The Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC) board of trustees has approved a total of $12,766,038 through its two largest grant programs for 2024. GCAC awarded 15 General Support grants totaling $665,584 and 22 Operating Support grants totaling $12,100,454.
These grants are made possible through funds that GCAC receives from the city of Columbus through the hotel/motel bed tax and the arts and culture ticket fee, as well as funds from Franklin County.
“Even four years later, our arts organizations are still experiencing residual effects of the pandemic, but this funding helps them continue moving forward,” said Alison Barret, vice president of grants and community engagement for GCAC.
“We’re especially heartened to see our grantees adapting their programming and spaces to be more welcoming to the broadest possible community. They’re featuring more free and discounted offerings, culturally relevant programs, special accommodations for guests with disabilities or language barriers, and more BIPOC representation on staff and board.”
“The organizations receiving Operating Support and General Support are fundamental to our arts ecosystem,” said Tom Katzenmeyer, president and CEO of GCAC.
“Not only do they reach more than 2.7 million people through their own programming, but they also collaborate, mentor and share resources with smaller arts organizations to reach even more participants and strengthen growing organizations. Most notable, in 2023, these 27 arts organizations collectively employed more than 2,500 employees and non-artist contractors and paid well over $6.5 million dollars to Franklin County artists.”*
*Data sourced from fiscal year end 2023 reports submitted to GCAC.
OPERATING SUPPORT
Operating Support is directed to keystone arts and cultural organizations with three-year adjusted revenue budgets of more than $500,000. Organizations are firmly established, well managed and have a significant impact and broad community engagement. Operating Support grantee organizations are required to apply the arts and culture ticket fee on admissions.
Award amounts are determined based on a formula of application scores applied to three-year adjusted revenue averages. Applications are scored on financial management; organizational leadership and planning; commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity and access; and artistic innovation and engagement.
| Organization | Amount |
| Ballet Metropolitan | $790,680 |
| CAPA | $1,187,500 |
| Columbus Children’s Theatre | $227,763 |
| Columbus Museum of Art | $1,075,000 |
| Columbus Symphony Orchestra | $950,000 |
| COSI | $1,250,000 |
| Franklin Park Conservatory | $975,429 |
| Gateway Film Center | $450,000 |
| Glass Axis | $135,280 |
| Jazz Arts Group | $395,169 |
| King Arts Complex | $275,838 |
| Lincoln Theater Association | $242,908 |
| National Veterans Memorial & Museum | $600,000 |
| Ohio Designer Craftsmen | $189,366 |
| Ohio History Connection/Ohio Historical Society | $637,500 |
| Opera Columbus | $319,749 |
| ProMusica Chamber Orchestra | $458,573 |
| Shadowbox Live | $597,193 |
| Short North Stage | $279,270 |
| The Contemporary Theatre of Ohio | $212,135 |
| Thurber House | $108,979 |
| Wexner Center for the Arts | $742,122 |
GENERAL SUPPORT
Launched in 2022, General Support provides unrestricted financial support and capacity-building resources for organizations with annual budgets under $500,000. These organizations produce and present full seasons of performances, exhibitions and arts events, and have previously received Project Support grants. General Support is intended to help organizations on their path to sustainability and growth.
This program follows a calculation model similar to Operating Support grants. Organizations new to General Support are provided with an additional stipend to help with costs and time related to collection of data required for reporting. To apply for General Support, organizations must pre-qualify by submitting three years of financial documentation to demonstrate acceptable bookkeeping practices and financial stability.
| Organization | Amount |
| 934 Gallery | $20,824 |
| Actors’ Theatre of Columbus | $55,908 |
| Available Light Theatre | $12,427 |
| Capriccio Vocal Ensemble | $28,313 |
| Columbus Children’s Choir | $82,895 |
| Columbus Dance Theatre | $90,262 |
| Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus | $52,201 |
| Columbus Landmarks Foundation | $89,910 |
| Friends of Early Music | $40,344 |
| MadLab | $21,892 |
| Opera Project Columbus | $62,857 |
| ROY G BIV Gallery for Emerging Artists | $24,570 |
| Six String Concerts | $15,303 |
| The Fuse Factory Electronic & Digital Arts Lab | $14,793 |
| Wild Goose Creative | $53,085 |
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