More Than $82 Million Awarded for Arts Projects Nationwide; Includes $40,000 awarded to the Greater Columbus Arts Council

For Immediate Release
Tuesday May 10, 2016

Columbus, OH—National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Jane Chu has approved more than $82 million to fund local arts projects and partnerships in the NEA’s second major funding announcement for fiscal year 2016.  Included in this announcement is an Art Works award of $40,000 to the Greater Columbus Arts Council for the Art Makes Columbus/Columbus Makes Art campaign. The Art Works category supports the creation of work and presentation of both new and existing work, lifelong learning in the arts, and public engagement with the arts through 13 arts disciplines or fields.

“The arts are all around us, enhancing our lives in ways both subtle and obvious, expected and unexpected,” said NEA Chairman Jane Chu. “Supporting projects like the one from the Greater Columbus Arts Council offers more opportunities to engage in the arts every day.” 

“We are delighted that the Art Makes Columbus campaign has been recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts and ArtWorks federal grant program,” said Tom Katzenmeyer, President and CEO of the Greater Columbus Arts Council. “We are grateful to Columbus residents Charlotte Kessler and Congressman Pat Tiberi for their service on the National Council for the Arts board and to Congresswoman Joyce Beatty for her steadfast support of the arts and culture in our community.”

“The Third Congressional District is home to a vibrant and thriving arts community,” Congresswoman Joyce Beatty said. “The transformation and growth the Columbus-area has experienced is unprecedented, and its effects can be seen and felt throughout Central Ohio.” Beatty continued, “That is why I not only want to congratulate the Greater Columbus Arts Council on today’s announcement, but also for all of its hard work. I look forward to working with them to encourage more artists, expand opportunity and to ensure Central Ohio’s arts community is second to none.”

The Art Makes Columbus/Columbus Makes Art campaign is an unprecedented effort to support and promote the arts and artists in Columbus. The five-year campaign, launched last June, demonstrates the vitality, innovation and the connectivity within the Columbus arts community. The campaign capitalizes on the momentum of the city’s growing national reputation as a top location for creativity and culture.  Led by the Greater Columbus Arts Council, in partnership with the Columbus Cultural Leadership Consortium, the campaign is the largest public/private partnership to market the Columbus arts community in history. 

To join the Twitter conversation about this announcement, please use #NEASpring16. For more information on projects included in the NEA grant announcement, go to arts.gov. To connect with the Art Makes Columbus/Columbus Makes Art campaign, visit ColumbusMakesArt.org and #artmakescbus.  

The Art Makes Columbus/Columbus Makes Art campaign is supported by: American Electric Power, Cardinal Health, the Greater Columbus Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, PNC, and The Sol Morton and Dorothy Isaac, Rebecca J. Wickersham and Lewis K. Osborne funds of The Columbus Foundation.  Major media sponsors include the Dispatch Media Group, ABC6/FOX28 and CD102.5.

About the Greater Columbus Arts Council
Through vision and leadership, advocacy and collaboration, the Greater Columbus Arts Council supports art and advanced the culture of the region. A catalyst for excellence and innovation, we fund exemplary artists and arts organizations and provide programs, events and services of public value that educate and engage all audiences in our community. GCAC thanks the City of Columbus, Franklin County and the Ohio Arts Council for their continued support. For more information, visit www.gcac.org.  

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