ArtsWave's Community Investment Strategy

ArtsWave provides over $10+ million in grant funding each year to arts organizations in the Cincinnati region. The grants are awarded based on how they advance ArtsWave’s Blueprint for Collective Action in the Arts. Before applying, be sure to familiarize yourself with ArtsWave's Blueprint.

Grant Programs and Funding Opportunities

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ArtsWave's Grantee Portal

Click here to access ArtsWave's grantee portal, Submittable.

New to Submittable? Check out our "how-to" handbook to get started.

Click here to access grant acceptance forms, grantee handbooks, and reporting forms.

FY2025 Grant Programs and Funding Opportunities

ArtsWave Fiscal year is September 1 to August 31.

ArtsWave believes that diversity in arts and cultural expression creates a more vibrant and dynamic region. ArtsWave also believes that only an inclusive collection of diverse organizations, artists, art forms and projects can fully deliver the goals of ArtsWave’s Blueprint for Collective Action to advance social impact in our community. In FY26, ArtsWave’s Circle Grant Program requests proposals for projects that promote and/or celebrate Black and African American Arts experiences in the Cincinnati region. 

We anticipate opening our FY2026 Circle Project Grant in Fall 2025 pending funding.

For questions, please contact impact@artswave.org.

Note: Beginning with this grant program cycle, applicants must take at least one year off after receiving funding for two consecutive Circle Grants.

The purpose of the Northern Kentucky (NKY) Creative Placemaking Grant is to encourage a breadth of programming that will amplify arts and cultural heritage projects in Northern Kentucky that support the goals of ArtsWave’s Blueprint for Collective Action. This grant is made possible through a partnership between ArtsWave and meetNKY (Northern Kentucky CVB) to leverage the arts to drive economic vitality, social vibrancy, and a connected community for all. NKY Creative Placemaking Grant projects must occur between June 1, 2025, and May 31, 2026. Note: the project cannot be completed prior grant award notification in May 2025.   

Grant awards will be made up to $10,000 or 50% of the total expenses for the proposed project, and have a 1:1 match requirement. This grant opportunity is open to any organization proposing an eligible program. Organizations may only submit one application per deadline, and organizations may only receive one Northern Kentucky Creative Placemaking Grant in a single fiscal year, and after two years of award funding, applicants must take at least one year off.

The FY2025 Northern Kentucky Creative Placemaking Grant application is now closed. 

We anticipate opening our FY2026 Northern Kentucky Creative Placemaking Grant in early 2026.

The purpose of the Catalyzing Impact Grant Program is to encourage a breadth of programming through arts and cultural heritage projects that support the goals of ArtsWave’s Blueprint for Collective Action. Grant awards will be made up to $10,000 or 50% of the total expenses for the proposed project, and have a 1:1 match requirement.

This grant opportunity is open to any organization proposing an eligible program. Organizations may only submit one application per deadline, and organizations may only receive one Catalyzing Impact Grant in a single fiscal year, and after two years of award funding, applicants must take at least one year off.

The FY2025 Catalyzing Impact Grant application is now closed. 

We anticipate opening our FY2026 Catalyzing Impact Grant in December 2025 pending funding.

Note: Applicants must take at least one year off from applying after receiving funding for two consecutive Catalyzing Impact Grants beginning with our FY2023 grant cycle. If funding is received in both FY2024 and FY2025, the applicant would be ineligible in FY2026.

The purpose of the ArtsWave Pride Grant Program is to promote, celebrate, and create inclusive arts experiences that may appeal to or have relevance to the broader LGBTQIA community. ArtWave Pride grants will provide funding for arts or cultural heritage projects that advance Cincinnati’s reputation as a welcoming and inclusive community through the arts.

The FY2025 ArtsWave Pride Grant is now closed.
Final reports for those projects funded will be due by August 31, 2025.

We anticipate opening our FY2026 Pride Grant in Fall 2025 pending funding. 

Note: Applicants must take at least one year off from applying after receiving funding for two consecutive Pride Grants beginning with our FY2023 grant cycle.

ArtsWave YP grants provide both seed funding to support the development of new programming, as well as existing programming with demonstrated impact in engaging young professionals. Grants are made possible by the donations of young professionals to the 2023 ArtsWave Community Campaign.

The FY2025 Young Professional Grant is now closed.
Final reports for those projects funded will be due by August 31, 2025.

We anticipate opening our FY2026 Young Professionals Grant in Fall 2025 pending funding.

Funded by City of Cincinnati and other partners

ArtsWave’s Black and Brown Artists program will provide financial support for Black and Brown artists in the Greater Cincinnati Region to continue to explore the themes of our times. Projects should use the arts to explore the theme of Truth and Innovation to build upon the current artistic commentary of health and race and to connect it with historical events and visions of a more equitable future. All projects must propose a Showcase element for July 2025. 

The FY2025 Black and Brown Artist Grant for Individual Artists application is now closed. 

We anticipate opening our FY2026 Black and Brown Artist Grant for Individual Artists in Fall 2025 pending funding.

Note: Applicants must take off at least one year after receiving funding for two consecutive Black and Brown Artist Grants, beginning with our FY2022 grant cycle. If an applicant received funding in FY2024 and FY2025, they would not be eligible for this grant cycle.

ArtsWave offers interest-free loans up to $10,000 for demonstrated short-term cash flow needs for eligible arts or cultural heritage organizations. There is no deadline to apply.

The purpose of ArtsWave’s general operating grant program is to provide general operating support to arts and cultural heritage organizations whose programming supports the goals of ArtsWave’s Blueprint for Collective Action to ensure their ongoing capacity to drive community impact.

The current application process is in progress. The next opportunity for Sustaining Impact applications will be before the 2027-2030 Cycle.