Columbus Foundation officials have announced a total of $2.1 million in awards to 60 central Ohio arts organizations — the largest such investment in the foundation’s 75-year history.
The organization reported a 30% increase in applications for grants from its Community Arts Fund, with 44 smaller arts organizations receiving funding, compared with 33 last year. The grants ranged from $2,000 to $100,000, said Doug Kridler, president and CEO of the foundation.
“A city of the future is a city of creativity and innovation,” Kridler said. “That’s a mainstream priority for a community.”
Seven organizations — including COSI Columbus, the Columbus Museum of Art and the Wexner Center for the Arts — received additional grants totaling $800,000 for their participation in the foundation’s “Big Explore,” a community-wide effort on Dec. 29 to celebrate the organization’s 75th anniversary by offering free admission to the different locations.
There were also additional grants given to the Harmony Project ($100,000), a Columbus choir focused on public service, to assist with developing its administrative infrastructure and community concerts, and Experience Columbus ($50,000) to support the hiring of local artists for the upcoming American Society of Association Executives annual meeting in August.