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 500 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 7, 2026 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 9. 2026  from 11:00-12:00 pm.
• Meet-the Arts Organizations Social on November 12, 2026 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 3, 2026 from 3:30-6:30 p.m.

Responsibilities of Arts Clients:      The organization agrees to attend Arts Client Orientation on via Zoom on September 9. 2026 from 11-12 pm and to participate in the "Speed Dating" session on Thursday, December 3, 2026 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.

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 FY27, 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 FY2027 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 FY2027 Circle Grant.
• *Proposed projects that have already been funded through the ArtsWave Pride, Young Professionals, Catalyzing Impact, or Inspire 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 Nick To at nick.to@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, 2026-August 31, 2027 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 FY2027 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 Sustaining Impact grant

Grant Amounts

The dollar amount allocated for this round of ArtsWave Circle Grants will be funded from ArtsWave's FY26 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.

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)*

· Which pillar(s) of ArtsWave's Blueprint for Collective Action 2.0 does this project most directly support?

· 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 FY2027*

· 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 21, 2026. Late applications will not be accepted.

Optional Grant Writing Resources

Grant Overview and Budget Workshop

ArtsWave will host a free, online webinar to go over the Grant Program Guidelines, the application process, and budget process. The webinar will be held on Tuesday, August 19 from noon-1:30 p.m. To register for the webinar, please go to FY2027 ArtsWave Affinity Grant Programs Workshop: Grant and Budget Overview.

Grant Metric Workshop

ArtsWave will also host one online Grant Metric Workshops. The workshop will provide an overview of grant metrics and general guidelines applicable to our reporting structure. guide on Thursday, August 20 from noon-1 p.m. Please register at FY2027 ArtsWave Grant Metrics Workshop.

Early Submission Feedback

Applicants may submit a draft of their application by September 9 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 21 deadline.

One-on-One meetings

Applicants may request support no later than one week before the grant deadline by contacting Nick To at nick.to@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, 2027. 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 Nick To, Grant Programs Manager, at (513) 632-0123 or nick.to@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

To be eligible for the FY2027 Pride 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 Pride 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 FY2027 Pride Grant.
• *Proposed projects that have already been funded through the ArtsWave Circle Grant, Young Professionals, Catalyzing Impact, or Inspire 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 Pride 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 Nick To at nick.to@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, 2026-August 31, 2027 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 FY2027 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 Sustaining Impact grant

Grant Amounts

The dollar amount allocated for this round of ArtsWave Pride Grants will be funded from ArtsWave's FY26 Community Campaign. Projects may be funded partially or in full up to $10,000. Up to 10% of the grant request may be allocated to general administration and overhead.

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)*

· Which pillar(s) of ArtsWave's Blueprint for Collective Action 2.0 does this project most directly support?

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

· Describe how the proposed project celebrates LGBTQ+ arts and culture 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 FY2027*

· 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 21, 2026. Late applications will not be accepted.

Optional Grant Writing Resources

Grant Overview and Budget Workshop

ArtsWave will host a free, online webinar to go over the Grant Program Guidelines, the application process, and budget process. The webinar will be held on Tuesday, August 19 from noon-1:30 p.m. To register for the webinar, please go to FY2027 ArtsWave Affinity Grant Programs Workshop: Grant and Budget Overview.

Grant Metric Workshop

ArtsWave will also host one online Grant Metric Workshops. The workshop will provide an overview of grant metrics and general guilans applicable to our reporting structure. guide on Thursday, August 20 from noon-1 p.m. Please register at FY2027 ArtsWave Grant Metrics Workshop.

Early Submission Feedback

Applicants may submit a draft of their application by September 9 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 21 deadline.

One-on-One meetings

Applicants may request support no later than one week before the grant deadline by contacting Nick To at nick.to@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 LGBTQ+ arts and culture 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, 2027. 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 Nick To, Grant Programs Manager, at (513) 632-0123 or nick.to@artswave.org.

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 FY27, ArtsWave's Young Professionals Grant Program requests proposals for projects that engage young professionals (ages 21-40) through arts and cultural experiences in the Cincinnati region.

Who May Apply

To be eligible for the FY2027 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 has not submitted a final report for a grant project to date is ineligible to apply for an FY2027 Young Professionals Grant.
• *Proposed projects that have already been funded through the ArtsWave Circle Grant, PRIDE, Catalyzing Impact, or Inspire 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 Nick To at nick.to@artswave.org to schedule a time.

Eligible Requests

The ArtsWave Young Professionals Grant Program provides funding for arts or cultural heritage projects that meaningfully engage young professionals (ages 21-40), advancing our Tri-State region's reputation as a vibrant and welcoming 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, 2026-August 31, 2027 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 on young professional engagement.

For stronger FY2027 ArtsWave Young Professionals Grant applications, the proposed projects should:

· Be well designed, participatory and social

· Align with ArtsWave's Blueprint for Collective Action

· Meaningfully engage young professionals (ages 21-40) through arts and cultural experiences

· 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 Sustaining Impact grant

Grant Amounts

The dollar amount allocated for this round of ArtsWave Young Professionals Grants will be funded from ArtsWave's FY26 Community Campaign. Projects may be funded partially or in full up to $10,000. Up to 10% of the grant request may be allocated to general administration and overhead.

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 engages young professionals (ages 21-40) through arts and cultural experiences 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 FY2027*

· Total project budget *

· How and over what time period will the ArtsWave Young Professionals 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 Professionals 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 21, 2026. Late applications will not be accepted.

Optional Grant Writing Resources

Grant Overview and Budget Workshop

ArtsWave will host a free, online webinar to go over the Grant Program Guidelines, the application process, and budget process. The webinar will be held on Tuesday, August 19 from noon-1:30 p.m. To register for the webinar, please go to FY2027 ArtsWave Affinity Grant Programs Workshop: Grant and Budget Overview.

Grant Metric Workshop

ArtsWave will also host one online Grant Metric Workshops. The workshop will provide an overview of grant metrics and general guilans applicable to our reporting structure. guide on Thursday, August 20 from noon-1 p.m. Please register at FY2027 ArtsWave Grant Metrics Workshop.

Early Submission Feedback

Applicants may submit a draft of their application by September 9 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 21 deadline.

One-on-One meetings

Applicants may request support no later than one week before the grant deadline by contacting Nick To at nick.to@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 meaningfully engages young professionals (ages 21-40) through arts and cultural experiences. (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, 2027. 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 Nick To, Grant Programs Manager, at (513) 632-0123 or nick.to@artswave.org.

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.