COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Greater Columbus Arts Council board of trustees approved 25 grants totaling $2,808,316 in Operating Support: Phase One.
The Arts Council’s Operating Support is split into two rounds of funding; applications for the first round were due in May, while phase two is due on Nov. 1. These grants are made possible through funds the Arts Council receives from the city of Columbus through the hotel/motel bed tax and the arts and culture fee, and from Franklin County.
“This funding for arts organizations is absolutely critical as we move out of the pandemic,” said Tom Katzenmeyer, president and CEO of the Arts Council. “Even though many organizations received PPP or Shuttered Venues grants, our support is still paramount in helping them navigate reopening and recovery. They’ll be feeling the effects of the pandemic for years to come, and the Arts Council is proud to continue our support thanks to our own austerity efforts and the important public funding from the city of Columbus and Franklin County.”
Of the 25 organizations receiving Operating Support, Columbus Children’s Choir, Gateway Film Center and Ohio History Connection are now in their third year of support, which opens them to full eligibility for the program. New to the program this year is the Lincoln Theatre, which has previously received Project Support, a BOOST grant and a capacity-building grant from the Arts Council.
During the pandemic, all organizations in the Operating Support program made significant staffing and budget cuts, adapted artistic programming and community outreach, and increased communications with their patrons/constituents. Many implemented new technologies and tools quickly, discovering innovative approaches they will be able to carry into the future. In the midst of all of this hard work, every organization and its board members also worked on thoughtful inclusion, diversity, equity and access practices, as well as strategic planning.
Two phases of Operating Support allows organizations more time to plan and adapt as they recover and reopen. As part of their applications for phase two, awarded organizations will submit updated financials, planning documents and surveys about reopening, staffing, equity work and other details.
Operating Support funds are available to established arts and culture organizations that have an average three-year adjusted audited revenue of at least $150,000, are well-managed and have significant impact and broad community engagement. Award amounts are contingent upon funds available.
For phase one of Operating Support grants, the Arts Council awarded $2,808,316 to the following 25 organizations:
| Actors’ Theatre | $21,089 |
| Ballet Metropolitan, Inc. | $195,239 |
| CAPA | $197,891 |
| CATCO | $92,428 |
| Columbus Children’s Choir | $31,988 |
| Columbus Children’s Theatre | $86,471 |
| Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus | $33,167 |
| Columbus Landmarks Foundation | $27,927 |
| Columbus Museum of Art | $193,811 |
| Columbus Symphony Orchestra | $201,972 |
| COSI | $199,931 |
| Franklin Park Conservatory | $189,731 |
| Gateway Film Center | $173,145 |
| Glass Axis | $42,318 |
| Jazz Arts Group | $122,778 |
| King Arts Complex | $79,735 |
| Lincoln Theater Association | $26,179 |
| Ohio Designer Craftsmen | $71,371 |
| Ohio History Connection/Ohio Historical Society | $147,870 |
| Opera Columbus | $99,137 |
| ProMusica | $114,991 |
| Shadowbox Live | $173,410 |
| Short North Stage | $67,185 |
| Thurber House | $46,978 |
| Wexner Center for the Arts | $171,574 |
TOTAL: $2,808,316
For 2020, total Operating Support awards were $5,589,088 to 25 organizations and in 2019, Operating Support grants totaling $5,312,563 were awarded to 25 organizations.
For more information on community funding, including guidelines and upcoming deadlines, go to gcac.org or contact Alison Barret, director of Grants & Services at (614) 221-8406 or abarret@gcac.org.
Mission of the Greater Columbus Arts Council: To support and advance the arts and cultural fabric of Columbus. www.gcac.org
The Greater Columbus Arts Council receives major financial support from the city of Columbus, Franklin County Commissioners and the Ohio Arts Council.
For translations of this release and other pages, please see the dropdown menu at the top right corner of gcac.org.
# # #
CONTACT: Jami Goldstein
(614) 221-8492
jgoldstein@gcac.org
