Making Waves Blog

The arts fuel creativity and learning, encouraging the development of important 21st century skills like critical thinking, collaboration, and self-discipline. Yet, in the current climate of arts and education funding, many children in underserved communities lack equitable access to arts programming that could enhance their learning experience. In the spring of 2015, ArtsWave embarked on a project to bridge the gap between the arts and underserved schools with special support from the Gladys and Ralph Lazarus Fund and Ladislas and Vilma Segoe Family Foundation.

ArtsWave announces a new strategic initiative in partnership with LISC Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky to support arts activities in five Place Matters neighborhoods in the coming year. ArtsWave will award $45,000 in grants to LISC’s designated community revitalization organizations in Avondale, Covington, Madisonville, Price Hill, and Walnut Hills. Each Place Matters neighborhood will use the funds to contract with arts organizations supported by ArtsWave or to support activities that include community-building arts programs.

How can art change your neighborhood for the better? In January, ArtsWave asked this question of community development organizations for the five neighborhoods in LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation) Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky’s Place Matters program.

For the past two years, The Jacob G. Schmidlapp Trusts, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee, has provided special funding that allows ArtsWave to “go broad” and “go deep” in its support of arts activities in different locations across the region.