The Arts as Legacy: Why Many Choose to Make a Lasting Impact Through the Arts

Picture this: It’s nearly 100 years ago, and you notice something special about your city. You recognize the potential of its arts to make the whole region shine. You also happen to own a historic house and an extensive collection of art. What do you do?

When Charles and Anna Sinton Taft found themselves in that position, they made a remarkable offer to the people of Cincinnati: their home (which is now the Taft Museum of Art) and their art collection. They also offered a challenge: If the people of Cincinnati came together to match their gift, they would offer $1 million for an endowment to support arts organizations, including those “yet to be imagined.”

Cincinnati stepped up, with 3,500 gifts ranging from $10 to $100,000, and accomplished that goal within four months. Their collective action created what we now know as ArtsWave, establishing a foundation for arts support that continues to enrich our region today.

Why People Choose the Arts as Their Legacy
Today, many people are following in these visionary footsteps by including the arts in their legacy planning. But why do they choose the arts? The reasons are as diverse as the art forms themselves:

• They value artistic excellence that makes our region special and more connected.
• They believe every child deserves transformational arts experiences as part of their education.
• They recognize how the arts attract talent and drive innovation in our communities.
• They want to pass along their values and appreciation for organizations that made their lives more meaningful and joyful.

Legacy Giving is for Everyone
You don’t have to be a Taft to make the arts your legacy. You don’t even have to be wealthy. Most of us will have assets to pass on, and many choose to include charitable gifts in their estate plans after caring for loved ones. Often, our most meaningful gift comes not from our annual income but from our remaining assets. Even modest estates can make an extraordinary impact on the arts community.

The beauty of legacy giving is its accessibility. Some options are as simple as changing a beneficiary form on a retirement account or insurance policy. Others involve more detailed planning through wills and trusts. What matters is the intention behind the gift — the desire to ensure that the arts continue to thrive for future generations.

The Ripple Effect of Arts Legacy
When we support the arts through our legacy, we’re not just supporting individual organizations. We’re investing in the cultural fabric of our community. We’re ensuring that children will continue to experience the wonder of their first theater performance, that emerging artists will have platforms to share their voices, and that our region will remain a vibrant, creative place to live and work.

The arts help us process our shared humanity, celebrate our differences, and find common ground. By including the arts in our legacy planning, we’re making a statement about what we value most: creativity, expression and the power of human connection.

A Personal Connection
Those who include ArtsWave in their estate plans join a community of like-minded individuals who share stories about their favorite and most meaningful arts experiences. These Visionaries are building on the community’s original, forward-thinking commitment to a strong foundation of support for the arts.

Whether it’s the memory of a transformative concert, a painting that moved you to tears or a performance that changed your perspective, these experiences shape who we are. By making the arts part of your legacy, you ensure these experiences remain possible for generations to come.

As we reflect on the generosity of those 3,500 citizens who responded to the Tafts’ challenge nearly a century ago, we can appreciate how their foresight has enriched countless lives through the arts. Today, we have the same opportunity to be visionaries for the next century of arts in our community.

To learn more about joining ArtsWave Visionaries and including ArtsWave in your estate planning, contact Karen Ecker, JD at karen.ecker@artswave.org, call 513.632.0106, or visit artswave.org/legacy.