Columbus, Ohio – The Greater Columbus Arts Council Board of Trustees today approved 28 grants totaling $2,960,250 in Operating Support, funds which the Arts Council receives from the City of Columbus through the hotel/motel bed tax.
“Thanks to the continued support from the city, we are able to provide increased support not only to our Operating Support program, and grow support for individual artists,” said Tom Katzenmeyer, President of the Arts Council. “Operating Support grants help to sustain important arts and cultural organizations that serve as drivers of our local economy and provide access to arts experiences for Columbus residents and visitors. Public support is critical to ensuring these programs stay accessible to everyone.”
Under the grants guidelines, nonprofit arts organizations of any budget size that meet the eligibility criteria can qualify for unrestricted Operating Support funding. Applicants must demonstrate exemplary artistic achievement and significant impact on the city’s economy and tourism, as well as fiscal responsibility.
Three new organizations applied and were approved for Operating Support in 2014, these were:
Wild Goose Creative
Wild Goose Creative is a prior grantee through Project Support and BOOST. Wild Goose Creative describes themselves as a pursuit and a process. Their passion is to facilitate the creation of excellent, relevant, and surprising art across multiple mediums. As an arts collective, they strive to provide resources and experiences for the community in Columbus, Ohio. Through their passions for their four main tenets of hospitality, community, creativity, and education, they hope to foster connections between artists and audiences and among community members of all kinds. Their goal is to utilize their space, resources, and people to create an atmosphere conducive to creativity and inspiration. They embrace tradition while promoting innovation by featuring a variety of programming reaching across all disciplines in the arts and beyond. In short, they connect artists with other artists and audiences to catalyze art projects that come out of a growing, sustainable community.
Glass Axis
Glass Axis is a prior grantee through Project Support and BOOST. Glass Axis is a vibrant glass center dedicated to making and learning. Glass Axis is a 10,000 sq. ft. art center providing artists, students, and community members the tools necessary to passionately create innovative works in glass while learning, sharing, and teaching. Member artists have access to affordable glass blowing, glass fusing, torch working, cold working, stained glass and neon facilities, plus studio, exhibition, education, outreach, and revenue-producing opportunities all under one roof. By linking artists to the thousands of patrons that visit the art center each year for courses, demonstrations, exhibitions, and special events, Glass Axis becomes a vibrant civic hub of art production and community participation, bolstering sustainable cultural equity throughout Ohio and beyond.
Short North Stage
Short North Stage is a prior grantee through Project Support and BOOST. Short North Stage is a music-driven, professional theatre company dedicated to cultivating the growth of performing arts in the community. Pulling from the past and present, they offer a variety of compelling productions, workshops and concerts, with a focus on originating and developing new works. Through collaboration, education and excellence, their stage is a window through which the world views Columbus and Columbus views the world.
The Arts Council awarded $2,960,250 in Operating Support grants to the following 28 organizations:
Organization / Grant Amount:
| Actors’ Theatre | $22,000 |
| BalletMet | $250,000 |
| CAPA | $250,000 |
| COSI | $250,000 |
| Chamber Music Columbus | $23,500 |
| City Music | $19,000 |
| Columbus Children’s Theatre | $90,000 |
| Columbus Dance Theatre | $50,750 |
| Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus | $36,500 |
| Columbus Landmarks Foundation | $22,000 |
| Columbus Museum of Art | $250,000 |
| Columbus Symphony Orchestra | $250,000 |
| Community Arts Project (KAC) | $145,000 |
| CATCO | $126,500 |
| Franklin Park Conservatory | $250,000 |
| Friends of Early Music | $15,750 |
| Glass Axis | $15,000 |
| Jazz Arts Group | $176,500 |
| Mad Lab | $14,750 |
| Ohio Art League | $16,000 |
| Ohio Designer Craftsmen | $92,750 |
| Opera Columbus | $115,000 |
| ProMusica Chamber Orchestra | $117,750 |
| ROY G BIV Gallery | $6,000 |
| Short North Stage | $20,000 |
| Thurber House | $80,500 |
| Wexner Center for the Arts | $250,000 |
| Wild Goose Creative | $5,000 |
| TOTAL $2,960,250 | |
In 2013, Operating Support grants totaling just under $2.8 million dollars were awarded to 25 organizations.
For more information on community funding, including guidelines and upcoming deadlines, go to gcac.org or contact Ruby Harper, Director of Grants & Services at (614) 221-8406; rharper@gcac.org.
About the Greater Columbus Arts Council: Through vision and leadership, advocacy and collaboration, the Greater Columbus Arts Council supports art and advances the culture of the region. A catalyst for excellence and innovation, the Arts Council funds exemplary artists and arts organizations and provides programs, events and services of public value that educate and engage all audiences in our community. The Arts Council thanks the City of Columbus, Franklin County and the Ohio Arts Council for their continued support.
CONTACT: Jami Goldstein
(614) 221-8492
jgoldstein@gcac.org
