Northern Kentucky Creative Placemaking Grant is sponsored by ArtsWave. Provides project funding up to $10,000 or 50% of expenses with 1:1 match for creative placemaking activities in Northern Kentucky.

ArtsWave Grant Funding: A Guide to Apply - ArtsWave Apply for Funding artswave2024 2026-03-11T18:59:30+00:00 Apply for Funding ArtsWave provides over $10+ million in grant funding each year to arts organizations in the Cincinnati region. ArtsWave’s Community Investment Strategy ArtsWave provides over $10+ million in grant funding each year to arts organizations in the Cincinnati region.

The grants are awarded based on how they advance ArtsWave’s Blueprint for Collective Action in the Arts . Before applying, be sure to familiarize yourself with ArtsWave’s Blueprint. Blueprint Goals and Roles ArtsWave’s Grantee Portal Click here to access ArtsWave’s grantee portal, Submittable.

New to Submittable? Download our “how-to” handbook to get started. If you’re looking for grant acceptance forms, grantee handbooks, and reporting forms, click here .

Want info on future grant opportunities?

We strive to offer the following grants, pending available funding: Circle Project Grants (August/September) ArtsWave Pride Project Grants (August/September) Young Professionals Project Grants (August/September) Inspire Artist Grants (September/October) Catalyzing Impact: Annual project grants for any nonprofit proposing an arts/cultural project (December/January) NKY Creative Placemaking Grant (March/April) Sustaining Impact: General operating grants with most recent three-year cycle process beginning in Fall 2026 (invitation only) ArtsWave believes that diversity in arts and cultural expression creates a more vibrant and dynamic region.

ArtsWave also believes that only an inclusive collection of diverse organizations, artists, art forms and projects can fully deliver the goals of ArtsWave’s Blueprint for Collective Action to advance social impact in our community. In FY26, ArtsWave’s Circle Grant Program requests proposals for projects that promote and/or celebrate Black and African American Arts experiences in the Cincinnati region.

The FY2026 Circle Grant application is now closed. We anticipate opening our FY2027 Circle Grant in August 2026 pending funding. This affinity group project grant is designed to provide seed funding to support the development of new programming or to enhance existing programs to engage this ever-expanding community in our region through connective and innovation engagement.

Grants are made possible by donations to the 2025 ArtsWave Community Campaign specifically designated to engage these communities in the arts. FY2026 Circle Grant Guidelines For questions, please contact impact@artswave. org .

Note: Beginning with this grant program cycle, applicants must take at least one year off after receiving funding for two consecutive Circle Grants.

Northern Kentucky Creative Placemaking Grant The purpose of the Northern Kentucky (NKY) Creative Placemaking Grant is to encourage a breadth of programming that will amplify arts and cultural heritage projects in Northern Kentucky that support the goals of ArtsWave’s Blueprint for Collective Action and Creative Placemaking Values.

This grant is made possible through a partnership between ArtsWave and meetNKY (Northern Kentucky CVB) to leverage the arts to drive economic vitality, social vibrancy, and a connected community for all. NKY Creative Placemaking Grant projects must occur between June 1, 2026, and May 31, 2027. Note: the project cannot be completed prior grant award notification in May 2026.

Grant awards will be made up to $10,000 or 50% of the total expenses for the proposed project, and have a 1:1 match requirement. This grant opportunity is open to any organization proposing an eligible program.

Organizations may only submit one application per deadline, and organizations may only receive one Northern Kentucky Creative Placemaking Grant in a single fiscal year, and after two years of award funding, applicants must take at least one year off. The FY2026 Northern Kentucky Creative Placemaking Grant is open from March 2, 2026- April 3, 2026.

ArtsWave 2026 NKY Creative Placemaking Grant Guidelines NKY Creative Placemaking Overview Webinar The purpose of the Catalyzing Impact Grant Program is to encourage a breadth of programming through arts and cultural heritage projects that support the goals of ArtsWave’s Blueprint for Collective Action.

This grant is made possible by donations to the 2025 ArtsWave Community Campaign and ArtsWave’s Women’s Leadership Roundtable, specifically designated to engage communities in the arts. The Women’s Leadership Roundtable isn’t just a giving circle, but a powerful movement of women coming together to create lasting impact in our community.

Roundtable members power the Catalyzing Impact Grant, ArtsWave’s largest grants pool for project support. This grant opportunity is open to any organization proposing an eligible program. Organizations may only submit one application per deadline, and organizations may only receive one Catalyzing Impact Grant in a single fiscal year, and after two years of award funding, applicants must take at least one year off.

Grant awards will be made up to $10,000 or 50% of the total expenses for the proposed project and will have a 1:1 match requirement. The FY2026 Catalyzing Impact Grant application is now closed. We anticipate opening our FY2027 Catalyzing Impact Grant in December 2026 pending funding.

Note: Applicants must take at least one year off from applying after receiving funding for two consecutive Catalyzing Impact Grants beginning with our FY2023 grant cycle. If funding was received in both FY2025 and FY2026, the applicant would be ineligible in FY2027.

FY2026 Catalyzing Impact Grant Guidelines The purpose of the ArtsWave Pride Grant Program is to promote, celebrate, and create inclusive arts experiences that may appeal to or have relevance to the broader LGBTQIA community. ArtWave Pride grants will provide funding for arts or cultural heritage projects that advance Cincinnati’s reputation as a welcoming and inclusive community through the arts.

The FY2026 ArtsWave Pride Grant application is now closed. We anticipate opening our FY2027 ArtsWave Pride Grant in August 2026 pending funding. This affinity group project grant is designed to provide seed funding to support the development of new programming or to enhance existing programs to engage this ever-expanding community in our region through connective and innovation engagement.

Grants are made possible by donations to the 2025 ArtsWave Community Campaign specifically designated to engage these communities in the arts. FY2026 ArtsWave Pride Grant Guidelines Note: Applicants must take at least one year off from applying after receiving funding for two consecutive Pride Grants beginning with our FY2023 grant cycle.

Young Professional Grants ArtsWave YP grants provide both seed funding to support the development of new programming, as well as existing programming with demonstrated impact in engaging young professionals. Grants are made possible by the donations of young professionals to the 2025 ArtsWave Community Campaign. The FY2026 Young Professional Grant application is now closed.

We anticipate opening our FY2027 Young Professional Grant in August 2026 pending funding. This affinity group project grant is designed to provide seed funding to support the development of new programming or to enhance existing programs to engage this ever-expanding community in our region through connective and innovation engagement.

Grants are made possible by donations to the 2025 ArtsWave Community Campaign specifically designated to engage these communities in the arts. FY2026 Young Professionals Grant Guidelines Funded by City of Cincinnati and other partners ArtsWave’s Inspire Grant for individual artists will provide resources for the creation of inspiring artwork and career development for under-represented artists in the Greater Cincinnati Region.

Proposed artwork should authentically reflect the lived Black and Brown experience. Artists must present a project idea that can be highlighted at Showcase in July 2026 and participate in artist cohort activities throughout the development of their project. The FY2026 Inspire Artist Grant application is now closed.

We anticipate opening our FY2027 Inspire Artist Grant in September 2027 pending funding. FY2026 Inspire Grant Guidelines Note: Starting in the FY26 grant cycle, an artist may receive funding for two (2) consecutive years and then will be required to take one (1) year off before applying for another grant.

For example, if you receive an Inspire Grant FY26 and 27, the next application cycle you would be eligible for would be the Inspire Grant FY2028. Working Capital Bridge Loan ArtsWave offers interest-free loans up to $10,000 for demonstrated short-term cash flow needs for eligible arts or cultural heritage organizations. There is no deadline to apply.

Working Capital Bridge Loan Guidelines Working Capital Bridge Loan Financial Report Form ArtsWave Working Capital Bridge Loan Signature Page To apply for an Interest Free Loan, click here.

The purpose of ArtsWave’s general operating grant program is to provide general operating support to arts and cultural heritage organizations whose programming supports the goals of ArtsWave’s Blueprint for Collective Action to ensure their ongoing capacity to drive community impact. ArtsWave’s FY2027-2029 Cycle of Sustaining Impact General Operation Grants will be by invitation only.

The next cohort opportunity will tentatively open in the fall of 2029. For questions, please contact Ray Gargano, VP, Community Investments at ray. gargano@artswave.

org. Additional application questions may be directed to Lori Burkhardt or to Ray Gargano. Vice President, Community Investments Interested in becoming an ArtsWave Grant Panelist?

Please click here to complete if you are interested in volunteering as an ArtsWave Grant Panelist. We will reach out to you for more information during our next grant cycle. Thank you.

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