posted by Rebecca Bromels ON
Jan 28, 2015
ArtsWave announces opportunities for arts and community organizations to apply for more than $100,000 in new support to connect the arts to larger community initiatives around health and education. These targeted grants programs are part of ArtsWave’s strategy to leverage the power of the arts to address broad community goals. These opportunities are funded through restricted gifts to the ArtsWave annual community campaign.
First, ArtsWave plans to further expand its current Arts for Health initiative. Widespread research is revealing significant impacts that the arts can have on achieving health and human service outcomes. A number of local arts organizations are involved in dynamic programming that advances these connections in a variety of healthcare and community settings. Collaborative partnerships with medical and social service agencies, businesses and/or arts groups will be encouraged as part of the proposal. Grants will range between $10,000 and $30,000 and are being funded by grants received from Ethicon, Humana, as well as other funds restricted for this purpose.
"Research continues to show the positive correlation between arts participation and health, healing, and happiness – and arts organizations in Cincinnati have developed innovative partnerships with healthcare providers to deliver these benefits," said Alecia Kintner, President & CEO of ArtsWave. “ArtsWave believes that investing in these partnerships can help expand the benefits of the arts to more people in our community, helping everyone to lead a healthy and creatively expressive life.”
The second initiative will be a series of Arts Education Mini Grants made by ArtsWave in conjunction with LISC Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky (Local Initiatives Support Corporation), their five designated Place Matters neighborhoods (Avondale, Covington, Madisonville, Price Hill and Walnut Hills), and the 15 public elementary schools that are located within their vicinities. Place Matters is a partnership between local funders and neighborhood nonprofits working collectively for the transformation of communities in greater Cincinnati and northern Kentucky. Since forming in 2007, Place Matters has provided over $11 million in direct support to five Cincinnati and northern Kentucky neighborhoods.
The mini grants – ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 - will support arts organizations that can offer select in-school, after-school, or off-site programming throughout spring 2015. These grants are being funded by the Gladys and Ralph Lazarus Education Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation and the Segoe Foundation.
“ArtsWave’s partnership with LISC’s Place Matters neighborhoods has demonstrated the effectiveness of working with them to address broader community goals through the arts,” said Tara Townsend, ArtsWave’s Chief Impact Strategy Officer. “Through our Place Matters contacts, we will approach the leadership at each school with a menu of offerings responsive to their needs, resulting in stronger connections between ArtsWave and each respective community and its schools.”
Arts and community organizations interested in receiving information about these opportunities are encouraged to contact ArtsWave’s Director of Grants and Strategic Initiatives, Heather Hallenberg at heather.hallenberg@theartswave.org.