Tuesday, February 6, 2024, Dayton, OH – Since 2020, Montgomery County’s Special Projects Grant program has supported more than 80 arts and cultural projects—from concerts and festivals to visiting artist series and public murals. This year, the program’s funder, the Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District (MCACD), is providing $250,000 to help local organizations create even more experiences that will engage and inspire residents.

“My fellow Commissioners and I are so thankful that we are able to support the arts,” said Montgomery County Commission President Debbie Lieberman. “The Special Projects Grant program provides many nonprofit community organizations and educational institutions the opportunity to enhance their ability to contribute to the cultural fabric and artistic vibrancy of the region. We are proud to support this investment to benefit our Montgomery County residents as well as visitors to this area.”

Beginning Feb. 7, Montgomery County nonprofits, schools, colleges, universities, municipalities, and government agencies can apply for Special Projects Grants of up to $10,000 to support arts and cultural projects occurring between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025. Nonprofits with arts and culture-focused missions can apply for additional funding to support professional development opportunities for their teams, marketing and branding overhauls, strategic planning, and other “capacity building” activities that strengthen their ability to create impactful, sustainable arts and cultural programming.

“Participation in the arts makes people feel more connected to each other and to their communities,” says Karen Maner, Director of Grantmaking at Culture Works, which administers the grant program. “Research shows the arts help students learn, patients recover, and businesses stay open, so Montgomery County’s continued investment in arts and culture is a crucial investment in the health of the larger community.”

Culture Works, the region’s united arts fund and local art agency, recently served as the regional partner for the Americans for the Arts national economic impact study Arts & Economic Prosperity 6. The study found that the arts and culture industry generates $239.4 million in economic activity in the Dayton Region each year and supports 4,490 jobs.

To ensure the Special Projects Grant program supports arts and cultural projects aligned with community needs and interests, Culture Works and the MCACD recruit an independent volunteer panel to make funding decisions. Panelists include artists, arts administrators, business professionals and other knowledgeable community members who review applications and evaluate each proposed project’s artistic quality, community impact, and planning. In late June, panelists will convene to discuss applications and make their funding decisions during a virtual meeting, which applicants and community members will be invited to attend.

To apply for a Special Projects Grant:

• Applicants are encouraged to attend a free, virtual grant info session on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024 at noon. Details and a registration link will be posted at cultureworks.org.
• All organizations must submit an online intent to apply form by Friday, March 1, 2024, indicating the proposed activities, the amount requested, and their nonprofit status. The form will be available at cultureworks.org starting Feb. 7. Culture Works and the MCACD will review all intent to apply forms for eligibility.
• In March, eligible organizations will receive an invitation to complete the online grant application. The deadline for submission will be Wednesday, April 24, 2024.

Full eligibility requirements, guidelines, and the intent to apply form for the Special Projects Grant program will be shared via the Culture Works website at cultureworks.org/apply-for-funding/#special-projects.

For more information about grant opportunities available through Culture Works, visit cultureworks.org or contact Karen Maner, Director of Grantmaking, at kmaner@cultureworks.org.

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ABOUT CULTURE WORKS
Culture Works is the funding, advocacy, and service organization that passionately inspires, supports, and sustains arts and culture in the Dayton Region. As the united arts fund and arts service agency for the Dayton Region, Culture Works believes that creating and maintaining a vibrant and attractive community filled with quality arts brings measurable and immeasurable value to our citizens. From providing inspiring educational opportunities for our children, to attracting and retaining employees in our region, to adding beauty and entertainment to our lives, arts and culture reflect all the best and most beautiful parts of who we are.

ABOUT THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY ARTS AND CULTURAL DISTRICT
The MCACD is a special purpose unit of Montgomery County government. Montgomery County believes the arts play a valuable role in our quality of life, education, workplace creativity and more. The arts can also build community and break down barriers by bringing people together for common experiences and to share in each other’s culture.