CULTURE WORKS FUNDED GRANTS
OPERATING SUPPORT FOR ORGANIZATIONS
COMMUNITY ARTS GRANTS
About the Program
The Community Arts Grant is a community funded grant that provides general operating support to arts organizations that enrich and inspire the Dayton Region through innovative performances, exhibitions, and informed educational programs for all ages. The grant is reviewed by a panel of community members, including grant writers, artists, arts administrators, and art patrons. Culture Works fundraises for and administers the grant, nurturing a collaborative feedback loop between regional arts organizations and the community they serve.
Applicants are placed into one of the following categories based on their annual budget:
General Operating Support (GOS) - Organizations with annual budgets of $500,000 to $10 million
Community Arts Development (CAD) - Organizations with annual budgets of $100,000 to $499,999
Specifically, the funding for these grants comes from our annual Campaign for the Arts—a community-wide fundraising effort that draws support from thousands of individuals, local companies, and foundations. Through this community grant, Culture Works endeavors to foster a supportive ecosystem based in multi-disciplinary artforms and creative place making that benefit all community members.
For the 2024-2025 arts season, Culture Works provided Community Arts Grants to 10 organizations: Bach Society of Dayton, The Contemporary Dayton, the Dayton Art Institute, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Dayton Performing Arts Alliance, Dayton Public Radio (WDPR), The Human Race Theatre Company, K12 Gallery & TEJAS, Muse Machine, and the Springfield Symphony Orchestra. We thank you, our givers, for your support as we work to build a climate in which all arts can thrive and all communities have access to the arts.
The 2025-2026 Community Arts Grant application is now closed. The application deadline was Friday, April 4, 2025 at 4:00pm. No late applications were accepted.
If you would like to review the Public Panel Review of the applications,
you can watch the recording here.
The public review will take place on Tuesday May 20 from 10:30a.m. to 2:00p.m.
Public Panel Review
Schedule & Procedures
If you would like to access the recording of the 2025-2026 Community Arts Grant Orientation or the Public Panel Review (to be posted within 5 business days of the meeting), you can do so here.
Please, contact the Director of Grantmaking & Impact at ren@cultureworks.org if you any questions or concerns.
Questions? Contact Ren (Rachel Evans Nead), Culture Works Director of Grantmaking & Impact, at ren@cultureworks.org
or schedule 15 minutes with her using the Bookings link provided above.
FUNDING FOR STUDENTS
LEONARD P. ROBERTS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
The Culture Works Leonard P. Roberts Memorial Scholarship was established in 1993 in honor of Mr. Roberts, who was the Chairman of the Dayton Performing Arts Fund (now Culture Works) at the time of his death. Since the first scholarships were awarded in 1994, more than $400,000 from the Leonard P. Roberts Scholarship Fund has been provided to 200 students to assist them in their educational pursuits.
Culture Works is pleased to offer scholarships to students who demonstrate participation in and patronage of the arts. Candidates must be graduating high school seniors living in the Dayton Region (Butler, Clark, Darke, Greene, Miami, Montgomery, Preble, or Warren County) or college students at any level who live in and attend college in the Dayton Region. Priority may be given to students majoring in arts disciplines, business, and engineering; however, all majors may apply. Scholarships will be awarded in the amount of $1,000 - $5,000.
SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:
- Be a graduating high school senior living in the Dayton Region (Butler, Clark, Darke, Greene, Miami, Montgomery, Preble, or Warren County); OR be a college student living in and attending school in the Dayton Region
- Plan to be a full-time student for the entire upcoming academic year
- Demonstrate participation in the arts
- Have a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA
How to Apply:
The applications for 2025-2026 are currently under review.
Good luck to all applicants, and thank you for all you do in the arts!
Please spread the word to all students involved in the arts -- regardless of major.
Questions? Contact Ren (Rachel Evans Nead), Culture Works Director of Grantmaking & Impact, at ren@cultureworks.org.
YOUR SUPPORT MATTERS