COLUMBUS, Ohio — Franklin County Commissioners voted today to provide $2 million in additional public funds to the Greater Columbus Arts Council (Arts Council) to invest in cultural organizations’ stability, arts and cultural projects, and individual artists in 2019.
These new funds will support grants in the Artists in the Community (AITC) grant program (closed in May 2019 due to depletion of funds), the BOOST program that helps arts and cultural organizations with capacity building, and will provide the first round of stabilizing funds for current Operating Support grantees.
“Franklin County recognizes that a sustainable and vibrant arts and cultural community is a key factor in attracting residents, visitors and businesses,” said Franklin County Commission President Marilyn Brown. “The county feels strongly about investing in the success of our arts and cultural organizations and artists because we know the creative sector is a cornerstone of central Ohio’s economic development efforts now and into the future.”
“These dedicated county funds are key to the arts and culture sustainability plan the Greater Columbus Arts Council has been working on for more than 15 years,” said Tom Katzenmeyer, president and CEO of the Arts Council. “Together with the city’s recent increased investment, these county funds help make the arts and cultural sector much stronger in central Ohio. We’re grateful to the Franklin County Commissioners for understanding that investing in the arts means investing in education, economic development and quality of life in our community.”
The AITC and BOOST programs were reopened Oct. 15 with a surplus from the Project Support program. County funds will enable more grants in these program areas. The AITC program includes grant opportunities for resources, professional development and marketing support. Artists residing in Franklin County are eligible for funding. BOOST, a program that helps organizations with capacity building, is open to arts organizations in the city of Columbus to apply for up to $3,500. Applications for both programs will be accepted until Friday, Nov. 8 at 5 p.m.
Operating Support organizations and BOOST recipients from 2018 or 2019 are not eligible to apply for this round of BOOST funding, and additional restrictions apply. For guidelines and access to information please visit www.gcac.org/grants-services/guidelines/. To date in 2019, 336 grants for a total of $284,605 have been awarded in AITC, serving 170 new first-time applicants. BOOST has awarded 10 grants totaling $59,030.
In 2020, Franklin County funds will support Franklin County artists and Columbus arts and cultural organizations, with a continued focus on stabilizing our institutions and programs in neighborhoods.
Mission of the Greater Columbus Arts Council: To support and advance the arts and cultural fabric of Columbus. www.gcac.org
# # #
CONTACT: Jami Goldstein
(614) 221-8492
jgoldstein@gcac.org
