Ohio Arts Council awards millions

COLUMBUS —The Ohio Arts Council (OAC) announced 296 grant awards totaling $20 million in economic relief from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act for the arts and culture sector, the state announced in a news release.

The OAC will not retain any dollars for its own overhead or administrative expenses, the Nov. 20 news release stated.

“This investment will go a long way in supporting the recovery and resilience of Ohio’s creative economy, which is among the pandemic’s hardest hit sectors,” Executive Director Donna S. Collins said in a statement.

CARES Act funds were made available to the OAC through the initiative of Gov. Mike Dewine and state legislative leaders and through the approval of the state’s Controlling Board.

“In this season of thankfulness, I join with the OAC board to express my gratitude to Governor Mike Dewine and leaders of the Ohio General Assembly for investing in Ohio’s performing and cultural arts organizations,” Collins said.

Awards were determined through a tiered, need-based formula that considered each eligible applicant’s budget and reported expenses qualifying under the CARES Act.

The Ohio Arts Council is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally, and economically.

For a complete list of awards, go to https:// oac.ohio.gov

In October, the Ohio Controlling Board approved the $20 million in economic relief from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act for the arts and culture sector to be distributed through the Ohio Arts Council (OAC), according to a news release at the time.

“This significant investment comes at an urgent time to ensure the resilience of Ohio’s arts and cultural organizations,” Ginger Warner, chairwoman of the Ohio Arts Council, said at the time.