ArtsWave has awarded 18 new Catalyzing Impact grants, investing $122,300 in support of a variety of arts projects and programs throughout the Greater Cincinnati region happening this summer and early fall.

ArtsWave, the leading planner, promoter and fundraiser for 100+ arts organizations, provides catalyzing Impact grants three times a year to maximize the breadth of arts and cultural heritage programming offered locally. One-time grants are made to organizations that are not currently receiving funding, with a vision that that some of these projects will grow into new projects and programs that add to the overall array of arts experiences offered throughout the region.

Grant decisions are made by a committee of community volunteers who gauge how strongly the projects support one or more of the ArtsWave’s Blueprint for Collective Action, the region’s strategic plan for the arts sector. These goals include putting Cincinnati on the map, deepening roots in the region, bridging cultural divides, enlivening neighborhoods, and fueling creativity and learning. This round of Catalyzing Impact grants was made possible by funding allocated from the 2016 Annual Community Campaign.

President & CEO Alecia Kintner notes, “Catalyzing Impact grants bring new programming and events to life. They add to the diverse mix of arts experiences that connect our neighborhoods and make Cincinnati a vibrant and attractive region for residents and visitors."

Grant recipients include:

The Mini Microcinema- awarded $12,000 to support “Seven Weeks of Cinema,” a summer project featuring 27 free screenings celebrating the second anniversary of The Mini Microcinema.

ArtsConnect- Springfield Township Arts and Enrichment Council-awarded $11,250 to support ArtsConnect Kids Camp, an 11-week summer arts camp for children in grades 2-6.

BLOC Ministries-awarded $11,250 to support a summer program for middle and high school students to design and create a mural in Price Hill expressing thoughts on telling the history and future of the community.  

Weston Art Gallery- awarded $8,625 to support DPMT7: Un Teatro del Nuovo, an architectural exhibition that will lead viewers through three urban settings, and features Docentitos, the Gallery’s acclaimed youth docent program.

Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission- awarded $9,230 to support the Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission’s Aging Arts Program, a 28-week arts program benefitting underserved seniors in Ludlow and Elsmere.

Cincy Blues Society- awarded $8,000 to support the 2017 Youth Show Case Stage, a practicum for budding Blues musicians to hone their musical skills as part of the larger 2017 Cincy Blues Fest happening in August.

Sharonville Fine Arts Council, Inc.- awarded $7,500 to support Inside the Loop, a three-day film festival happening in October at the Sharonville Cultural Arts Center featuring local, regional, and national filmmakers.

Community Matters- awarded $7,500 to support the Sanctuary Arts Program with the launch of a Residency and Apprenticeship program artists and community members in Lower Price Hill.

Wave Pool- awarded $6,675 to support the launch of a Curatorial Residency Program, a professional development program for emerging artists and curators to execute their unique vision within Wave Pool’s gallery space.

Lineillism, LLC- awarded $6,280 to support Lineillism Revealed: The Birth of a New Art Form, an interactive traveling art exhibit featuring the work of area painter Jim Hall and his story to creating Lineillism.

Over the Rhine Community Housing- awarded $6,000 to support the Trauma-Informed Care Initiative, an innovative approach using creativity to empower children in processing trauma and stress, resolving conflict, and creating healthy relationships.

Keep Cincinnati Beautiful- awarded $6,000 to support Vacant Lots: Occupied, a community engagement effort that will begin this summer to integrate arts and creative placemaking to renovate a vacant lot.

Blue Ash/Montgomery Symphony Orchestra- awarded $5,740 to support a performance of Mozart’s Requiem in October in collaboration with the Cincinnati Choral Society.

Queen City Opera- awarded $5,000 to support the performance of Mozart’s Don Giovanni, featuring pre-performance workshops in late May led by the Jewish Family Federation and Planned Parenthood exploring themes of sexual assault and consent.

Imani Family Center- awarded $5,000 to support “Oh the Places We Will Go,” a four-week summer arts enrichment program for children in grades K-5.

Clifton Town Meeting- awarded $3,000 to support the “Quite* on the Set” Film Festival in July, a combination of live theatre, film production, and community interaction. *(Yes, it's "quite" not "quiet")

Art Beyond Boundaries (Independent Living Options)-awarded $2,500 to support Through the Lens: A View of OTR, a photo project that kicks off in August, designed to attract novice and professional photographers to experience Over-the-Rhine neighborhood through the lens of the camera.

Cincinnati Song Initiative- awarded $750 to support Earth Portraits: Songs of British Landscapes, a vocal music performance featuring work by living British composer Ian Venables.