DAYTON, OH (July 25, 2019) – Culture Works and the Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District (MCACD) invite Montgomery County artists of all disciplines to apply for funding through the 2019–2020 Artist Opportunity Grant program. $40,000 will be available to support artists’ pursuit of professional development opportunities—such as attending workshops and conferences—and the creation of new works.

Since the first award cycle in 2016, 33 Montgomery County artists have received over $80,000 through the Artist Opportunity Grant program, which is funded by MCACD and administered by Culture Works. Recent grant recipients include Morris Howard, who used grant funding to support the creation of the “Land of Funk” mural in downtown Dayton, and Jocelyn Green, who choreographed original work for the inaugural performance of the Dayton Dance Initiative, “Making Moves,” which showed at the PNC Arts Annex earlier this year.

“Artists in our community are constantly pushing what their art can be and what our community can be,” said Lisa Hanson, Executive Director of Culture Works. “It’s critical to the vibrancy of our region that we invest in our artists.”

Individual grants for this cycle will range from $500–$3,000. Artists can apply through the Culture Works website from August 1 through October 1, 2019. The project or opportunity for which an applicant seeks funding must take place between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020. Applications will be reviewed by an independent panel, and funding decisions will be announced later in the fall.

When evaluating applications, panelists consider each proposed project’s artistic merit, feasibility, potential impact on the artist, and potential impact on the larger community. “Because this program is funded with public dollars, it’s important for applicants to think creatively about how their work can engage the community,” said Matt Dunn, Executive Director of MCACD. “For some artists, this could mean a public presentation of their new work. For others, it could be passing along the skills they’ve developed by hosting a workshop.”

Starting this year, MCACD and Culture Works have formed a partnership with the Dayton Metro Library to help facilitate grantees’ access to spaces for performance, exhibition, and educational programming. Grant recipients who offer a free public program during Library hours can use the Library’s artistic and programming spaces at no cost—which comes with the added benefit of having their program marketed through Library channels. “Libraries are excellent places for individuals to connect with their creativity,” said Hanson. “We’re very excited to partner with Dayton Metro Library to provide spaces for artists and art for the community.”

To learn more about the Artist Opportunity Grant program, or to apply, visit cultureworks.org.

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ABOUT CULTURE WORKS

WHO WE ARE: Culture Works is a nonprofit regional arts agency that provides a unified voice for all of the cultural organizations and activities in the Dayton Region, and promotes the good news about the amazing cultural vibrancy of our region to a national audience.

WHAT WE DO: Culture Works is committed to leading the charge to ensure a healthy environment for arts and culture in this community for generations to come. We work to galvanize widespread support for arts and culture, while also ensuring that every citizen has an opportunity to experience the cultural vibrancy that defines our region.

WHY WE MATTER: Our efforts play a vital role in making the Dayton Region more appealing to new residents, tourists, and employees looking for a new home.