Kevin Lynch
Several area arts organizations will be able to continue to provide a better way of life thanks to an historic $21.8 million in arts grants approved by Ohio Arts Council Board.
A total of 907 grants were awarded to Ohio artists and arts organizations, including 213 in Central Ohio, and many in Holmes, Wayne and Ashland counties. This represents the largest amount of grant dollars distributed to constituents applying to OAC funding programs in the agency’s history.
Wayne County recipients
In Wayne County, the Arts Partnership Buckeye Authors Book Fair Committee Inc. in Wooster received a $15,556 grant, as well as a sustainability grant of $6,000.
ArtSTART Main Street Wooster received $3,933.
A sustainability grant of $20,721 was awarded to Ohio Light Opera/College of Wooster.
The Wayne Center for the Arts in Wooster received four grants: Arts Partnership received $5,913 and ArtsNEXT was awarded $14,675; and Ohio Artists on Tour received $7,167. A sustainability grant for WCA of $25,272 was also awarded.
WCA Executive Director Sara Brink expressed her gratitude to the Ohio Arts Council for their generosity.
“This is the biggest amount of money the OAC has been able to grant, which is a boon for the arts and a benefit for all of Ohio,” Brink said. “We are so grateful to receive this support from the OAC. It’s going to help us develop several programs. The OAC makes it possible for organizations like ours in all counties of Ohio to inspire these important conversations and celebrate expression, and contribute culture and vibrance in our communities.
“We are very grateful and proud to utilize those funds to improve the quality of life in Wayne County and make it a better place to live and work,” she continued.
Brink said the bulk of the funding will go toward hiring artists to instruct students in the various programs offered at WCA.
Holmes and Ashland County recipients
The Holmes Center for the Arts in Berlin Township received $13,105 for a sustainability grant.
Executive Director Holley Johnson of HCA said the grant was the largest they have received, and it means a lot for the ongoing operations of the facility.
“We are so grateful to have received the highest funding we have received from the sustainability grant through the Ohio Arts Council to date,” Johnson said. “This grant goes toward some of our operating costs helping us continue to provide quality arts education and performance opportunities for the people of Holmes County.”
In Ashland County, Ashland Chautauqua Committee/Ashland Main Street was awarded a sustainability grant of $3,658.
TeachArtsOhio at Ashland High School received $15,750.
A sustainability grant for the Ashland Symphony Orchestra Association received $12,507.
Literature/Ashland University Ashland Ashland received a sustainability grant of $6,000.
Sustainability grants for operating supports ongoing arts and cultural activities in all genres. Awards support the state’s arts and cultural ecosystem, providing stable and consistent funding to organizations regardless of budget size
“Ohio’s arts and culture sector is poised for a strong future as we continue to work together for a full recovery of in-person arts programming, an expansion of arts education to combat pandemic-related learning loss, and restoration and growth of career opportunities for arts professionals,” said Executive Director Donna S. Collins of the Ohio Arts Council.
Courtesy: the daily record
