Wexner Center for the Arts Receives nearly $1 million in State Arts Grant

The Wexner Center for the Arts has received a gift of over $977,000 from the state of Ohio, one of 104 arts-based organizations to receive economic relief grants. In total, organizations in 33 counties will receive more than $20 million in grants.

Governor Mike DeWine announced the awards as the second round of the Ohio Arts Economic Relief Grant Program, administered by the Ohio Department of Development. In total, more than $43 million in grants have been announced for 243 arts organizations across the state.  

The award will support the Wexner Center’s general operations and staff development.

“Ohio artists and arts organizations make our state an attractive place to live, work, and raise a family,” said Governor DeWine. “Ohio is the heart of it all—and by supporting the arts, we continue to ensure artistic excellence.”

“Ohio’s arts and culture are big business in the heart of the heartland,” said Lydia Mihalik, Director of the Ohio Department of Development. “By supporting these organizations, we’re supporting the business of art, which is essential for economic growth but also essential for creating vibrant and diverse communities.” 

The grant program was created in partnership with the Ohio General Assembly as part of a bill sponsored by Sen. George Lang (R-West Chester) which was later merged into House Bill 45. The first round, announced in May, awarded more than $23 million to 139 organizations. 

As Gaëtane Verna, Executive Director of the Wexner Center for the Arts, notes, “Our mission is to support artists and enable them to expand the boundaries of contemporary art practice, while providing access and creating a welcoming space for diverse communities to explore connections between the art of our time and the issues impacting their lives. We’re thankful to the state of Ohio for recognizing and supporting the important work we do and its true impact.”

The program is funded as part of the American Rescue Plan Act, and awards were calculated based on organizations’ loss in revenue from 2019 to 2020 and 2021 and their 2022 operating budget. For more information about the program, visit Development.Ohio.Gov/ArtsGrant  

The Ohio Department of Development empowers communities to succeed by investing in Ohio’s people, places, and businesses. Learn more about our work at development.ohio.gov.

The Wexner Center for the Arts is The Ohio State University’s multidisciplinary, international laboratory for the advancement of contemporary art. Through exhibitions, screenings, performances, artist residencies, and education programs, the Wexner Center acts as a forum where established and emerging artists can test ideas and where diverse audiences can participate in cultural experiences that enhance the understanding of the art of our time. 

For program information, contact: 
Sarah Wickham
Sarah.Wickham@Development.ohio.gov 

For more information about the Wexner Center for the Arts, contact:
Melissa Starker
mstarker@wexarts.org