Ohio giving $20 million in grants to support state's arts

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Ohio Arts Council is distributing its largest single round of grant awards ever, approving $20 million in grants this year to keep the arts alive in the community.

Many organizations depend on that funding to continue their work. No matter how big or small the organization, they are grateful for the chance to continue being creative and having a positive impact on the community.

The Columbus Symphony is one of those recipients and as COO Daniel Walshaw knows, even for a grand orchestra, those grants are essential to keep this outlet for musicians and patrons.

“If we didn't have that support, that financial support, Columbus would be without the great performances that we have here,” Walshaw said. “Being a part of our community, being our neighbors, being our family members, and just being a part of everything that we do on a daily basis.”

For nonprofits that may not be on the scale of an orchestra, such as the Transit Arts Program, also rely heavily on funding. Transit Arts Program Manager Katerina Fuller said the organization provides workshops and classes for children to paint, draw, and be fully immersed in art at no cost.

“We love to reduce barriers and boundaries,” Fuller said. “Creativity should not have a price on it to make and so, with us having it free, it allows everyone access to be creative.”

The kids that have continued to come to the program for years such as Tai Leftwich are thankful for the experience they have while there.

“We don't really get exposed to a lot of, like, arts and, like, music, just like a wide variety of things,” Leftwich said. “I think it's really important to give us, like, a variety of things we can do and things we are interested in.”

These organizations believe it is important to make art accessible and sustain its existence throughout Columbus.

“My own personal philosophy is that the arts make our lives better, that when we go out in the world, we need business, we need, we need STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math),” Walshaw said. “These are critical things to push the society forward, but it's the arts that make life beautiful and worth living and make communities beautiful.”

The funds will be split into 935 grants for various organizations throughout Ohio's 88 counties.