Art groups in Lake, Geauga counties win $182K in Ohio Arts Council grants - Cleveland.com
Published by: Cleveland.com
By Molly Walsh
Original Article found here
CHARDON, Ohio -- The Ohio Arts Council has awarded nearly $182,000 to arts organizations, schools and cultural programs in Lake and Geauga counties as part of a record $23.3 million funding round — the largest in the agency’s history.
The grants were among 965 approved July 30, marking the council’s first and broadest funding round for fiscal year 2026, a press release from the council said. Funding comes from the state’s 2026-27 budget, which includes a record-high $53.5 million appropriation for the arts council over two years.
In Lake County, recipients include:
Cleveland Junior Tamburitzans Croatian Pride, Eastlake — $8,534 (Sustainability)
Rabbit Run Community Arts Association, Madison — $25,695 (Sustainability)
City of Mentor — $3,356 (ArtSTART)
HOLA Ohio, Painesville — $20,793 (ArtsNEXT)
City of Painesville — $5,111 (Sustainability)
Andrews Osborne Academy, Willoughby — $11,643 (Sustainability) and $32,200 (TeachArtsOhio)
Fine Arts Association, Willoughby — $35,814 (Sustainability)
In Geauga County, recipients include:
A Kid at Art for the Heart, Chardon — $5,507 (Sustainability)
Fairmount Center for Creative & Performing Arts, Novelty — $3,746 (Arts Partnership), $6,316 (ArtsNEXT), and $27,867 (Sustainability)
Sustainability grants provide ongoing support for arts and cultural activities, ensuring stable funding for organizations of all sizes. ArtSTART awards offer flexible, accessible funding for short-term projects, often for new or emerging organizations. ArtsNEXT grants support innovative or experimental projects that push creative boundaries or pilot new approaches in the arts.
Ohio Arts Council Executive Director Donna S. Collins said the grants reflect a 60-year legacy of state investment in the arts.
“Through today’s meaningful, impactful investment, we are proud to increase access to the arts in communities across Ohio to the benefit of Ohio residents and visitors,” she said in a statement. “The arts directly contribute to making our state a place of innovation, vitality, and cultural importance.”