Area arts groups and artists received over $600,000 in 2023-2024 grants, boosting Dayton’s economy by an estimated $3.5M.

DAYTON, OH (Nov. 15, 2024) – Culture Works, the Miami Valley’s United Arts Fund and local arts agency held its 2023-2024 Annual Board of Trustees Meeting on November 12, 2024, in the Tank of the Dayton Arcade. Board of Trustees Chair Stacey Lawson and Culture Works President & CEO Lisa Hanson presented the report to approximately 65 stakeholders.  The meeting included a recap of the 23-24 Campaign for the Arts, Special Projects and Artists Opportunity grants, the Our Town Dayton and ONYX programs, special events, annual award presentations, and a performance by Special Projects grantee, Dayton Dance Conservatory Company.

“This year, we celebrated 50 years of arts funding, advocacy, and programming in the Dayton region,” said Lisa Hanson, Culture Works President & CEO. “As we celebrate this milestone, we must honor our history to guide us toward the future. What began as a concerned group of business leaders raising money to support the ballet, philharmonic, and opera has grown into an organization dedicated to nurturing the development of individual artists and providing unrestrictive operating support to our region’s arts organizations.”

“Culture Works continues to strengthen the arts ecosystem as both a grant-maker and grant-seeker, fostering creative initiatives and partnerships,” continues Hanson. “Our mission is to support artists in expressing themselves, building sustainable careers, driving innovation through the arts, and continuing to support our arts organizations’ operating funds while promoting excellence across all artistic disciplines in the Miami Valley. By working together, we can shape our region’s uniquely vibrant and thriving future over the next 50 years.”

 2023-2024 At a Glance

The 23-24 Campaign for the Arts, co-chaired by local artists and arts advocates Willis “Bing” Davis and Rodney Veal, allowed Culture Works to grant nearly $206,000 Community Arts Grants distributed to ten arts organizations in the region (Bach Society of Dayton, The Contemporary of Dayton, Dayton Art Institute, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Dayton Performing Arts Alliance, Discover Classical (WDPR), The Human Race Theatre Company, K-12 Gallery & TEJAS, Muse Machine, and the Springfield Symphony Orchestra). Awarded funds are distributed to organizations for general operating support.

Community Arts Grants funded:

• 252 Performances​
• 772 In-School Programs​
• 1,938 Classes and Workshops held outside of schools ​
• 98,831 Audiences attended the arts for free,​ of which 53,441 were under the age of 18​

More than $275,000 in Special Projects and Artist Opportunity grants, funded by the Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District and administered by Culture Works, were given to 14 artists and 25 arts organizations. The Leonard P. Roberts Memorial Scholarship fund awarded 16 area student scholarships.

Other presentations during the meeting included reports on the year’s special events: Artini and the New Year’s Eve Countdown to 2024 (Culture Works’ 50^th anniversary year). Curtis Bowman, Culture Works’ Director of Engagement, spoke regarding the Our Town Dayton Creative Placemaking Project and the ONYX program led by PNC.

Messer Construction received the Producer of the Year award for outstanding support of Culture Works through financial contributions, in-kind expertise, and a long-running Workplace Giving campaign. In 2023-2024, they notably donated equipment and labor for major preparation for and helped install a shade tarp for the Edgemont Solar Garden, the Our Town Dayton Creative Placemaking project. Culture Works Trustee and Executive Engineer at Messer, Michael King, accepted the award on behalf of the company.

Premier Health and its subsidiaries earned the Amber Best Clover Award for strong employee engagement and fundraising in their Workplace Giving campaign. The award honors Amber Best, a former Culture Works Board Member who passed away in 2017.

The Dorine Ragsdale Firecracker award, recognizing an engaging workplace giving coordinator, went to Stephanie Singer of Lexis Nexis and RELX for her annual Wine-Tasting event benefiting their Workplace Giving Campaign, including a virtual version during the pandemic. This award honors Dorine Ragsdale, a dedicated campaign leader who passed away in 2021.

According to the “Americans for the Arts” economic impact of the arts and cultural industry formula, Culture Works 2023-2024 programs had an economic impact of $3.5M, provided 109 full-time jobs, and added $2.5M to household income in the Dayton region.

President and CEO Lisa Hanson thanked outgoing Board of Trustees members Emily Broughton (Bottom Line) and Sheri Sword (Better Business Bureau/ Women in Business Networking) for their valuable service during their terms. She also welcomed new trustees Kevin McCurdy (LWC, Inc.), Evelyn Ritzi (Ohlman Group), Amy Robertson (iHeartMedia), and Gary Schmidt Ph. D (Wright State University).

The 2024-2025 Executive Committee is composed of Stacey Lawson, Chair (Premier Health); Sarah Chapman, Vice Chair (Marriott International); Michael King, Secretary (Messer Construction); and Matt Scarr, Treasurer (Matthew J. Scarr, CPA, LLC).

Returning 2024-2025 Board of Trustees includes Jim Ahrns (Think Patented), Mary Bane M.D. (Concentric Solutions); Brandy Bates (CareSource) Deron Bell (Restorative Justice Arts); John Curran (Town Hall Theatre); Greg Ewers (Coolidge Wall); Diane Farrell (Community Volunteer); Bryan Greene (Champlin Architecture); David Litteral (iHeartMedia); Brian Nelson (Fifth Third Bank); Paul Spain (PUI Audio); Sally Struthers, Ph.D. (Sinclair College and WSU); Jennifer Thein (Thein Financial); Tom Thickel (Community Volunteer); Amanda Thompson (LMI); Richard Valentine (PNC); and Chris Williams (Elements IV Interiors). Ex-Officio members are Carol Loranger, Ph.D (WSU), Melisssa Riely Patsiavos (Dayton Business Journal), Jessica Jenkins (MCACD Rep.), and Shaun Yu.  (Constituent Arts Groups Rep. Discover Classical WDPR/WPCG).

Hanson recognized Dorie Watts, Culture Works Director of Programming and Advocacy, for her 10 years of service.