ArtsWave announces COVID-19 relief grants through Hamilton County CARES- Arts and Culture Organization Relief Program

ArtsWave, the engine for the region’s arts, announces that it will help award $3.5 million allocated by Hamilton County Commissioners through CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Funds to combat the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 on the local arts community. Funding guidelines are online at https://www.artswave.org/apply-for-funding.

The Hamilton County CARES Arts and Culture Organization Relief Program will cover costs of necessary expenditures incurred by Hamilton County arts and culture organizations due to the COVID-19 public health emergency between March 1, 2020 and December 15, 2020. Relief applications will be reviewed by ArtsWave beginning tomorrow and then awarded by Hamilton County by early December. Eligible applicants that are located in Hamilton County and that have arts and cultural programming as their core mission must submit their materials through ArtsWave’s website by October 23.

The COVID-19 relief grants will cover costs incurred due to business disruption, in a year in which performing arts venues and museums lost significant box office and admissions revenue. The grants can also cover costs of mitigation expenses for re-opening and adaptations required for digital programming. Total grant amounts will be based on operating revenue from the prior fiscal year, capped at $100,000.

“Arts organizations typically derive between half and two-thirds of their annual operating budgets from earned income sources like ticket sales, sponsorships and contracts,” said Alecia Kintner, ArtsWave President & CEO. “The COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating for arts organizations that, like any other industry, have fixed costs and valuable employees. Relief from Hamilton County CARES Act funding will make a difference in the ability of the Cincinnati region’s arts and culture landscape to remain vibrant and viable.”