ArtsWave awards $205K in grants to artists working to ‘Inspire’

ArtsWave is helping a diverse group of Greater Cincinnati artists share the stories of their communities through projects exploring “Truth” and “Inspiration” and imagining a more equitable future. 

The Inspire Artist Grants, now in their sixth year, support individual artists and celebrate the work and culture of Black, Indigenous and other artists of color across the region. Selected artists for 2026 are using an array of mediums – film, visual art, poetry and performance – to highlight migration, heritage and the rich diversity of local BIPOC communities.

K.A. Simpson, a multi-year grantee, is developing a spoken-word album that blends poetry and music to explore memory, identity and the “Black experience in Northern Kentucky.” Jay Kalagayan is bringing history to life with a historical fiction comic series about the Manilamen, the first Filipinos in North America, a story rarely taught in classrooms.

A full list of recipients and their projects is at the end of this story. Individual grant amounts weren’t disclosed.

Beyond funding, the program gives artists professional development in writing, project management and business skills. They’ll work closely with ArtsWave staff and mentor Michael Thompson, a past grant recipient, to prepare their projects for a public showcase at the Contemporary Arts Center in July 2026.

This year also introduces a dedicated track for emerging artists, providing extra mentoring and career guidance throughout the project cycle.

The grants are made possible through partnerships with the City of Cincinnati, Duke Energy, the Greater Cincinnati Foundation and the Contemporary Arts Center.

2026 Inspire Artist grant recipients, project Descriptions

• Markus Cook, “How to Resurrect a Loved One” – A film following the Evans family as they confront the sudden, mysterious return of their late matriarch for one night.
• Bertha Davis, “The 90’s: A Documentary for the Ages” – A film featuring interviews with people born in the 1990s and adults over 90, comparing perspectives on life, technology and mental health.
• Clifford Fenell, “Many Voices: Stories of Us” – An anthology film using monologues, poetry, dance and music to highlight diverse experiences of people of color in Cincinnati.
• Ashley Glass, “SDOH (The Social Determinants of Health)” – A short documentary focusing on how factors like housing and access to care shape the lives of Black and Brown Cincinnatians.
• Brandon Isaac, “Pride in My Heritage: Coming Home to Yourself” – Workshops for young boys of color that blend storytelling, media arts and performance, culminating in a film and original pieces by the artist.
• Julia Orquera Bianco, “Iluminar” – A solo exhibition and film exploring migration, ancestry and plant knowledge through multisensory, interdisciplinary work.
• Derrick Smith, “Building a Nest in a Dying Tree” – A short film paired with original music and a behind-the-scenes documentary, centered on a radio host helping listeners navigate housing struggles.
• Jori An Cotton, “Voices of Resilience” –  Workshops in shelters that lead participants to create spoken word, music and visual stories for a multimedia performance.
• Gabriel Martinez Rubio, “Free-Dom” – Bilingual dance workshops and an original modern dance work examining media influence and immigration narratives in the Latine community.
• Geri P, “Broken Kids” – A five-song EP and showcase exploring healing and self-discovery through collaboration and community reflection.
• Roberto, “SI DIOS QUIERE” – An album rooted in Mexican and Chicano traditions, told through rotating first-person narratives and stylistic nods to norteña music and diaspora culture.
• K.A. Simpson, “You Should Have Been There: Things That Sounded Funnier in My Head” – A spoken-word album blending poetry, rhythm and personal storytelling.
• The Silent Poet, “Threads of Solidarity” – A writing and community art project fostering cross-racial solidarity, culminating in a large-scale scroll installation.
• Noam Denenberg, “Carbon Dreams” – A series of paintings tracing transformation, identity and renewal through layered materials and body prints.
• Drea, “Rankin House, tribute to the successful journey” –
• A 3D fashion installation honoring the journeys of enslaved African Americans who traveled the Underground Railroad.
• Ximena Flores, “Inti Echoes” – Sculptural installations and participatory mandalas inspired by Inca cosmology, focusing on reciprocity and nature.
• Jeni Jenkins, “Here in the Middle” – Workshops, portraits and an exhibition exploring colorism, mixed-race identity and the politics of visibility.
• Jay Kalagayan, “St. Malo: First Filipinos in North America” – A historical fiction comic series about Filipino settlers in Louisiana.
• Noel Bassam Mohammad Maghathe, “Between Us” – Tri-color cyanotypes exploring memory, healing and the body, framed in carved wood with embedded personal messages.
• Lisa Merida-Paytes, “The Paroxysm-Tree Project” – An immersive installation using weaving, light and traditional materials to examine cultural narratives and health disparities.
• Rebecca Nava Soto, “The Land Remembers: We Were Always Here” – A collaborative project with Indigenous Mexican, Central American and migrant families, using metal embossing and projection to tell stories of migration.
• Christina Sifri, “Land and Body” – Work reflecting the connection between the artist’s body and her Palestinian homeland through generational memory and healing.
• Janyla Smith, “The Essence of My World” – A series of paintings portraying community members and exploring identity through realism and fantasy.
• Ingrid Woode, “Twilight Sanctuaries” – Large-format portraits, 360-degree video and music exploring Black rest, memory and dignity at dusk.

For more details, ArtsWave directs people to artswave.org/inspire.