Culture Works awards more than $600,000 in grants to arts organizations and artists
Dayton-area arts groups and artists received over $600,000 in 2023-2024 grants, boosting Dayton's economy by an estimated $3.5M.
Culture Works awards more than $600,000 in grants to arts organizations and artists
Culture Works, the Miami Valley's leading arts organization, recently held its annual Board of Trustees Meeting, marking a milestone 50th anniversary. The event, held in the historic Tank of the Dayton Arcade, showcased a year of impressive achievements and a future brimming with artistic promise. At the heart of Culture Works' success lies its unwavering commitment to supporting the region's vibrant arts scene.
"This year, we celebrated 50 years of arts funding, advocacy, and programming in the Dayton region," said Lisa Hanson, Culture Works President & CEO. "What began as a concerned group of business leaders raising money to support the ballet, philharmonic, and opera has grown into an organization dedicated to nurturing the development of individual artists and providing unrestrictive operating support to our region's arts organizations."
Through the 23-24 Campaign for the Arts, nearly $206,000 in Community Arts Grants were distributed to ten organizations including the Bach Society of Dayton, The Contemporary of Dayton, Dayton Art Institute, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Dayton Performing Arts Alliance, Discover Classical (WDPR), The Human Race Theatre Company, K-12 Gallery & TEJAS, Muse Machine, and the Springfield Symphony Orchestra.
These grants had a remarkable impact, funding over 250 performances, 772 in-school programs, and nearly 2,000 classes and workshops held outside of schools. Notably, over 98,000 individuals enjoyed the arts for free, with over half being under 18, ensuring a thriving artistic future for generations to come.
More than $275,000 in Special Projects and Artist Opportunity grants, funded by the Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District and administered by Culture Works, were given to 14 artists and 25 arts organizations. The Leonard P. Roberts Memorial Scholarship fund awarded 16 area student scholarships.
Messer Construction was recognized as Producer of the Year for their outstanding contributions, while Premier Health and its subsidiaries received the Amber Best Clover Award for their robust employee engagement efforts. Stephanie Singer of Lexis Nexis and RELX was awarded the Dorine Ragsdale Firecracker award for her dedication to employee giving initiatives.
Culture Works' commitment doesn't just enrich lives, it also significantly impacts the local economy. Based on the "Americans for the Arts" formula, their programs generated an estimated $3.5 million economic impact, creating 109 full-time jobs and contributing $2.5 million to household income in the Dayton region.
"Culture Works continues to strengthen the arts ecosystem as both a grant-maker and grant-seeker, fostering creative initiatives and partnerships," said Hanson. "Our mission is to support artists in expressing themselves, building sustainable careers, driving innovation through the arts, and continuing to support our arts organizations' operating funds while promoting excellence across all artistic disciplines in the Miami Valley. By working together, we can shape our region's uniquely vibrant and thriving future over the next 50 years."
