Purpose

ArtsWave believes that arts and cultural expression creates a more vibrant and dynamic region. ArtsWave also believes that only an inclusive collection of organizations, artists, art forms and projects can celebrate our community. In FY26, ArtsWave’s Circle Grant Program requests proposals for projects that celebrate Black and African American arts in the Cincinnati region.

Who May Apply

To be eligible for the FY2026 Circle Grant, an organization must meet the following requirements:

· Have a 501(c)3 designation, be non-profit in nature, or have a non-profit fiscal agent (for-profit businesses are ineligible for grant funding);

· Have a majority (51%+) of the organization’s annual expenditures dedicated to arts and cultural activities.

· Have a primary mission to provide programs or activities in areas directly concerned with arts or cultural heritage for the public.  

· Be based in the Cincinnati-Middletown, OH-KY-IN MSA, which includes the following counties: Brown, Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, and Warren Counties in Ohio; Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Gallatin, Grant, Kenton, and Pendleton Counties in Kentucky; and Dearborn, Franklin, and Ohio Counties in Indiana.

· Have successfully completed all previous grant requirements, including outstanding final reports for all previous grants and sponsorships.*

· Have not received funding through another ArtsWave project grant for the proposed project.** 

*Any past Circle grantee that has failed to complete a grant project and or has not submitted a final report for a grant project to date is ineligible to apply for an FY2026 Circle Grant.

**Proposed projects that have already been funded through the ArtsWave Pride, Young Professionals, Catalyzing Impact, or Black and Brown Artist grant programs are not eligible for funding. A recipient of any of those grant programs is still eligible to apply if they meet the requirements above and propose a different project for this Circle grant cycle. Sustaining Impact grantees may apply for a new project outside their regular programming that is currently funded through general operating support

NOTE: Applicants new to ArtsWave must schedule an introductory call or meeting prior to the application deadline. Returning applicants are also encouraged to reach out with any questions they may have related to their project or application. Please contact Lori Burkhardt at lori.burkhardt@artswave.org to schedule a time. 

Eligible Requests 

The ArtsWave Circle Grant Program provides funding for arts or cultural heritage projects that celebrate African American arts, advancing our Tri-State region’s reputation as a welcoming and inclusive community through the arts. Projects with multiple components and/or event dates must show a cohesive theme that ties the entire project together. Proposed projects must take place between September 1, 2025-August 31, 2026 and must not be completed before grant award notification. 

This grant program is designed to provide both seed funding to support the development of new programming, as well as short-term operating support for existing programming with a demonstrated impact of inclusivity. 

For stronger FY2026 ArtsWave Circle Grant applications, the proposed projects should:  

· Be well designed, participatory and social 

· Align with ArtsWave’s Blueprint for Collective Action 

· Celebrate African American arts  

· Have NOT received funding through another ArtsWave project grant for 

the same project 

· If a Sustaining Impact recipient, not be part of organization’s general operations that are funded through the SI grant 

Grant Amounts

The dollar amount allocated for this round of ArtsWave Circle Grants will be funded from the ArtsWave’s FY25 Community Campaign. Projects may be funded partially or in full up to $10,000. There is no match requirement for the Circle grant. Up to 10% of the grant request may be allocated to general administration and overhead. 

Note: Applicants will be asked if the project can be completed with partial funding, which may allow the panel to award more project grants. If applicant says the project cannot be completed with partial funding, there is no penalty; however, the panel must choose full funding or no funding for the project. 

Application Instructions 

All application materials must be submitted via Submittable, ArtsWave’s online grantmaking system, at  https://artswave.submittable.com/submit. We strongly recommend that you begin your online application well before the due date to familiarize yourself with the online grantmaking system and to address any technical concerns.  

A. Organization Information   

· Organization Contact Information * 

o Address, including County 

o Main telephone 

o Website 

· Grant Contact Information* 

· Organizational Leadership and Staffing 

o Chief Professional Officer  

o Number of FTE, PTE, contracted and unpaid staff 

o Upload list of Board of Directors with affiliations (workplace) 

· Organization EIN/tax ID 

· 501(c)3 status or Fiscal Agent* 

· Fiscal Agent contract or agreement upload and their EIN/tax ID* (if applicable) 

· ATTACHMENT: High-resolution organization logo 

· Provide a brief description of your organization and the type of programming you provide. (150-word limit)* 

· List any funding your organization received from Artswave since 2020 

B. Details of Request 

· Project title*  

· Provide a project description short summary; that is, how would you describe (not advertise) the program for an Instagram post. (25-word limit)* 

· Describe the proposed project in more detail. (300-word limit)* 

· Describe how the proposed project celebrates African American arts within our region. (250-word limit)* 

· Describe how your organization, including staff and board, has the capacity to complete the project in an authentic and manageable way. (200-word limit)* 

· List projected number of participants to be served.* 

· List anticipated project start and end date* 

· Provide a monthly+ proposed timeline, outlining key deliverables and milestones. (250-word limit)* 

· What are the objectives of this project, and how will you measure this program's success? Please include both the measures you will use and the methodology you will use to collect the data. (250-word limit)* 

· List any organizations/artists with whom you will collaborate for this program and briefly describe the nature of the collaboration. (250-word limit) 

· Select of which ArtsWave grant program resource opportunities you have or will take advantage.* 

· Respond if you would like to receive early submission feedback.* 

· ATTACHMENT: Please upload an example of your organization's work that illustrates your capacity to accomplish the proposed project.* 

C. Grant Request 

· Requested Grant Amount up to $10,000* 

D. Financials 

· Annual operating budget for FY2026* 

· Total project budget * 

· How and over what time period will the ArtsWave Circle grant funds be spent? (100-word limit)* 

· Can this project be completed if partially funded?* 

· ATTACHMENT: Most recent annual financial statement or 990 *  

· Complete ArtsWave Circle Grant Budget Form* 

· Organization’s nonprofit determination letter.* 

*delineates a field required to submit 

E. Statement of Assurances – An authorizing official will certify that s/he is authorized to submit the application on behalf of the organization and that the information submitted in the application is true and correct to the best of his/her knowledge. * 

All application materials must be submitted through the online grantmaking system by 5:00 pm EST on September 22, 2025. Late applications will not be accepted.  

Optional Grant Writing Resources 

Grant Overview Session 

ArtsWave will host a free, online webinar to go over the Pride Grant Program Guidelines and the application process. The webinar will be held on Tuesday, August 12 from noon-1 p.m. To register for the webinar, please go to FY2026 ArtsWave Affinity Grant Programs Grant Overview. 

Grant Writing Workshops 

ArtsWave will also host two online Grant Writing Workshops. The first workshop will provide a comprehensive grant writing guide on Thursday, August 14 from noon-1 p.m. Please register at ArtsWave Grant Writing Workshop.

The second workshop will focus on financial documentation and budgets on Wednesday, August 20 from noon-1 p.m. Please register at ArtsWave Grant Writing Workshop: Financial Documentation and Budgets

Early Submission Feedback 

Applicants may submit a draft of their application by September 3 to receive feedback from ArtsWave staff. Complete the draft in submittable.com and click “SUBMIT”. Applicants must make edits and re-submit by the September 22 deadline. 

One-on-One meetings 

Applicants may request support no later than one week before the grant deadline by contacting Lori Burkhardt at lori.burkhardt@artswave.org. 

Determination of Grant Amount 

Applications will be reviewed by a panel consisting of community volunteers and awarded by the ArtsWave Board of Directors using the following criteria totaling 100 points: 

· Project is well-planned with clear outcomes and assessment. (15 pts) 

· Programming aligns with the Blueprint for Collective Action. (15 pts) 

· Programming celebrates African American arts within our region. (15 pts) 

· Organization demonstrates the capacity to complete the project. (15 pts) 

· Organization has a history of arts programming. (10 pts) 

· Programming can be achieved in the proposed timeline. (15 pts) 

· The proposed grant amount requested is appropriate, and the project budget is sufficient to execute the project. (15 pts)

Requests may be funded in full or in part unless otherwise indicated. 

Grant Requirements 

Upon notification of award, grant recipients must submit a grant acceptance form. If the recommended award is less than the project request, ArtsWave may ask you to complete an updated budget form as a part of the acceptance materials. A single grant payment will be issued once the grant acceptance form has been received.  

Final Reports will be assigned once award distribution is made to provide immediate access for the grantee and to streamline internal administrative processes. All final reports are due upon completion of the project but no later than August 31, 2026. All requirements must be submitted through Submittable. Applicants will be ineligible to apply for funding if a previous final report for any grant program is outstanding.  

Any organization receiving ArtsWave funding must fulfill all grant requirements outlined in the grantee handbook for the duration of the grant period and accurately represent its organization and its activities in all documents submitted to ArtsWave. 

Contact ArtsWave 

Additional application questions may be directed to Lori Burkhardt, Grant Programs Manager, at (513) 632-0123 or lori.burkhardt@artswave.org. 

Purpose

In alignment with ArtsWave’s intention to celebrate the region’s unique backgrounds and to create inclusive arts experiences that are also exciting and innovative, the ArtsWave Pride Grant Program requests proposals for projects that celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community through the arts. Applicants are encouraged to develop projects that occur outside the traditional Pride month in June.

Who May Apply

ArtsWave believes that strong arts create strong communities. To be eligible for the FY2026 ArtsWave Pride Grant Program, an organization must meet all the following requirements: 

· Have a 501(c)3 tax status or be nonprofit in nature with an established fiscal agent.

· Be based in the Cincinnati-Middletown, OH-KY-IN MSA, which includes the following counties: Brown, Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, and Warren Counties in Ohio; Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Gallatin, Grant, Kenton, and Pendleton Counties in Kentucky; and Dearborn, Franklin, and Ohio Counties in Indiana.

· Have a primary mission to provide programs or activities in areas directly concerned with arts or cultural heritage for the public. 

· Have a majority (51%+) of the organization’s annual expenditures dedicated to arts and cultural activities.

· Provide programs or activities that celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community. 

· Does not currently have an active ArtsWave Pride grant and has successfully completed all previous ArtsWave Pride grant requirements.

· Have not received an ArtsWave Pride grant in the last two consecutive cycles (If received in FY24 & FY25, eligible again in FY27.) 

· Have not received funding through another ArtsWave project grant since January 1, 2025*

*Proposed projects that have been funded already through the Circle, ArtsWave Catalyzing Impact, or Young Professional grant programs are not eligible to apply. A recipient of any of those grant programs is still eligible to apply but must propose a different project for the ArtsWave Pride grant program.

ArtsWave will not award grant support to organizations that, in their constitution, bylaws, or practices, discriminate against a person or group because of age, race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or religious belief. In doing so, we seek to promote respect for all people.

NOTE: Applicants new to ArtsWave must schedule an introductory call or meeting prior to the application deadline. Returning applicants are also encouraged to reach out with any questions they may have related to their project or application. Please contact Lori Burkhardt at lori.burkhardt@artswave.org to schedule a time.

Eligible Requests

The ArtsWave Pride Grant Program provides funding for arts or cultural heritage projects that celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community, advancing our Tri-State region’s reputation as a welcoming and inclusive community through the arts. Projects with multiple components and/or event dates must show a cohesive theme that tie the entire project together. Proposed projects must take place between September 1, 2025-August 31, 2026 and not be completed before grant award notification.

This grant program is designed to provide both seed funding to support the development of new programming as well as short-term operating support for existing programming with a demonstrated impact of inclusivity.

For stronger FY2026 ArtsWave Pride Grant applications, the proposed projects should: 

· Be well designed, participatory and social

· Align with ArtsWave’s Blueprint for Collective Action

· Celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community through the arts 

· Have NOT received funding through another ArtsWave project grant for the same project

· If a Sustaining Impact recipient, not be part of organization’s general operations that are funded through the SI grant

Grant Amounts

The dollar amount allocated for this round of ArtsWave Pride Grants will be determined upon completion of ArtsWave’s FY25 Community Campaign. Projects may be funded partially or in full, with prior awards of up to $25,000. There is no match requirement for Pride grants. Up to 10% of the grant request can be allocated to general administration and overhead.

Note: Applicants will be asked if the project can be completed with partial funding, which may allow the panel to award more project grants. If applicant says the project cannot be completed with partial funding, there is no penalty; however, the panel must choose full funding or no funding for the project.

Application Instructions

All application materials must be submitted via Submittable, ArtsWave’s online grantmaking system at  https://artswave.submittable.com/submit. We strongly recommend that you begin your online application well before the due date to familiarize yourself with the online grantmaking system and to address any technical concerns. 

A. Organization Information 

· Organization Contact Information *

o Address, including County

o Main telephone

o Website

· Grant Contact Information*

· Organizational Leadership and Staffing

o Chief Professional Officer 

o Number of FTE, PTE, contracted and unpaid staff

o Upload list of Board of Directors with affiliations (workplace)

· Organization EIN/tax ID

· 501(c)3 status or Fiscal Agent*

· Fiscal Agent contract or agreement upload and their EIN/tax ID* (if applicable)

· ATTACHMENT: High-resolution organization logo

· Provide a brief description of your organization and the type of programming you provide. (150-word limit)*

· List any funding your organization received from Artswave since 2020

B. Details of Request

· Project title* 

· Provide a project description short summary; that is, how would you describe (not advertise) the project for an Instagram post. (25-word limit)*

· Describe the proposed project in more detail. (300-word limit)*

· Describe how the proposed project celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community within our region. (250-word limit)*

· Describe how your organization, including staff and board, has the capacity to complete the project in an authentic and manageable way. (200-word limit)*

· List projected number of participants to be served.*

· List anticipated project start and end date*

· Provide a monthly+ proposed timeline, outlining key deliverables and milestones. (250-word limit)*

· What are the objectives of this project, and how will you measure this program's success? Please include both the measures you will use and the methodology you will use to collect the data. (250-word limit)*

· List any organizations/artists with whom you will collaborate for this program and briefly describe the nature of the collaboration. (250-word limit)

· Select of which ArtsWave grant program resource opportunities you have or will take advantage.*

· Respond if you would like to receive early submission feedback.*

· ATTACHMENT: Please upload an example of your organization's work that illustrates your capacity to accomplish the proposed project.*

C. Grant Request

· Requested Grant Amount*

D. Financials

· Annual operating budget for FY2026*

· Total project budget *

· How and over what time period will the ArtsWave Pride grant funds be spent? (100-word limit)*

· Can this project be completed if partially funded?*

· ATTACHMENT: Most recent annual financial statement or 990 * 

· Complete ArtsWave Pride Grant Budget Form*

· Organization’s nonprofit determination letter.*

*delineates a field required to submit

E. Statement of Assurances – An authorizing official will certify that s/he is authorized to submit the application on behalf of the organization and that the information submitted in the application is true and correct to the best of his/her knowledge. *

All application materials must be submitted through the online grantmaking system by 5:00 pm EST on September 22, 2025. Late applications will not be accepted. 

Optional Grant Writing Resources

Grant Overview Session

ArtsWave will host a free, online webinar to go over the Pride Grant Program Guidelines and the application process. The webinar will be held on Tuesday, August 12 from noon-1 p.m. To register for the webinar, please go to FY2026 ArtsWave Affinity Grant Programs Grant Overview.

Grant Writing Workshops

ArtsWave will also host two online Grant Writing Workshops. The first workshop will provide a comprehensive grant writing guide on Thursday, August 14 from noon-1 p.m. Please register at ArtsWave Grant Writing Workshop.

The second workshop will focus on financial documentation and budgets on Wednesday, August 20 from noon-1 p.m. Please register at ArtsWave Grant Writing Workshop: Financial Documentation and Budgets. 

Early Submission Feedback

Applications may submit a draft of their application by September 3 to receive feedback from ArtsWave staff. Complete the draft in submittable.com and click “SUBMIT”. Applicants must make edits and re-submit by the September 22 deadline.

One-on-One meetings

Applicants may request support no later than one week before the grant deadline by contacting Lori Burkhardt at lori.burkhardt@artswave.org.

Determination of Grant Amount

Applications will be reviewed by a panel consisting of community volunteers and awarded by the ArtsWave Board of Directors using the following criteria totaling 100 points:

· Project is well-planned with clear outcomes and assessment. (15 pts)

· Programming aligns with the Blueprint for Collective Action. (15 pts)

· Programming celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community within our region. (15 pts)

· Organization demonstrates the capacity to complete the project. (15 pts)

· Organization has a history of arts programming. (10 pts)

· Programming can be achieved in the proposed timeline. (15 pts)

· The proposed grant amount request is appropriate, and the project budget is sufficient to execute the project. (15 pts)

Requests may be funded in full or in part unless otherwise indicated.

Grant Requirements

Upon notification of award, grant recipients must submit a grant acceptance form. If the recommended award is less than the project request, ArtsWave may ask you to complete an updated budget form as a part of the acceptance materials. A single grant payment will be issued once the grant acceptance form has been received. 

Final Reports will be assigned once award distribution is made to provide immediate access for the grantee and to streamline internal administrative processes. All final reports are due upon completion of the project, but no later than August 31, 2026. All requirements must be submitted through Submittable. Applicants will be ineligible to apply for funding if a previous final report for any grant program is outstanding. 

Any organization receiving ArtsWave funding must fulfill all grant requirements outlined in the grantee handbook for the duration of the grant period and accurately represent its organization and its activities in all documents submitted to ArtsWave.

Contact ArtsWave

Additional application questions may be directed to Lori Burkhardt, Grant Programs Manager, at (513) 632-0123 or lori.burkhardt@artswave.org.

Purpose

The attraction and retention of young professionals to our region is a top priority for Greater Cincinnati. Maintaining a workforce that is broad in age is vital to a thriving, growing community, but compared to our peer regions across the country, Cincinnati continues to see slower growth in young professionals. As ArtsWave’s research on arts engagement in our community revealed the power of the arts to attract, engage, and retain residents, ArtsWave’s Young Professionals Grant Program requests proposals for projects that engage young professionals through the arts, deepening their roots in the region and developing a better quality of life.

Who May Apply

To be eligible for the FY2026 Young Professionals Grant, an organization must meet the following requirements:

• Have a 501(c)3 designation, be non-profit in      nature, or have a non-profit fiscal agent (for-profit businesses are      ineligible for grant funding);
• Have a majority (51%+) of      the organization’s annual expenditures dedicated to arts and cultural      activities.
• Have a primary mission to      provide programs or activities in areas directly concerned with arts or      cultural heritage for the public.  
• Be based in the      Cincinnati-Middletown, OH-KY-IN MSA, which includes the following      counties: Brown, Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, and Warren Counties in Ohio;      Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Gallatin, Grant, Kenton, and Pendleton Counties      in Kentucky; and Dearborn, Franklin, and Ohio Counties in Indiana.
• Have successfully      completed all previous grant requirements, including outstanding final      reports for all previous grants and sponsorships.*
• Have not received funding      through another ArtsWave project grant for the proposed project.** 

*Any past Young Professionals grantee that has failed to complete a grant project and or have not submitted a final report for a grant project to date, are ineligible to apply for an FY2026 Young Professional Grant.

**Proposed projects that have already been funded through the ArtsWave Pride, Circle, Catalyzing Impact, or Black and Brown Artist grant programs are not eligible for funding. A recipient of any of those grant programs is still eligible to apply if they meet the requirements above and propose a different project for this Young Professionals grant cycle. Sustaining Impact grantees may apply for a new project outside their regular programming that is currently funded through general operating support.

NOTE: Applicants new to ArtsWave must schedule an introductory call or meeting prior to the application deadline. Returning applicants are also encouraged to reach out with any questions they may have related to their project or application. Please contact Lori Burkhardt at lori.burkhardt@artswave.org to schedule a time. 

Eligible Requests 

The ArtsWave Young Professionals Grant Program provides funding for projects that engage Young Professionals through the arts, deepening the roots in our region and creating a better quality of life. Projects with multiple components and/or event dates must show a cohesive theme that ties the entire project together. Proposed projects must take place between September 1, 2025-August 31, 2026 and not be completed before grant award notification. 

This grant program is designed to provide both seed funding to support the development of new programming as well as short-term operating support for existing programming with a demonstrated impact of inclusivity. 

For stronger FY2026 ArtsWave Young Professionals Grant applications, the proposed projects should:  

· Be well designed, participatory and social 

· Align with ArtsWave’s Blueprint for Collective Action 

· Directly engage Young Professionals

· Have NOT received funding through another ArtsWave project grant for the same project 

· If a Sustaining Impact recipient, not be part of organization’s general operations that are funded through the SI grant 

Grant Amounts

The dollar amount allocated for this round of ArtsWave Young Professionals Grants will be funded from the ArtsWave’s FY25 Community Campaign. Projects may be funded partially or in full, up to $10,000. There is no match requirement for the Young Professionals grant. Up to 10% of the grant request can be allocated to general administration and overhead. 

Note: Applicants will be asked if the project can be completed with partial funding, which may allow the panel to award more project grants. If applicant says the project cannot be completed with partial funding, there is no penalty; however, the panel must choose full funding or no funding for the project. 

Application Instructions 

All application materials must be submitted via Submittable, ArtsWave’s online grantmaking system at  https://artswave.submittable.com/submit. We strongly recommend that you begin your online application well before the due date to familiarize yourself with the online grantmaking system and to address any technical concerns.  

1. Organization      Information   

· Organization Contact Information * 

o Address, including County 

o Main telephone 

o Website 

· Grant Contact Information* 

· Organizational Leadership and Staffing 

o Chief Professional Officer  

o Number of FTE, PTE, contracted and unpaid staff 

o Upload list of Board of Directors with affiliations (workplace) 

· Organization EIN/tax ID 

· 501(c)3 status or Fiscal Agent* 

· Fiscal Agent contract or agreement upload and their EIN/tax ID* (if applicable) 

· ATTACHMENT: High-resolution organization logo 

· Provide a brief description of your organization and the type of programming you provide. (150-word limit)* 

· List any funding your organization received from Artswave since 2020 

1. Details of Request 

· Project title*  

· Is this a new Young Professional program? Yes/No*

· If Yes, *

· In the past year, how many people participated in this program?

· How successful was the program in achieving its objectives? Please provide supporting data. (200-word limit)

· Provide a project description short summary; that is, how would you describe (not advertise) the program for an Instagram post. (25-word limit)* 

· Describe the proposed project in more detail. (300-word limit)* 

· Describe how the proposed project in more detail. Be sure to clearly explain how the proposed program engages young professionals so that they become more deeply rooted in the region. (250-word limit)* 

· Describe how your organization, including staff and board, has the capacity to complete the project in an authentic and manageable way. (200-word limit)* 

· List projected number of participants to be served.* 

· List anticipated project start and end date* 

· Provide a monthly+ proposed timeline, outlining key deliverables and milestones. (250-word limit)* 

· What are the objectives of this project, and how will you measure this program's success? Please include both the measures you will use and the methodology you will use to collect the data. (250-word limit)* 

· List any organizations/artists with whom you will collaborate for this program and briefly describe the nature of the collaboration. (250-word limit) 

· Select which ArtsWave grant program resource opportunities you have or will take advantage of.* 

· Respond if you would like to receive early submission feedback.* 

· ATTACHMENT: Please upload an example of your organization's work that illustrates your capacity to accomplish the proposed project.* 

1. Grant Request 

· Requested Grant Amount up to $10,000* 

1. Financials 

· Annual operating budget for FY2026* 

· Total project budget * 

· How and over what time period will the ArtsWave Young Professional grant funds be spent? (100-word limit)* 

· Can this project be completed if partially funded?* 

· ATTACHMENT: Most recent annual financial statement or 990 *  

· Complete ArtsWave Young Professional Grant Budget Form* 

· Organization’s nonprofit determination letter.* 

*delineates a field required to submit 

1. Statement of Assurances – An authorizing      official will certify that s/he is authorized to submit the application on      behalf of the organization and that the information submitted in the      application is true and correct to the best of his/her knowledge. * 

All application materials must be submitted through the online grantmaking system by 5:00 pm EST on September 22, 20025. Late applications will not be accepted. 

Optional Grant Writing Resources 

Grant Overview Session 

ArtsWave will host a free, online webinar to go over the Pride Grant Program Guidelines and the application process. The webinar will be held on Tuesday, August 12 from noon-1 p.m. To register for the webinar, please go to FY2026 ArtsWave Affinity Grant Programs Grant Overview. 

Grant Writing Workshops 

ArtsWave will also host two online Grant Writing Workshops. The first workshop will provide a comprehensive grant writing guide on Thursday, August 14 from noon-1 p.m. Please register at ArtsWave Grant Writing Workshop. 

The second workshop will focus on financial documentation and budgets on Wednesday, August 20 from noon-1 p.m. Please register at ArtsWave Grant Writing Workshop: Financial Documentation and Budgets.  

Early Submission Feedback 

Applications may submit a draft of their application by September 3 to receive feedback from ArtsWave staff. Complete the draft in submittable.com and click “SUBMIT”. Applicants must make edits and re-submit by the September 22 deadline. 

One-on-One meetings 

Applicants may request support no later than one week before the grant deadline by contacting Lori Burkhardt at lori.burkhardt@artswave.org. 

Determination of Grant Amount 

Applications will be reviewed by a panel consisting of community volunteers and awarded by the ArtsWave Board of Directors using the following criteria totaling 100 points: 

· Project is well-planned with clear outcomes and assessment. (15 pts) 

· Programming aligns with the Blueprint for Collective Action. (15 pts) 

· Programming engages Young Professionals within our region. (15 pts) 

· Organization demonstrates the capacity to complete the project. (15 pts) 

· Organization has a history of arts programming. (10 pts) 

· Programming can be achieved in the proposed timeline. (15 pts) 

· The proposed grant amount request is appropriate, and the project budget is sufficient to execute the project. (15 pts) 

Requests may be funded in full or in part unless otherwise indicated. 

Grant Requirements 

Upon notification of award, grant recipients must submit a grant acceptance form. If the recommended award is less than the project request, ArtsWave may ask you to complete an updated budget form as a part of the acceptance materials. A single grant payment will be issued once the grant acceptance form has been received.  

Final Reports will be assigned once award distribution is made to provide immediate access for the grantee and to streamline internal administrative processes. All final reports are due upon completion of the project, but no later than August 31, 2026. All requirements must be submitted through Submittable. Applicants will be ineligible to apply for funding if a previous final report for any grant program is outstanding.  

Any organization receiving ArtsWave funding must fulfill all grant requirements outlined in the grantee handbook for the duration of the grant period and accurately represent its organization and its activities in all documents submitted to ArtsWave. 

Contact ArtsWave 

Additional application questions may be directed to Lori Burkhardt, Grant Programs Manager, at (513) 632-0123 or lori.burkhardt@artswave.org. 

Please complete by August 1, 2025.

Need to bring some entertainment to an event or a creative break during a long meeting? Schedule a performance from one of the Cincinnati region's top artists!
Performances can range from an evening of live, in-person entertainment to a quick 5-10 minute virtual drop-in. All art forms are available to fit you and your team. Some examples include...

• At a retirement party, the lyrics to a popular song are rewritten about the person retiring, then sung by a professional who pops in to the meeting (virtually or in-person) to share in the fun.
• A company has someone in leadership who loves classical music, so to surprise that person, an instrumentalist visits the office or joins a call to perform a piece.
• A jazz band provides ambient music for a lunch event.
• A local actor performs a stirring monologue to get the team ready for a major project that's about to begin.

For a list of available artists, check out the Artist Roster.

The rate for each 5-10 minute virtual performance is $125, with most of that fee going directly to the artist. The suggested rates for live, in-person performances are as follows:

• Soloists: $150/hour
• Duos: $300/hour
• Trios: $375/hour
• Quartet+: $125 per performer/hour

 
* Please note, a $25 processing fee will be added to all in-person performances. Rates are subject to change based on artist/ availability. 

Boardway Bound, ArtsWave's signature nonprofit arts board leadership and development program, returns this fall in time for the restart of the arts, preparing and matching a new class of talented business professionals with local arts boards.  Boardway Bound has trained and placed more than 400 candidates on arts boards throughout Greater Cincinnati since 2004.
   If you are a nonprofit Arts & Culture organization that would like to build your Board, complete and submit the following application by August 15, 2024 at 5:00 pm. Prospective Arts Clients will be invited to participate based upon the number of class members enrolled. ArtsWave will notify you of your application status by the end of August.
Key Dates for Arts Clients:
 

• Arts Client Orientation:  via Zoom on September 10, 2024 from 12:00-1:00 pm.
• Meet-the Arts Organizations Social on November 13 from 3:30-6:30 pm.
• “Speed Dating”:  A chance for participants and Clients to meet and vet one another in a fun but structured format, Thursday, December 4, 2025 from 3:30-6:30 p.m.

Responsibilities of Arts Clients:
  The organization agrees to attend Arts Client Orientation on via Zoom on September 10, 2024 from 12-1 pm  and to participate in the "Speed Dating" session on Thursday, December 4, 2025 from 3:30-6:30 pm

• If there is a positive match between your organization and a class member after Speed Dating, we then suggest a more in-depth interview and onboarding process to determine the best path for joining your board.

Please note: We do everything we can to create a productive match between board candidates and Arts Clients. However, it is possible that your organization will not be matched with a board candidate depending upon the number of participants and their individual interests.