Columbus, OH (May 27, 2026)—The Columbus Foundation’s Governing Committee has approved more than $1.8 million in grants to arts and culture organizations in central Ohio. The grants span music, dance, theater, visual and public art, film, literary and design arts, and interdisciplinary arts organizations. A total of 75 nonprofits will receive unrestricted operating support to help meet community needs and expand arts and cultural programming.
“Central Ohio’s arts organizations do more than present great work—they create spaces for learning, connection, curiosity, and dialogue,” said Doug Kridler, President and CEO of The Columbus Foundation. “From world-class performances and exhibitions to neighborhood-based arts education and community festivals, local arts organizations ensure that creativity serves as a catalyst for a stronger, more vibrant region.”
Arts and culture grants from The Columbus Foundation support organizations whose primary mission and programs focus on the creation and presentation of performing, visual, and fine arts in Franklin County. The 2026 grant year is the first in a 3-year grant cycle in which grant recipients will be eligible for additional funding in 2027 and 2028.
ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVING ARTS AND CULTURE GRANTS IN 2026:
- 934 Gallery
- Actors' Theatre of Columbus
- All People Arts
- Art Possible Ohio
- Available Light Theatre Inc.
- BalletMet
- Brass Band of Columbus
- Capriccio Columbus
- Carpe Diem String Quartet
- Cartoon Crossroads Columbus
- Center of Science and Industry (COSI)
- Central Ohio Hot Jazz Society
- Chamber Music Columbus
- Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA)
- Columbus Children's Choir
- Columbus Children’s Theatre
- Columbus Cultural Orchestra
- Columbus Dance Theatre
- Columbus Folk Music Society, Inc
- Columbus Gay Men's Chorus
- Columbus Glass Art Center
- Columbus Museum of Art
- Columbus Printed Arts Center
- Columbus Symphony Orchestra
- The Contemporary Theatre of Ohio
- Converging Arts Columbus
- Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
- Fresh A.I.R. Gallery
- Friends of Art for Community Enrichment
- Friends of Early Music, Inc.
- Friends of the Drexel Inc.
- The Fuse Factory Electronic and Digital Arts Lab
- Gahanna Community Chorus
- Gateway Film Center
- Greater Columbus Community Orchestra
- Good Medicine Productions
- Harmony Project Productions Inc.
- High Road Gallery & Studios
- Hixon Dance
- Jazz Arts Group of Columbus
- Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts
- King Arts Complex
- Lincoln Theatre Association
- Little Theatre Off Broadway
- MadLab
- Maroon Arts Group
- National Veterans Memorial and Museum
- New Albany Symphony Orchestra
- Ohio Art League
- OhioDance
- Ohio History Connection
- Ohio Designer Craftsmen
- Ohio Poetry Association
- Opera Columbus
- Opera Project Columbus
- Peggy R. McConnell Arts Center of Worthington
- Oyo Dance Company
- Phoenix Rising Printmaking Cooperative
- ProArteOHIO Vocal Ensemble
- ProMusica Chamber Orchestra
- ROY G BIV Gallery
- Scioto Valley Chorus
- Shadowbox Live
- Six String Concerts, Inc.
- Stage Right Theatrics
- Sunday at Central
- Thiossane West African Dance Institute
- Thurber House Incorporated
- Urban Strings Columbus
- VIVO Music Festival
- Westerville Community Concert Band
- Westerville Symphony at Otterbein University
- Wexner Center for the Arts of The Ohio State University
- Worthington Chorus
- Worthington Chamber Orchestra
About The Columbus Foundation
The Columbus Foundation, one of the top 10 community foundations in the United States, serves thousands of individuals, families, and businesses that have created unique funds and planned gifts to make a difference in the lives of others through the most effective philanthropy possible.