Category: Tom Katzenmeyer

Celebrating 50 years by looking ahead to the next 50

2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the Greater Columbus Arts Council. For me, and the team at GCAC, this is not a time to reflect back, but to look forward. This is an ideal moment for us to pause and take a thoughtful look at our funding programs. After years…

The Columbus Arts Festival is back!

After two years of having to announce the cancelation of the live, in-person Columbus Arts Festival, I am excited to be able to invite everyone back to the riverfront for my favorite event: the Columbus Arts Festival. AND we are celebrating its 60th Anniversary! To officially open the festival, we…

Creative industries still struggling, far from recovery

I doubt it will come as a surprise to anyone reading this blog that the creative sector was hit significantly harder by the pandemic than other industries in Ohio. The news is based on the results of an economic contribution analysis recently commissioned by Ohio Citizens for the Arts (OCA)…

Meet the Jury that will select the first Artists Elevated Award recipients

Next month we will announce the inaugural awardees of Artists Elevated. Two artists will receive $20,000 each. This is a passion project for the Greater Columbus Arts Council. It encompasses several goals that I think are important for the health of the Arts Council and the arts in Columbus—raising private…

I’m ready to be a tourist again with the arts in Cbus

Today we launched the Columbus Makes Art Passport, a program designed to help Columbusites rediscover the treasures in their own back yard. Tom Katzenmeyer, CEO, president of the Arts Council The program is simple. Pick up a free passport—an actual physical booklet (you can find pick up…

We are going to invest more in Columbus artists

It is time for the Greater Columbus Arts Council to deepen its private funding pool and build a robust, diverse revenue stream, and it is time for us to raise our level of investment in individual artists. Tom Katzenmeyer, CEO, president of the Arts Council I have…

Our New Fellowship Program Seeks to Ensure the Arts are Part of Positive Community Change

The pandemic put so much on pause. We started 2020 with ambitious plans for new programs, but as our major funding sources dried up, we had to regroup. One of the initiatives that we were excited to launch last year was the Neighborhood Arts Connection Fellowship. Now, thanks to Crane…

The time to support the arts and imagine the future is now

Jan. 31 was Inspire Your Heart with Art Day and what has been on my mind for more than a week now is the poem The Hill We Climb by Amanda Gorman. Tom Katzenmeyer, CEO, president of the Arts Council On Jan. 20 we welcomed a new…

2020 taught us to adapt, persevere and breath

We came into 2020 full of hope, energy and vision. We had fought and won to get additional arts funding, and we developed a host of new programs that we were excited to roll out. Life is what happens while you are making other plans. Tom…

Thoughts on diversity, equity, justice and a citywide book club

The team at the Greater Columbus Arts Council is ending the year by joining Let’s Talk About Race: One Book, One Community, a citywide book club, to read STAMPED: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi. When I first heard about this initiative, I immediately…

When faced with adversity, the arts community responds with generosity & humanity

To say that 2020 has been challenging is a gross understatement. What I have found fascinating this year, is observing how people face challenges. The arts community, with its quickness to give more than it receives, once again has humbled me. Tom Katzenmeyer, president & CEO of…

Want change? Step one: vote

Are you registered to vote? Is your circle of friends and family registered to vote? Have you started making a voting plan? These are questions I find myself asking everyone I come into contact with these days. It’s important. Tom Katzenmeyer, president & CEO of the Greater…