Apply for Funding

ArtsWave provides over $10+ million in grant funding each year to arts organizations in the Cincinnati region.

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.

ArtsWave’s Grantee Portal

New to Submittable? Download our “how-to” handbook to get started.

If you’re looking for grant acceptance forms, grantee handbooks, and reporting forms, click here.

Want info on future grant opportunities?

Grant Programs Timeline

To receive email notifications when grant programs open for funding, sign up for ArtsWave’s Grants & Resources email list.

We strive to offer the following grants, pending available funding:

Fall Programs

  • Circle Project Grants (August/September)
  • ArtsWave Pride Project Grants (August/September)
  • Young Professionals Project Grants (August/September)
  • Black and Brown Artist Project Grants (September/October)

Winter Programs

  • Catalyzing Impact: Annual project grants for any nonprofit proposing an arts/cultural project (December/January)
  • NKY Creative Placemaking Grant (January/February)

Sustaining Programs

  • Sustaining Impact: General operating grants with most recent three-year cycle process beginning in Fall 2026 (invitation only)

For up-to-date information, please sign up for our Grants & Resources newsletter.

FY2026 Grant Programs and Funding Opportunities

 

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.

With the support of our Circle committee, ArtsWave will open applications for the 2026 Circle grant on August 11, 2025.

This affinity group project grant is designed to provide seed funding to support the development of new programming or to enhance existing programs to engage this ever-expanding community in our region through connective and innovation engagement. Grants are made possible by donations to the 2025 ArtsWave Community Campaign specifically designated to engage these communities in the arts.

Applications and grant guidelines for this grant will be available on August 11 and will be due on September 22, 2025, at 5 p.m. Proposed programming development and completion must occur between September 1, 2025, and July 15, 2026 (but not be completed by the time grants are awarded in October). Grant guidelines and information to apply can be found at artswave.org/apply beginning August 11.

The overview webinar for this grant program will be held virtually on Tuesday, August 12 from noon to 1 p.m.

REGISTER FOR THE GRANT OVERVIEW HERE

We will also offer two free Grant Writing Workshops to be held virtually:

Grant Writing Workshop-General Registration

Thursday, August 14

Noon to 1 p.m.

Grant Writing Workshop-Budgets Registration

Wednesday, August 20

Noon to 1 p.m.

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.

With the support of our Pride committee, ArtsWave will open applications for the 2026 ArtsWave Pride grant on August 11, 2025.

This affinity group project grant is designed to provide seed funding to support the development of new programming or to enhance existing programs to engage this ever-expanding community in our region through connective and innovation engagement. Grants are made possible by donations to the 2025 ArtsWave Community Campaign specifically designated to engage these communities in the arts.

Applications and grant guidelines for this grant will be available on August 11 and will be due on September 22, 2025, at 5 p.m. Proposed programming development and completion must occur between September 1, 2025, and July 15, 2026 (but not be completed by the time grants are awarded in October). Grant guidelines and information to apply can be found at artswave.org/apply beginning August 11.

The overview webinar for this grant program will be held virtually on Tuesday, August 12 from noon to 1 p.m.

REGISTER FOR THE GRANT OVERVIEW HERE

We will also offer two free Grant Writing Workshops to be held virtually

Grant Writing Workshop-General Registration

Thursday, August 14

Noon to 1 p.m.

Grant Writing Workshop-Budgets Registration

Wednesday, August 20

Noon to 1 p.m.

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 2025 ArtsWave Community Campaign.

With the support of our YP committee, ArtsWave will open applications for the 2026 Young Professionals grant on August 11, 2025.

This affinity group project grant is designed to provide seed funding to support the development of new programming or to enhance existing programs to engage this ever-expanding community in our region through connective and innovation engagement. Grants are made possible by donations to the 2025 ArtsWave Community Campaign specifically designated to engage these communities in the arts.

Applications and grant guidelines for this grant will be available on August 11 and will be due on September 22, 2025, at 5 p.m. Proposed programming development and completion must occur between September 1, 2025, and July 15, 2026 (but not be completed by the time grants are awarded in October). Grant guidelines and information to apply can be found at artswave.org/apply beginning August 11.

The overview webinar for this grant program will be held virtually on Tuesday, August 12 from noon to 1 p.m.

REGISTER FOR THE GRANT OVERVIEW HERE

We will also offer two free Grant Writing Workshops to be held virtually

Grant Writing Workshop-General Registration

Thursday, August 14

Noon to 1 p.m.

Grant Writing Workshop-Budgets Registration

Wednesday, August 20

Noon to 1 p.m.

 

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.

Questions?

Additional application questions may be directed to Lori Burkhardt or to Ray Gargano.

Lori Burkhardt
Manager, Grant Programs

Ray Gargano
Vice President, Community Investments

Interested in becoming an ArtsWave Grant Panelist?

Please click here to complete if you are interested in volunteering as an ArtsWave Grant Panelist. We will reach out to you for more information during our next grant cycle. Thank you.