2025 ArtsWave YP Grants

ArtsWave YP Grants support programs that engage young professionals in the Cincinnati region. Grants are made possible by the donations of young professionals to the ArtsWave Community Campaign.

These projects will receive the grant in 2025:

Cincinnati Opera | Cincinnati Opera Young Professionals

Cincinnati Opera Young Professionals (COYP) introduces new audiences to opera through social events and discounted opera tickets. It was created to increase engagement with Cincinnati Opera for young professionals in our region. COYP activities are created and led by members of the Cincinnati Opera Board Associates (COBA), a cohort of young professionals, in coordination with Cincinnati Opera staff. These activities help to develop a personal investment with Cincinnati Opera and establish a peer network for deeper engagement in the community as a whole.

Cincinnati Preservation | Young Preservationists Program

The Young Preservationists Program offers experiences for young professionals to learn about and connect over local architecture and design. Monthly events like behind-the-scenes building tours, social mixers, field work and bike tours showcase the diverse, historic buildings of our region — many of which house local arts organizations. The Young Preservationists Committee partners with arts organizations to provide art activations like photography walks, curated soundscapes and culturally relevant performances. The organization aims to introduce a new wave of preservationists to its mission of protecting the region's endangered historic buildings.

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company | Cincy Shakes YP Preview Night

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company's YP Preview Night brings young professionals to the first public preview performance night of each Mainstage Show, offering a subsidized ticket rate that includes a complimentary beverage. Afterwards, participants chat with members of the CSC artistic team and provide feedback or share insights. This program provides area Young Professionals with a mid-week outing to relax and socialize, as well as a chance add their voices to the art-making process.

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra | CSO Listening Lounge

CSO Listening Lounges are social music-listening experiences are outside of the Orchestra's main stage concerts. Audiences gather in Music Hall's Wilks Studio for an informal listening experience. Large screens allow for easy viewing of the live (or pre-recorded) concert. They can enjoy a specialty cocktail, mingle, move about the studio and discuss the ongoing concert while reclining on plush seats. Staff members, conductors and guest artists will be on hand to provide context for the work and answer questions. Children are invited to a specially designed May Festival MiNiS program, designed for musicians ages 0-12, in another section of the Wilks Studio.

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati | Show Up!

Show Up! fosters an inclusive environment for young professionals to connect, discover Over-the-Rhine and support local businesses while engaging with important social issues. As many young professionals graduate, relocate or navigate new careers, Show Up! invites both newcomers and long-time Cincinnatians to dive into the city's dynamic arts, culture and food scenes. Ensemble Theatre invites young professionals (ages 21-40) to gatherings designed around the organization's productions. Each events takes attendees to a local business for a discussion of the work, including its social impact. Show Up! aims to create a welcoming and thoughtful space for examining themes and issues relevant to both art and society.

The Ghostlight Stage Company | Shining A Light Workshop and Lecture Series (2025)

The Ghostlight Stage Company's Shining A Light program is a dynamic, educational workshop and lecture series, designed specifically for young professional artists. The Ghostlight is a leader in unique, cutting-edge lectures and education workshops, training arts professionals as they begin their careers. Workshops include:
February 10: Taxes for Artists with Leanne Greenberg
March 10:Teaching Transitioning Voices with Danielle Marie Steel
April 14: Intimacy Direction, Dramaturgy and Cultural Sensitivity with Torie Wiggin
May 12: Casting Beyond the Binary with Shira Helena Gitlin

Taft Museum of Art | Taft at Twilight

Taft at Twilight is a program by young professionals for young professionals. It cultivates an inclusive community and vibrant arts experiences for the contemporary and curious. It offers unique experiences where you can meet like-minded individuals and get involved in the local arts community. All Taft at Twilight events are networking opportunities where attendees can connect with their creativity and see the museum galleries for free. Young professionals on staff in departments across the museum run the program.

Young Professionals Choral Collective | Create, Engage, Connect

Create, Engage, Connect is a series of free events that introduce young professionals to the YPCC experience while helping them to reflect on their experiences of connection and engagement. The series includes a social art event, sing-in rehearsal, community service project and concert. Young professionals seeking connection and belonging can find it by participating in the arts. YPCC is committed to meeting these needs by expanding opportunities for artistic engagement that foster community and connection.