Cultivating Cincy’s Creative Future with Inspire Artist Grants

“It was the first time in my career where someone invested in my vision. Because of that, I thought about my work in a more professional sense, so it kickstarted how I thought of myself as an artist.”

That’s how artist Michael Thompson describes the importance of receiving an ArtsWave Inspire Artist Grant to his career trajectory. Since that time, Thompson has become an integral part of the program, serving as Showcase Coordinator in 2025 and becoming involved in the earliest stages for the coming year.

ArtsWave is now accepting applications for that program’s sixth consecutive year. The grants have become an important piece of the region’s artistic development.

Building Artistic Careers and Community Connections
The Inspire Artist Grants Program offers substantial support to both emerging and established artists for projects that authentically reflect the lived Black and Brown experience. That support comes in the form of both financial backing and a comprehensive ecosystem of professional development.

Selected artists will showcase their work at the Contemporary Arts Center in the summer of 2026 and participate in cohort activities throughout their project development.

Made possible through partnerships with the City of Cincinnati, Duke Energy, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, the program is a catalyst for career transformation and community building.

“Applying to a project like this has so many opportunities baked into it. You have money to create a project and a team supporting you…and you get to show that project at the CAC,” Thompson explains. “It’s all the things you want as an artist: money, community and an audience.”

Creating Regional Impact Through Artistic Excellence
Over its five-year history, this grant program has funded projects exploring truth, reconciliation, inspiration, innovation and healing. Last year alone, 26 local artists participating, culminating in a visual art exhibition, film festival and live performances at the Contemporary Arts Center.

Projects are selected based on how they advance ArtsWave’s Blueprint for Collective Action, with emphasis on bridging cultural divides, promoting understanding and empathy, deepening roots in the region and improving neighborhoods. That criteria helps to ensure community impact.

“In the past five years, we’ve seen concurrent growth of Cincinnati’s arts scene, with Cincinnati artists being recognized nationally,” Thompson notes. He points to artists like Michael Coppage, whose long-term series has evolved through the program, while emphasizing the potential in newcomers like Chaya J., who received the grant while a college student and ended up performing at The Carnegie.

His advice to artists interested in applying: “Talk with clarity and have someone who isn’t an artist look at your application, but go for your wildest dreams. It’s not often you have an opportunity like this to make something happen.”

A Vibrant Future for Cincinnati
As the program enters its sixth year, its impact on Cincinnati’s cultural ecosystem continues to grow. Beyond being a funding mechanism, the Inspire Artist Grants represent a commitment to cultivating a more vibrant, inclusive region that benefits both artists and the wider community. By investing in diverse artistic voices, ArtsWave helps position Cincinnati as a cultural hub where creativity drives both social cohesion and economic vitality.

ArtsWave Inspire Artist Grants are open until October 27. To learn more about the program and apply for funding, visit artswave.org/apply.