ArtsWave raised $12.3 million during its 2025 campaign, demonstrating strong support for the region’s arts community despite economic and funding challenges.
The announcement came Tuesday during a celebration at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, where Campaign Chair Mel Gravely addressed arts organizations, donors and civic and business leaders. He also recognized members of his campaign cabinet for their fundraising efforts.
While the total was short of last year’s record $12.5 million figure, even coming close this year was no small feat due to the current sociopolitical landscape.
“Through economic ups and downs, political changes and global uncertainties, ArtsWave has remained the steady force behind our vibrant arts community for nearly 100 years,” said Gravely, executive chair of Triversity Construction.
ArtsWave’s “Leaders for Cincy Arts” initiative, which encourages new and increased gifts of $5,000 or more, engaged 205 business executives and community leaders in its second year. Gravely said the response shows Cincinnati’s leaders “recognize the critical connection between our region’s arts and its economic prosperity.”
“This year, our community has once again demonstrated its extraordinary commitment,” he added. “This achievement reflects the Cincinnati region’s understanding that a vibrant arts sector is not an ‘extra,’ but an ‘essential.’”
The event also served as a responsibilities handoff between Gravely and lawyer James Zimmerman, partner-in-charge of the Taft Cincinnati office, who’ll serve as campaign chair next year. Zimmerman is a longtime ArtsWave board member.
“Mel has led this campaign with extraordinary vision during a challenging year,” said Alecia Kintner, CEO of ArtsWave. “As we welcome James to chair the 2026 campaign, we’re confident his leadership will help us continue building momentum as we approach our centennial anniversary in 2027.”
Funding supports 150+ arts organizations
Community fundraising through ArtsWave has been the primary source of arts funding in Cincinnati since 1927.
Each year, ArtsWave depends on public gifts from thousands of donors across the region to meet its fundraising goals. The $12.3 million total includes contributions received and projections for ongoing workplace campaigns.
The funds raised support more than 150 arts organizations, projects and artists through competitive grants. These investments result in thousands of performances, exhibitions, public art projects, arts education programs and festivals for the region’s residents and visitors.
ArtsWave also supports a sector-wide strategy aimed at building Cincinnati’s national reputation, deepening community ties, enlivening neighborhoods, bridging cultural divides and fueling creativity through the arts.
This year’s “More Arts More Kids” initiative tripled its reach to 15,000 students from Cincinnati Public Schools, Catholic Inner-city Schools Education (CISE), and Ludlow Independent. Students attended performances at Cincinnati Ballet, Cincinnati Arts Association, The Cincinnati Children’s Theatre, CSO Young People’s Concerts and the Cincinnati Art Museum. Additional expansion will take place next school year.
The ArtsWave app, launched this year, has nearly 15,000 downloads and about 400 daily users. Kintner said the app “is becoming an essential platform for connecting our community with arts throughout the region.”
What’s next for Cincinnati’s arts scene
As part of Tuesday’s announcement, next year’s campaign chair was also named and they offered a preview of several major arts-centric events coming to the region in the coming months.
Among them is the Americans for the Arts Convention, which Cincinnati will host from June 12-14. The event will bring arts leaders from across the country and showcase the city as a vibrant arts hub.
The conference will begin with a free public celebration at The Banks. The “Party at the Banks” will include BLINK light installations, local food trucks, a drone show over the Ohio River, a music and fashion event hosted by Cincinnati’s Drew Lachey and a surprise pop-up performance by a secret multi-platinum artist.
Kintner advised that this type of programming is made possible by support for the arts. For those businesses and individuals still finishing their campaigns, she offered a reminder that those “gifts are essential.” Donations are still accepted at artswave.org/give.
“Our arts organizations need reliable funding more than ever to plan the programs that transform our community,” Kintner said. “Together, we can create stronger arts for a stronger region.”
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