Individual Artist Grants and Services Program

Investing in the Future of Ohio's Artists

Individual artists are making a difference in communities across Ohio every day. They illuminate community identity and help us understand and imagine our lives in new ways. Our lives are richer and more remarkable because of the contribution of artists to the social, physical, economic and spiritual fabric of our neighborhoods and towns. The presence of artists in a particular place is a strong indicator of cultural vitality. Businesses, new and old alike, need places where work and play come together in creative and dynamic ways. Artists living and working in a community affect the extent to which arts and culture are integrated into the schools and the number of non-profit arts organizations, theatres, art classes, galleries, and venues for live music in that community.

FY2012 Individual Excellence Award Panel Meeting Information

The FY2012 Individual Excellence Award panels met December 5-15, 2011.  This year's panels were great and the panelists were very diligent in their work.  Notification of funding or non-funding will be sent via OLGA (OAC's Online Grant Application System) the first week of January.  Please make sure that you have oachelpdesk@oac.state.oh.us as an approved sender so that the notice doesn't get filtered out as a spam email.  There will be a press release of the recipients sent to all Ohio newspapers once our Council Board approves the recommendations.  The recipient list will also be available on our searchable grants database and on this page after our winter Council meeting.

Click on the discipline name below to read the panelist bios for this year's Individual Excellence Award panels:

Choreography, December 5-6, 2011

Music Composition, December 7-8, 2011

Fiction/Non-Fiction, December 12, 2011

Poetry, December 13, 2011

Playwriting, December 14, 2011

Criticism, December 15, 2011

Individual artist grant programs:

The Individual Artist Grants and Services Program offers grants to individual artists in two program areas:

1.The Individual Excellence Awards provides grants to Ohio artists for the exceptional merit of a body of work.  These awards recognize creativity and imagination that exemplifies the highest level of achievement in a particular discipline and advances the art form.  Please read the program Guidelines before applying. 


2. The Traditional Arts Apprenticeship program strives to keep alive traditional and folk arts by supporting collaborations between master artists and dedicated apprentices. Master artists preserve ethnic, occupational, regional group, community or family traditions that have been passed down for generations. Please read the program Guidelines before applying.

FAQ's on Individual Artist Grant and Services Program

FAQ's on General grants process

Grant opportunities for artists through other OAC programs:

To learn more about other programs we have for artists click here.

Other services we provide for artists:

In addition to grants the OAC's IAGSP office offers a number of resources for artists. We've created a page that holds all these resources in one place; visit it now by following this link: Artist Resources

Other information you should know:

The Ohio Arts Council is looking for people to serve on advisory panels to review grant applications. To nominate a panelist complete a Nomination for Panel Membership form or contact Karine Aswad at karine.aswad@oac.state.oh.us or 614/466-2613.