Dear Cincinnatian,

Since 1949, tens of thousands of ArtsWave donors have funded the arts, fueling the quality, growth and impact in Greater Cincinnati. The ArtsWave Community Campaign has been the largest of its kind in the nation for a decade.

You may remember us as the Fine Arts Fund. Our name changed in 2010 to match our focus — to become more inclusive and broaden the impact among a greater number of arts organizations. But, ArtsWave’s commitment to a vibrant community through the arts remains stronger than ever, just like our early founders Anna Sinton Taft and Charles P. Taft imagined.

A lot of people believe taxes, surcharges, levies or government agencies fund the arts in Cincinnati. While these funding models keep arts organizations strong in cities like Chicago, Pittsburgh and Denver, the largest collective source of funding for the arts in Cincinnati is community fundraising through the ArtsWave Campaign. At best, ticket sales cover half the cost of producing great art. Through grants, ArtsWave provides an irreplaceable revenue source for local arts groups, allowing millions of Cincinnatians to experience art and performances each year in galleries and theaters while enabling more than 1,000 free and accessible arts programs outside of traditional concert halls and venues. This amount also funds 200,000 arts education experiences for children in three out of five schools across the region, including arts impact within 100% of Cincinnati Public Schools.

In Greater Cincinnati, the ArtsWave Community Campaign remains the single best way to ensure that the arts connect and inspire us and enliven our neighborhoods. Our region can’t afford to pay the high price of insufficient support for the arts, because of the high return on investment that the arts yield.

Last year, coverage of Cincinnati arts prompted 230 million impressions in national media, including the New York Times. It’s as if 230 million drops of water — scattered over 12 months of monumental events like BLINK, the re-opening of Music Hall and multiple premieres and world-class performances — formed an enormous wave that’s catapulting our reputation as a unique destination and compelling place to put down roots. This helps businesses attract and retain talent, which is critical for regional economic success.

The 2018 ArtsWave Community Campaign ends next Thursday, April 26. We still need to raise the last million of the $12.25 million that will keep the region's arts funded at the same level as this year. Through the generosity of our corporate community, all tax-deductible donations are doubled NOW when you give at ArtsWave.org/GiveNow or text "ArtsWave" to 444999.

Please consider an investment in the region through our unique, amazing and essential arts.

Alecia Kintner
President & CEO
ArtsWave