1. Does the City of Cincinnati offer grants for artists? The City of Cincinnati is one of only two local funders of Cincinnati artists and the only local government in the Tri-State that operates grant programs for artists. The City’s Individual Artist Grant Program provides support to creative and performing artists who are Cincinnati residents.  See FAQ 13 to determine residency status. Applications are accepted in the following artistic disciplines: dance, literature, media, music, performance theater and visual arts. Call 513-352-4985 for more information.

2. Does the City of Cincinnati offer grants for arts organizations? The City of Cincinnati is the only local government in the Tri-State that operates grant programs for arts organizations. The City’s Small Arts Organization Grant Program provides project and operating support to nonprofit Cincinnati-based small and mid-sized arts and cultural organizations.  See FAQ 13 to determine whether you organization is based in Cincinnati. The maximum request amount is $7,500. At least one public presentation in Cincinnati is required during the grant period. Call 513-352-4985 for more information.

3. Who is eligible to apply to the Individual Artist Grant Program? Artist applicants must be residents of one of Cincinnati's 52 neighborhoods who are age 18 or older (See FAQ 13 to determine residency status). Applications are accepted from creative and performing artists in the following artistic disciplines: dance, literature, media, music, performance art,  theater, and visual arts. (Creative artists include choreographers, composers, playwrights, and visual artists. Interpretive artists include dancers, instrumental and vocal musicians, and actors.) Artists who create work that is interdisciplinary in nature may also apply.  Organizations or groups with ongoing activities such as bands are not eligible to apply. Call 513-352-4985 for more information.

4. What types of organizations are eligible to apply to the Small Arts Organization Grant Program? Organization applicants must be nonprofit and must have an office and/or a regular performance, rehearsal, or activity location in one of Cincinnati's 52 neighborhoods.  See FAQ 13 to determine whether your organization is based in Cincinnati.  Applicants must be either arts organizations or nonarts organizations with established, distinct arts components or programs. Start-up arts organizations and nonarts organizations that have not previously operated arts and cultural programs or components are not eligible to apply. Individual artists or organizations acting as fiscal agents for individual artists may not apply. Call 513-352-4985 for more information.

5. Does an organization need to have 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status to apply to the Small Arts Organization Grant Program? Applicant organizations must be nonprofit in nature. This means that the organization uses its income to support its operations (including personnel expenses). The income is not used for the benefit or private gain of stockholders, directors, or other individuals who have an interest in the organization. The mission of the organization must be consistent with this principle. Applicant organizations are considered to be nonprofit if they are one or more of the following: 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, Ohio nonprofit corporation, nonprofit in intent. Documentation of nonprofit status is required with the application for funding. Call 513-352-4985 for more information.

6. What are the application deadlines for the arts grant programs? The application deadline for the Small Arts Organization Grant Program is March 15. Call 513-352-4985 for more information on the Individual Artist Grant Program.

7. What are the grant periods for the arts grant programs? Activities funded by City of Cincinnati arts grants must take place during the specified grant period for the grant program. Expenses for grant-funded activities must be incurred during the grant period. The Small Arts Organization Grant Program has a 12-month grant period that runs from September 1 to August 31. Call 513-352-4985 for more information on the Individual Artist Grant Program.

8. Where can I get applications for the City’s competitive arts grant programs? Applications and program guidelines for the City’s Individual Artist Grant Program and Small Arts Organization Grant Program are available from the Department of Community Development (805 Central Avenue, Suite 700) and the following application distribution points throughout Cincinnati: Cincinnati Recreation Commission's Dunham Recreation Complex and Westwood Town Hall,  Art Academy of Cincinnati, Enjoy the Arts, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County (Corryville, Northside, and Walnut Hills branch libraries and Information and Reference Department, Main Library), University of Cincinnati School of Art, Urban Appalachian Council, and Weston Art Gallery. Check the Community Development website for electronic versions of the program guidelines and applications.

9. How do I know if a City arts grant program is right for me or my organization? Every arts grant funder has different funding interests, restrictions, and priorities. To see if the City’s Individual Artist Grant Program or Small Arts Organization Grant Program is right for you or your organization, review the program guidelines. Prospective applicants are also encouraged to attend one of the Department of Community Development's grantwriting workshops. Community Development offers a grantwriting workshop for the Small Arts Organization Grant Program in in mid-February . Call 513-352-6146 for workshop information and registration. Call 513-352-4985 for program information and information on the workshop for the Individual Artist Grant Program.

10. What is the application process? Applicant artists and organizations submit the following materials to the Department of Community Development (DCD) by the application deadline: 1) a completed application form provided by DCD and 2) supportive materials that are specified in the program guidelines. DCD staff and the Cincinnati Arts Allocation Committee (CAAC), a City advisory body, review applications for completeness, accuracy, and conformance to program guidelines and make eligibility determinations. The CAAC reviews eligible applications and relevant audio/visual support materials during a series of public meetings. The CAAC's funding recommendations for the Individual Artist Grant Program and the Small Arts Organization Grant Program are approved by Cincinnati City Council and the Fine Arts Fund, respectively.

11. Does the City provide grantwriting assistance to artists and arts organizations? The Department of Community Development offers a free grantwriting workshop for prospective arts organization grant applicants in  mid-February. Call 513-352-6146 for workshop information and registration. DCD staff are also available to provide telephone assistance about the grant programs and specific proposals. Call 513-352-4985 for assistance and for information about the grantwriting workshop for prospective artist grant applications.

12. How can I find out about other arts funders? The Department of Community Development has compiled a list of basic resources for Cincinnati artists and small arts organizations. This list includes funding sources, marketing and promotion resources, technical assistance resources, and information sources for jobs, residencies, and juried exhibitions and competitions.   Visit Other Resources for Artists and Arts Organizations on this website or call 513-352-4985 to request a copy of the complete resource list. Directories and other resources for researching funders are available at the Grants Resource Center in the Information and Reference Department of the main branch of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County (513-369-6940 or http://www.cincinnatilibrary.org/services/gre.asp).

13. How can I find out if an address is in Cincinnati? Applicants to the City’s arts grant programs must be residents of Cincinnati (Individual Artist Grant Program) or organizations that are located in Cincinnati (Small Arts Organization Grant Program). In addition, grant recipients must provide at least one public presentation in the Cincinnati city limits during the grant period. The presentation(s) must be open to and must directly serve people who live in Cincinnati. Many locations with Cincinnati mailing addresses, some properties owned by the city and some schools in the Cincinnati Public Schools system are not in the corporate limits of Cincinnati. Use the City of Cincinnati Income Tax Division’s  Quick Locator Street Guide to determine whether an address is within the Cincinnati city limits.