ArtsWave looks to ‘Catalyze Impact’ through $106K in community grants

ArtsWave awarded $160,726 through its Catalyzing Impact grant program to support 30 arts and cultural projects across the region.

The grants fund arts and cultural projects that bring people together and highlight local voices, which ArtsWave believes has the power to strengthen neighborhoods. The program supports a wide range of organizations – from traditional arts groups to community nonprofits and local governments – encouraging projects that are accessible, inclusive and serve the whole community.

This round of awards will support a wide range of initiatives, from public art and youth filmmaking to cultural festivals and intergenerational arts education. Among the recipients, ARTE’s “17 Neighborhoods” invites residents across Hamilton to design and paint panels for a large, traveling mural celebrating neighborhood identity and pride. The Cindependent Film Festival’s CindeNext program provides high school students with hands-on filmmaking education and mentorship, culminating in screenings of their films for live audiences.

Other funded projects include AfriFest 2026, which will showcase African arts and culture at Sawyer Point, and May-We-Help’s Cincinnati Adaptive Arts and Music Camp, offering inclusive arts experiences for children and adults with disabilities.

The full list of grant recipients is below.

“These 30 projects reflect the incredible imagination and collaboration happening across our region,” said Alecia Kintner, president and CEO of ArtsWave. “This year’s grant recipients show how the arts spark connection and make our region a more vibrant place to live.”

Funding art projects that uplift Cincy

Funded through thousands of community donations, the Catalyzing Impact Grant program is ArtsWave’s only grant opportunity open to all nonprofit organizations seeking support for arts projects. It supports new and expanded initiatives that advance ArtsWave’s goal of a more connected, creative region. 

In 2026, the organization received 93 applications totaling more than $730,000 in requests.

A panel of 13 community volunteers recommended the grants this year, partnering for the first time with ArtsWave’s Women’s Leadership Roundtable, an affinity group of more than 680 women whose collective philanthropy helps power the program through financial donations.

Grant awards for this round range in value from $1,000 to $10,000.

“By partnering in the review process of ArtsWave’s largest pool of project support, we’re able to help ensure these investments reflect the creativity, diversity and impact we want to see across our community,” Isabel Mendez, chair of the Catalyzing Impact Grants committee and a member of the Roundtable.

A major source for Catalyzing Impact grant funding comes from the annual ArtsWave community campaign. The 2026 campaign is ongoing.

2026 Catalyzing Impact grants, projects

• African Professionals Network – AfriFest 2026, $5,000: A free public celebration of African arts, music, dance, and culture at Sawyer Point.
• Art Academy of Cincinnati – Cincinnati Intergenerational Art Initiative, $5,000: No-cost art workshops for families and students of all ages.
• ARTE – “17 Neighborhoods,” $10,000: Collaborative mural project involving residents from all 17 Hamilton neighborhoods.
• Bader+Simon – “In Living Color:” A mural of Cincinnati’s diverse art history, $5,000: Mural honoring the city’s diverse artistic communities and history.
• Creative Aging Cincinnati – Arts programming for seniors, $5,000: Cultural events and collaborations for seniors, including scholarships for underserved facilities.
• CET-TV – “The Art Show,” $5,000: Television and in-person programs highlighting local artists.
• Cincinnati Pride, Inc. – 2026 Cincinnati Pride Festival, $4,000: Live performances and visual art during Pride celebrations.
• Cindependent Film Festival – CindeNext, $4,000: Youth filmmaking mentorship and original film production.
• City of Blue Ash – “Under the Canopy: Cultural Connections,” $5,601: Free cultural performances featuring global traditions.
• Dancefix Foundation – Summer on the Plaza Series, $4,000: Inclusive community dance classes.
• Film Cincinnati – “The Business of Storytelling,” $4,000: Training for creators in the business of arts and media.
• Friends of the Harriet Beecher Stowe House – “Centering African American Stories,” $8,250: Poetry, music, and storytelling events celebrating African American heritage.
• Indigo Hippo – Material Play, $6,000: Free art workshops using upcycled materials to explore creativity and community.
• Jazz Alive – “Jazz in the Camp” at the American Sign Museum, $4,000: Weekly jazz concerts for all ages.
• Lightship Foundation – Black Tech Week: The Creative Frequency Finale, $4,000: Arts and culture showcase concluding Black Tech Week.
• May-We-Help – Cincinnati Adaptive Arts and Music Camp, $10,000: Inclusive music and art camp for people with disabilities.
• Music Resource Center–Cincinnati – Community Studio, $10,000: Mobile recording program for teens on the West Side.
• Musicians for Health – “Cash: The Business of Art and the Art of Business,” $1,000: Career development seminar for early-career artists.
• Ohio Arts Professionals Network – 2026 conference, $5,000: Professional development and networking for arts presenters.
• Ohio Justice and Policy Center – Just Art Initiative: Voices from the Inside, $10,000: Exhibits and workshops showcasing art by justice-impacted individuals.
• ProjectArt – ProjectArt Cincinnati, $5,000: Free visual arts education in public libraries.
• Q-KIDZ Dance Team – Stop The Violence: Youth In Motion Prevention Project, $5,000: Performance-based prevention program for youth.
• Soulful Change – Third Annual Africa Day Celebration, $3,000: Music, art, and cultural programming honoring African heritage.
• Talk Low Music Festival – Community workshops and performances, $5,000: Immersive music experiences with international artists.
• The Clifton Community Players – “Where We Are Planted,” $3,000: Verbatim theatre exploring environmental issues.
• The Harmon Museum – Lebanon Festival of the Arts 2026, $3,375: Visual and performing arts festival in Warren County.
• TransForming Families Ministries – West Chester/Liberty Township Juneteenth Celebration, $2,000: Arts and culture event celebrating Juneteenth.
• Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation – Walnut Hills Arts & Culture Series, $2,000: Local music, dance, and art events.
• Warren County Arts Council dba ArtScape Lebanon – Expanding Ceramics Access, $7,500: Scholarship and adaptive programming for underserved communities.
• Wave Pool Corp – Wave Pool incubator residency, $10,000: Six-month residency supporting socially engaged artists with stipends, project budgets, and mentorship.