Ohio art organizations, poets awarded $650,000 in federal grants for future projects
With support from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), Ohio arts organizations and poets were awarded $650,000 in federal grants for future community projects.
Twenty-nine state organizations received funding through NEA’s Grants for Arts Projects program, and three Ohio poets were selected among 35 total recipients of the Creative Writing Fellowships.
Donna Collins, executive director of the Ohio Arts Council, said this funding ensures organizations and artists of all creative practices are recognized for their contributions. More important, it allows them to put their dreams into action through the development of artistic projects, which will help magnify their community-focused efforts, she said.
"It really ensures that these creative and innovative practices, whether it's poetry, dance or special projects, are recognized at the national level," Collins said. "And because of this support, these organizations and artists are able to thrive."
Recipients in the central Ohio area:
• Opera Columbus, $20,000
• OhioDance, $10,000
• Wexner Center for the Arts, $15,000
• Ruth Awad, $25,000 (Creative Writing Literature Fellowships, poetry)
On a larger scale, NEA Acting Chairman Ann Eilers said these projects will continue to serve as a broader source of inspiration, especially with the ongoing challenges surrounding the novel coronavirus.
"These projects represent the vitality and perseverance of arts organizations small and large to overcome significant challenges, transform to new ways of engagement and forge new relationships that benefit the diverse populations in neighborhoods and cities throughout the United States,” Eilers said in a statement.
The National Endowment for the Arts is currently accepting applications for the next round of its Grants for Arts Projects program. The application deadline is Feb. 11.
The next cycle for NEA's Literature Fellowships will focus on creative writing in prose — fiction and nonfiction. Applications for this program are due March 10.
For more information, visit arts.gov.