited to collaborate with this year’s cohort: an accomplished group of leaders representing diverse disciplines and communities across the state who are stepping forward to strengthen the collective voice of Ohio’s creative sector.”

The cohort includes professionals from a range of disciplines, from performing arts organizations to museums and independent artists all part of Ohio’s creative sector, which supports more than 132,000 jobs and contributes $32.9 billion annually to the state’s economy.

Dani Dier said, “This opportunity will allow me to expand my advocacy skills, connect with leaders across the state, and ensure that Youngstown plays a key role in advancing the arts in Ohio.”

The CreativeOhio Advocacy Leadership Institute supported by: The George Gund Foundation, Greater Cincinnati Foundation, Greater Columbus Arts Council, Carol Ann & Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation, Edwards Companies, Envisage Wealth , and Charles F. Kettering Foundation.

For more about the Advocacy Leadership Institute, visit creativeoh.org/advocacy-leadership-institute-2026-cohort/.