ArtsWave awards nearly $9M to dozens of arts orgs

From the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra to first-time recipient Q-Kidz Dance, 46 arts organizations across Greater Cincinnati will receive nearly $9 million in operating grants, helping fund performances, exhibitions, arts education and other community programming.

The ArtsWave Board of Trustees approved $8,971,278 in Sustaining Impact grants to kick off its fiscal years 2027-2029 funding cycle. The money comes from the organization’s 2026 community campaign and marks the first Sustaining Impact grant cycle ahead of ArtsWave’s 100th anniversary in 2027.

Sustaining Impact grants are ArtsWave’s largest source of funding for local arts organizations, providing multi-year operating support to help organizations maintain financial stability and consistent programming. The grants account for the majority of the organization’s annual grantmaking.

“For 100 years, our region has come together to support its arts,” ArtsWave President and CEO Alecia Kintner said in a statement. 

“What we raise through our campaign each year goes right back into the community,” she continued. “These 46 organizations, and the people they reach, are what that investment looks like in practice. Every gift becomes support that keeps our region vibrant and connected.”

Funding organizations that impact the community

Organizations qualify for Sustaining Impact funding by meeting criteria that include having arts and cultural programming as their primary mission, maintaining nonprofit status for at least five or 10 years depending on budget size, demonstrating financial health and having a history of ArtsWave funding.

A panel of 58 volunteer community members from the business, civic and arts sectors reviewed and scored applications. Awards are determined using a formula that considers review scores, organizational budgets and available funding, with community impact carrying the greatest weight.

“Our community volunteer review process is central to how ArtsWave operates,” said Debbie Hayes, ArtsWave board chair and president and CEO of The Christ Hospital Health Network. “Those thoughtful recommendations are what the Board acted on. That kind of community ownership and investment is what has carried us thus far and what will carry us successfully into our second century of impact.”

The funding cohort includes first-time recipient Q-Kidz Dance, which received $10,000, and Wave Pool, which returns to the program after a two-year absence with a $20,000 grant.

The largest grant went to the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, which received $2.3 million. Other top recipients included the Cincinnati Art Museum with $1.285 million, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park with $1.06 million, Cincinnati Ballet with $810,000 and Cincinnati Opera with $683,850.

Smaller awards went to organizations including American Legacy Theatre ($15,000), My Nose Turns Red Youth Circus ($14,000), Queen City Opera ($10,000), Young Professionals Choral Collective ($10,000), Pones ($11,000) and The Well/A Mindful Moment ($13,000).

A complete list of grant recipients and award amounts appears below.

Sustaining Impact Grant Awards

• 1001 Colors (ArtWorks) — $185,000
• American Legacy Theatre — $15,000
• ArtsConnect — $18,000
• Behringer-Crawford Museum — $30,250
• Bi-Okoto Drum & Dance Theatre — $37,950
• Cincinnati Art Museum — $1,285,000
• Cincinnati Ballet — $810,000
• Cincinnati Boychoir — $45,000
• Cincinnati Landmark Productions — $104,600
• Cincinnati Opera — $683,850
• Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park — $1,060,000
• Cincinnati Shakespeare Company — $206,200
• Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra — $2,300,000
• Cincinnati Youth Choir — $44,500
• Cindependent Film Festival with LADD — $21,500
• Clifton Cultural Arts Center — $36,800
• Contemporary Arts Center — $285,600
• Elementz Hip Hop Cultural Art Center — $45,000
• Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati — $154,400
• Fitton Center for Creative Arts — $86,250
• Kennedy Heights Arts Center — $45,300
• Kentucky Symphony Orchestra — $40,050
• Know Theatre of Cincinnati — $41,000
• Learning Through Art, Inc. — $46,000
• Linton Chamber Music — $23,800
• May Festival — $230,228
• MUSE Cincinnati’s Women’s Choir — $7,500
• Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Center — $41,000
• My Nose Turns Red Youth Circus — $14,000
• Oxford Community Arts Center — $25,500
• Pones — $11,000
• Price Hill Will — $70,000
• Professional Artistic Research Projects — $32,100
• Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park — $56,000
• Q-Kidz Dance — $10,000
• Queen City Opera — $10,000
• Queen City Performing Arts Organization — $10,000
• Summermusik (CCO) — $45,000
• Taft Museum of Art — $295,000
• The Carnegie — $84,000
• The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati — $250,000
• The Well/A Mindful Moment — $13,000
• Visionaries and Voices — $48,400
• Wave Pool — $20,000
• Wyoming Fine Arts Center — $37,500
• Young Professionals Choral Collective — $10,000