Culture Works Community Arts Grants

The Community Arts Grants program, administered by Culture Works, is designed to provide general operating support to arts organizations in the Dayton Region. This support enriches the community by funding organizations that offer world-class performances, exhibitions, and arts education programs for all ages. The grants aim to foster a thriving arts ecosystem that benefits all community members and supports a variety of art forms, from performances to educational programs. The funding is sourced from generous community contributions collected through Culture Works’ annual Campaign for the Arts, which engages local individuals, companies, and foundations. The grants are divided into two categories based on the organization's annual budget. The General Operating Support (GOS) category is for organizations with annual budgets ranging from $500,000 to $10 million. The Community Arts Development (CAD) category supports organizations with annual budgets between $100,000 and $499,999. This division ensures that both larger and smaller organizations can access support appropriate to their financial scale. In the 2024-2025 arts season, 10 organizations in the Dayton region received Community Arts Grants. These included the Bach Society of Dayton, The Contemporary Dayton, the Dayton Art Institute, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Dayton Performing Arts Alliance, Dayton Public Radio (WDPR), The Human Race Theatre Company, K12 Gallery & TEJAS, Muse Machine, and the Springfield Symphony Orchestra. These grants contribute to a supportive arts ecosystem that fosters creative place-making and the development of multi-disciplinary art forms. The purpose of the Community Arts Grants is to sustain and develop the arts in the Dayton area, supporting organizations that offer cultural, educational, and artistic experiences that are accessible to everyone in the community. The funding is particularly focused on helping organizations that provide a broad range of artistic programming and outreach, contributing to the vibrancy of the local arts scene. Applicants to the Community Arts Grants are required to meet certain eligibility criteria based on their annual budget and the specific category of grant they are applying for. To ensure a fair and transparent process, Culture Works conducts an orientation for applicants to provide additional details on the grant process. This session helps potential grantees understand the application form changes and clarify any questions they may have. The timeline for the 2025-2026 Community Arts Grant application opens on February 24, 2025, allowing applicants ample time to familiarize themselves with the updated application form. The final application deadline is 4:00 PM on Friday, April 4, 2025. To assist applicants, Culture Works holds a Community Arts Grant Applicant Orientation via Zoom on March 3, 2025. Applicants are encouraged to attend this session to address any questions about the application process and new changes. For questions or further clarification, applicants can contact Rachel Evans Nead, the Director of Grantmaking & Impact at Culture Works, through email at ren@cultureworks.org. This ensures that applicants receive the necessary guidance and support during the application process.