2025 ArtsWave Pride Grants

ArtsWave Pride grants support programs that promote and celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community in the Cincinnati region. Grants are made possible by the donations of ArtsWave Pride members to the ArtsWave Community Campaign.

These projects will receive the grant in 2025:

American Sign Museum | Signs & Spouses: A Sparkling Celebration of Marriage Equality

This unique celebration marks the 10th anniversary of marriage equality with a public vow-renewal ceremony set against the museum's collection of historic signage. The event features a specially curated exhibition of signs from LGBTQIA+-led businesses throughout history, sharing the stories of these pioneering establishments and their impact on the community. Participants will enjoy performances by queer-identifying artists and support from LGBTQIA+-owned vendors, coming together in a comprehensive celebration of progress and community.

Art Academy of Cincinnati | Where We Thrive

This month-long celebration of LGBTQIA+ creativity culminates in a Queer Prom event that reimagines traditional celebrations through an artistic lens. The program features an art exhibition showcasing LGBTQIA+ artists and allies, complemented by interactive elements including a non-binary fashion show and drag queen makeup tutorials. The initiative creates multiple platforms for creative expression while fostering a sense of belonging and celebration within the LGBTQIA+ community.

Cincinnati Arts Association | Project Shattered Silence Pilot

This transformative seven-month program provides LGBTQIA+ high school students with a safe space to develop their voices and share their stories through performance art. Meeting weekly, participants build confidence and community while exploring their identities through guided storytelling exercises. The program culminates in a powerful live performance at the Aronoff Center, where students share their personal narratives with the broader community.

concert:nova | Memory Box

This innovative performance project combines contemporary classical music with immersive visual art to explore LGBTQIA+ experiences. Centered around composer Sarah Hennies' work, the program features performances by local LGBTQIA+ musicians who contribute their personal stories to the piece. Set within a custom-designed installation by artist Lizzy Duquette, the performance creates a multi-sensory experience that bridges musical expression with broader conversations about identity and representation.

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati | Where Do THEY Fit In?

This comprehensive program uses theatrical performances as a springboard for exploring diverse LGBTQIA+ identities and experiences. Through a series of facilitated discussions following select productions, the program addresses topics ranging from gender identity and pronoun usage to the intersection of cultural and LGBTQIA+ experiences. Each discussion features perspectives from different segments of the LGBTQIA+ community, creating opportunities for deeper understanding and connection.

The Ghostlight Stage Company | "Late, A Cowboy Song" by Sarah Ruhl

This production brings Sarah Ruhl's exploration of gender identity and self-discovery to the Falcon Theatre stage. The story follows Mary's journey of through her relationship with Red, a nonbinary cowboy who introduces her to new possibilities of freedom and expression. The production will be complemented by post-show mixers and community partnerships, creating opportunities for dialogue about gender identity, self-expression and representation in the arts.

Pones | Fringe Project 2025: Sharing Rural Queer Stories

This groundbreaking project captures and preserves LGBTQIA+ experiences from rural areas through a unique combination of film and dance. Centered around stories from Lebanon, Kentucky and surrounding areas, the project addresses the isolation and lack of support often faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals in rural communities. The resulting production, premiering at the Cincinnati Fringe Festival, will combine recorded narratives with live performances incorporating music, dance, theatre, spoken word, burlesque and drag to create a powerful, multi-dimensional storytelling experience.

Young Professionals Choral Collective | The LGBTQIA+ City that Sings

This ambitious two-year project begins with a community dialogue event that will inspire a newly commissioned choral work celebrating LGBTQIA+ experiences. The recorded conversations from this event will provide both thematic material and actual lyrics for the new composition. The project culminates at BLINK in 2026 with a collaborative performance, featuring singers from multiple Cincinnati choral organizations in a powerful celebration of community through music.