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. 

Purpose

In alignment with ArtsWave’s intention to promote and celebrate all the ways that the region is diverse, and to create inclusive arts experiences that are also exciting and innovative, the ArtsWave Pride Grant Program requests proposals for projects that may appeal to or have relevance to the broader LGBTQIA+ community.

Who May Apply

ArtsWave believes that strong arts create strong communities. To be eligible for the FY2025 ArtsWave Pride Grant Program, an organization must meet all the following requirements:

· Have a 501(c)3 tax status or be non-profit 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.

· 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 funding through another ArtsWave project grant since January 1, 2024*

· Embody ArtsWave’s commitment to access, equity, and inclusiveness.

*Proposed projects that have been funded already through the African American Arts, 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.

UPDATE: Beginning with the FY23 grant cycle, an organization may apply for funding for two (2) consecutive years and if awarded funding in both years would then be required to take one (1) year off before applying for the ArtsWave Pride grant program again. For example, if you were funded for ArtsWave Pride in FY23 and FY24, then you would be ineligible to apply in FY25.

Eligible Requests

The ArtsWave Pride Grant Program provides funding for arts or cultural heritage projects that promote and/or celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community, advancing our Tri-State region’s reputation as a welcoming and inclusive community through the arts. Projects that are by or that impact the trans or non-binary community are encouraged. A project is defined as a specific activity with explicit goals and objectives. Projects with multiple components and/or event dates must show a cohesive theme that tie the entire project together. 

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.

The ArtsWave Pride grant is intended for LGBTQIA+ programming with an arts component that transcends events/projects framed as Pride celebrations or parties. Applicants are encouraged to develop projects that align with the stated purpose of this grant and that occur outside the annual Pride season.

To be eligible for the FY2025 ArtsWave Pride Grant Program, the proposed programming should: 

· Be participatory and social

· Align with one or more goals of ArtsWave’s Blueprint for Collective Action

· Engage and/or celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community with an arts component that transcends events/projects framed as Pride celebrations or parties

· Not have received funding through another ArtsWave project grant since January 1, 2024 (see note in previous section)

Proposed programming must take place between September 1, 2024-July 15, 2025 and not be completed before grant award notification.

Grant Amounts

The dollar amount allocated for this round of ArtsWave Pride Grants will be determined upon completion of ArtsWave’s FY24 Community Campaign.

Projects may be funded partially or in full, with prior average award distributions up to $25,000, however, the grant review panel will have discretion to consider a larger award should a project demonstrate more impactful outcomes.

Up to 10% of the grant request can be allocated to general administration and overhead.

Application Instructions

All application materials must be submitted via Submittable, ArtsWave’s online grantmaking system. 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. While completing your application, remember these tips: 

• Be brief, clear and direct, focusing on what is most important. 
• Review panelists may have little or no prior knowledge of your organization. Create a stronger application by:

1. not assuming reviewers have extensive knowledge of all artistic disciplines;
2. explaining acronyms; and
3. explaining the characteristics of your community or audience as needed.

• We recommend that you prepare your responses offline in a word processing program and then copy and paste them into the appropriate sections of the online application.
• Limit the use of bullets and other formatting in text fields.
• Add Impact@ArtsWave.org to your safe senders list to ensure that you receive all communications from the online grantmaking system.
• Use one of the following compatible browsers: Chrome® v.22+, Firefox® version v.27+, Internet Explorer® v.8-10 (if enabled), Internet Explorer v.11, Safari® v.7+, or Edge®.

The application for the FY2025 ArtsWave Pride Grant Program can be accessed using the following link: https://artswave.submittable.com/submit.

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:

• Programming is participatory, social and part of an overall plan tto engage the LGBTQ+ community.
• Programming is in alignment with the selected goal(s) in the Blueprint for Collective Action. 
• Programming promotes and/or celebrates the diversity of the LGBTQIA+ community within our region.
• Programming engages members of the LGBTQIA+ community in the development, implementation, and marketing of this program.
• The proposed grant amount request is appropriate, and the project budget is sufficient to execute the project.
• Programming can be achieved in the proposed timeline.

Requests may be funded partially or in full.

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, 2025. 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.

Key Dates

Grant Overview Session: August 14, 2024*

Grant Writing Workshops: August 21 & August 28, 2024**

Early Submission Feedback: August 30, 2024

Application Deadline: September 16, 2024, 5:00 p.m.***

Funding Decision: October, 2024

Final Report Due: August 31, 2025

* attendance is not required to submit a grant application; To register for the overview session:  FY2025 ArtsWave Pride Grant Overview 

**attendance is not required to submit a grant application, however, these workshops can be an important resource in submitting a quality application that has greater potential for funding

*** application closes at 5 p.m. on the deadline date; late applications will not be accepted

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. Compared to our peer regions across the country, Cincinnati is seeing slower growth in this key demographic. Maintaining a workforce that is diverse in age is vital to a thriving, growing community. Business and civic leaders, including the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, are focused on finding ways to build awareness among young professionals about Cincinnati and to engage more deeply those that are already here.

ArtsWave’s research on arts engagement in our community revealed the power of the arts to attract, engage, and retain residents. Community members who reported a high level of arts engagement also showed high levels of civic engagement, reported a growing circle of friends, and had a higher opinion of the quality of life in Greater Cincinnati. The arts deepen roots in the region. As part of the Blueprint for Collective Action (Appendix A), ArtsWave’s 10-year action plan, we are being intentional about creating and funding more arts activities and programs that target young professionals and help them to become more deeply rooted in Greater Cincinnati.

The ArtsWave Young Professionals (YP) Grant Program began in 2016 and is an initiative that provides funding to support programming that engages young professionals AND IS DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR young professionals. The funding to support the FY2025 YP Grant Program will come from donations made by young professionals to the 2024 ArtsWave Community Campaign.

Who May Apply

ArtsWave believes that strong arts create strong communities and actively seeks to promote access, equity, and inclusiveness in its grantmaking. To be eligible for the FY2025 Young Professionals Grant Program, an organization must meet all the following requirements:

· Have a 501(c)3 tax status or be non-profit 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 general public.

· Does not currently have an active Young Professionals Grant with ArtsWave and has successfully completed all previous Young Professionals grant requirements.

· Has a program designed specifically for young professionals, as opposed to being an add-on to currently scheduled programming for other audiences.

· Embody ArtsWave’s commitment to access, equity, and inclusiveness.

*Proposed projects that have been funded already through the African American Arts, ArtsWave Catalyzing Impact, or Pride 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.

UPDATE: Only projects specifically designed for young professionals will be advanced to grant panel for review. For example, if a program is designed for a general audience, please do not apply to include young professionals UNLESS there is a special offering for young professionals, such as discounted tickets or designated activities. There must be a Blueprint goal and outcome defined for YPs that is measurable and able to be reported back to ArtsWave.

Eligible Requests

ArtsWave recognizes there is a lack of resources dedicated to programming specifically for young professionals. 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 PROFESSIONALS.

To be eligible for the FY2025 YP Grant Program, the proposed programming should: 

· Be designed solely for young professionals

· Be participatory, social, and recurring

· Encourage personal investment in the organization and/or community

· Seek to increase engagement among young professionals who are already engaged in the arts community

· Strive to reach young professionals that are not already engaged

· Have a plan for long-term sustainability

Proposed programming must take place between September 1, 2024-July 15, 2025, and not be completed by grant award notification.  Final reports will be due August 30, 2025.

Grant Amounts

Grant awards will be given up to $10,000. There is no matching funding requirement for this grant; however, priority will be given to proposals that have a financial commitment from other sources (including in-kind).

Up to 10% of the grant request can be allocated to general administration and overhead.

Application Instructions

All application materials must be submitted via Submittable, ArtsWave’s online grantmaking system. 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. While completing your application, remember these tips: 

• Be brief, clear and direct, focusing on what is most important. 
• Review panelists may have little or no prior knowledge of your organization. Create a stronger application by: 

1. not assuming reviewers have extensive knowledge of all artistic disciplines;
2. explaining acronyms; and
3.  explaining the characteristics of your community or audience as needed.

• We recommend that you prepare your responses offline in a word processing program and then copy and paste them into the appropriate sections of the online application.
• Limit the use of bullets and other formatting in text fields.
• Add Impact@ArtsWave.org to your safe senders list to ensure that you receive all communications from the online grantmaking system.
• Use one of the following compatible browsers: Chrome® v.22+, Firefox® version v.27+, Internet Explorer® v.8-10 (if enabled), Internet Explorer v.11, Safari® v.7+, or Edge®.

The application for the FY2025 Young Professionals Grant Program can be accessed using the following link: https://artswave.submittable.com/submit

Determination of Grant Amount

All applications will be reviewed by a panel consisting of community volunteers and ArtsWave staff. Applications will be evaluated using the following criteria:

• Programming is participatory, social and recurring.
• Programming encourages personal investment in the organization and/or community.
• Programming seeks to increase engagement among young professionals who are already engaged in the arts community.
• Programming strives to reach young professionals who are not already engaged.
• Programming can be achieved in the proposed timeline and within the proposed project budget.
• Programming has a plan for sustaining the program beyond the grant seed funding.

Requests may be funded in full or in part. 

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.  

In order to receive funding from ArtsWave through this grant program:

· The proposed programming must begin no earlier than September 1, 2024 and end by July 15, 2025, and must not be completed before grant award notification.

· The organization must have a plan to acknowledge ArtsWave in all marketing materials and provide advanced notification to ArtsWave for all events funded by the grant.

· 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, 2025. All requirements must be submitted through Submittable. 

· An organization 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. 

Key Dates

Grant Overview Session: August 14, 2024*

Grant Writing Workshops: August 21 & August 28, 2024**

Early Submission Feedback: August 30, 2024

Application Deadline: September 16, 2024, 5:00 p.m.***

Funding Decision: October, 2024

Final Report Due: August 31, 2025

* attendance is not required to submit a grant application; To register for the overview session:  FY2025 ArtsWave YP Grant Overview.

**attendance is not required to submit a grant application, however, these workshops can be an important resource in submitting a quality application that has greater potential for funding

** application closes at 5 p.m. on the deadline date; late applications will not be accepted

Contact ArtsWave

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

While many arts organizations make their primary home in Cincinnati’s downtown core, they are also active with programming in communities throughout the region. ArtsWave helps facilitate this through our music series with CVG.

Through this program, ArtsWave partners with CVG Airport to host music performances throughout the year. The goal of this program is to show the traveling public a warm welcome while introducing them to Greater Cincinnati's arts and cultural organizations and artists. *New for 2024: Performances will take place weekly, each Thursday from 3-4 p.m. This allows more artists to participate!

This partnership helps support ArtsWave's mission to "put Cincinnati on the map" for cultural tourism, talent attraction and new business development. Please use this form to apply to participate in this program.