The Circle of African American Leaders for the Arts welcomes all who believe in the power of the arts to bridge cultural divides. A portion of your gift will directly fund arts initiatives highlighting the Black experience.
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. Give through your workplace campaign or online through the button below.
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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.
Leadership Giving Levels
$50,000+ Luminaries
$25,000 to $49,999 WaveMakers
$15,000 to $24,999 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
For more information: Call 513.632.0127 or email circle@artswave.org.
Circle of African American Leaders for the Arts Steering Committee
Co-Chairs:
Sam Moore, P&G
Darius Scott, Fifth Third Bank
Committee Members:
Dr. 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
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.
2024 recipients: 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). Click here for details.
2023 recipients: ArtsVille, Bi-Okoto, Cincinnati Black Theatre Company, Elementz, Learning Through Art, PAR-Projects, Robert O'Neal Multicultural Arts Center, Sweet Sista Splash. Click here for details.
2022 recipients: 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. Click here for details.
2021 recipients: 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.
2020 recipients: 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.
If you make a joint gift with your spouse/partner:
you will continue to be recognized as a couple based on your total gift to ArtsWave.