Circle of African American Leaders for the Arts

The Circle welcomes all who believe in the power of the arts to bridge cultural divides.

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The Circle was launched in 2015 under the leadership of ArtsWave trustees Mel Gravely, Delores Hargrove-Young and Edgar Smith. Members enjoy a variety of arts experiences and engagement opportunities, including exclusive offers to Flow, an African American Arts Experience, that allow them to connect with each other and to see the impact of their gifts to ArtsWave.

To join, commit to an annual leadership gift of $1,500, or a 3-year Step Up plan to $1,500. A portion of your gift will directly fund arts initiatives highlighting the Black experience.

Circle of African American Leaders for the Arts Benefits

  • Experience ArtsWave Hour, a luncheon event series featuring arts and community leaders.
  • Celebrate outstanding accomplishments in the arts through our annual Sachs Fund Prize reception.
  • Exclusive members-only arts experiences throughout the year.
  • Special recognition in the ArtsWave Community Report.

You can give through your workplace campaign or online.

You will continue to be recognized as a couple based on your total gift to ArtsWave.

Leadership Giving Levels

  • $50,000+: Luminaries
  • $15,000 to $24,999: WaveMakers
  • $25,000 to $49,999: Ovation Circle
  • $10,000 to $14,999: Innovators Circle
  • $5,000 to $9,999: Chair’s Circle
  • $2,500 to $4,999: Directors’ Circle
  • $1,500 to $2,499: Leadership Circle

ArtsWave Circle Grants

ArtsWave’s Circle Grants are designed to strengthen the capacity and sustainability of arts organizations led by, or predominantly serving, Black Cincinnatians. These grants, along with other initiatives, advance ArtsWave’s commitment to increasing investment in Black arts each year. The Circle helps to fund these grants through their donations to the annual ArtsWave Campaign.

African Professionals Network (APNET), Black Arts Speak, Cincinnati Black Theatre Company, It’s Commonly Jazz, Jazz Alive, Juneteenth Cincinnati, National Commission for Black Arts & Entertainment, Robert O’Neal Multicultural Art Center (ROMAC).

ArtsVille, Bi-Okoto, Cincinnati Black Theatre Company, Elementz, Learning Through Art, PAR-Projects, Robert O’Neal Multicultural Arts Center, Sweet Sista Splash.

Bi-Okoto, Cincinnati Black Theatre Company, Cincinnati Music Accelerator, Easley Blessed Media, Elementz, Hear Us, Hear Them, It’s Commonly Jazz, Jews of Color Sanctuary, Juneteenth Cincinnati, Learning Through Art, NuLyphe Performing Arts, PAR-Projects, Q-Kidz Dance Team, Regal Rhythms Poetry, Revolution Dance Theatre, Robert O’Neal Multicultural Arts Center, UnderWorld Black Arts Festival.

Black Art Speaks, Elementz, Hear Us, Hear Them, It’s Commonly Jazz, Jazz Alive, Juneteenth Cincinnati, Music Resource Center–Cincinnati, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, PAR-Projects, Revolution Dance Theatre, Robert O’Neal Multicultural Arts Center.

Art of the Piano, Artsville, Avondale Community Arts Program, Bi-Okoto, Cincinnati Arts and Technology Studios, Cincinnati Boychoir, Cincinnati Music Accelerator, Elementz, House of Joy, It’s Commonly Jazz, Jazz Alive, Juneteenth Cincinnati, Learning Through Art, PAR-Projects, Q-Kidz Dance Team, Revolution Dance Theatre, Robert O’Neal Multicultural Arts Center.

Circle Steering Committee

Co-Chairs:
Sam Moore, P&G

Darius Scott, Fifth Third Bank

Committee:

Lisa Crosby, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

Sylvester DuPree III, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

J. Phenise Poole, Fifth Third Bank

Reginald Staples, Dinsmore

Deana Taylor, Visit Cincy