OAC Project Support: ArtSTART Grant

OAC Project Support: ArtSTART Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Ohio Arts Council
Amount: Up to US $5,000
Last Updated: January 22, 2026

Summary

The OAC Project Support: ArtSTART program, managed by the Ohio Arts Council, offers flexible funding up to $5,000 for nonprofit organizations in Ohio. This initiative supports short-term projects that enhance community arts programming, including performances, exhibitions, and educational activities. Eligible applicants include arts organizations and educational institutions committed to arts initiatives. Notably, funds cannot be used for fundraising or hospitality expenses, ensuring that financial support directly benefits artistic endeavors.

Overview

ArtStart General Project Support for Organizations The ArtSTART program provides flexible, accessible funding to help organizations complete short-term projects addressing a wide variety of goals and objectives. Most awards support the programming of new or emerging organizations, including firsttime OAC applicants, as well as new or established organizations in areas not served by other arts providers. Grant Awards: Applicants may request up to $5,000. All awards require a 1:1 cash match. How the Program Works ArtSTART grants are one-year awards for organizational project support. Funds may be used for a wide variety of expenses in an organization's overall operations, or in the execution of a given activity or suite of related activities. Many grantees use ArtSTART funds to support artistic or administrative expenses, but other allowable expenses include marketing, program planning, education, and evaluation. The budget section of the ArtSTART application provides a full list of allowable expense areas. Sample activities might include: dance performances at a community arts festivalexhibition costs for a seasonal visual arts showprinting costs for a community theatre's large print programs and sign language interpretera weekly summer concert seriesproduction of a new literary journalan annual theatre production featuring local performersthe yearlong suite of arts programming of a non-arts organization

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. All applicants must possess nonprofit status or nonprofit intent, but need not be registered with the IRS as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Applicants may be:arts and cultural organizations in any arts discipline (literature, performing arts, visual arts, traditional arts, multidisciplinary arts, etc.);other organizations that provide arts programming (government entities, social service agencies, etc.); oreducational organizations (public, private, charter, and parochial schools from pre-kindergarten through university level) that demonstrate a commitment to arts programming in a larger community setting. To be eligible to apply for OAC funding, organizations must be both incorporated in and physically operating in Ohio.

Ineligibility

Organizations receiving support through the Sustainability or Statewide Arts Service Organization programs are ineligible to apply.Specific funding restrictions in place:OAC funds cannot be used to reduce or eliminate existing deficits, or to pay down interest expenses on debts or loans.OAC funds cannot be used for hospitality expenses (e.g., food and beverage costs).OAC funds cannot be used for fundraising efforts (e.g., benefits, United Fund drives, etc.) or cash prizes.OAC funds cannot be used for staff out-of-state travel (except for approved professional development activities).OAC funds cannot be used for projects whose primary purpose is to present political or religious ideas, or those that will enhance the property of religious or political institutions.Organizations accepting funding via a line item or earmark from the Ohio legislature in the state’s biennial operating budget – either directly or via a third-party or pass-through entity – are ineligible to receive competitive OAC grant awards during the same fiscal year(s).OAC funds can be used for arts activities that are primarily recreational or therapeutic, but only if the focus of the activities is artmaking led by a professional artist(s) and the project includes a public component.OAC funds cannot be used to carry out “brick and mortar” capital improvements, or for equipment purchases exceeding $1,500 (excluding Individual Excellence Awards).OAC funds cannot be used to cover costs related to filing for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service.An organization receiving OAC funds from one program to operate a given program(s) or activity(s) cannot receive funds from another OAC program to operate the same or a similar program in the same fiscal year.OAC funds received via one program cannot be used as part of a cash match required to apply to another OAC program.OAC funds cannot be used to support individual artists applying via an organizational fiscal agent to carry out a specific project.OAC funds cannot be used for scholarship assistance for academic credit.OAC funds cannot be used to pay students enrolled in any high school, undergraduate, or graduate degree-granting program, or for staff salaries or operational overhead of public or private schools, colleges, universities, or government agencies.OAC funds can only support programs offered by public and private schools – including school districts, affiliates, colleges, and universities – if they will involve and be explicitly marketed to the public (excluding TeachArtsOhio). College, university, and government agency programming must also involve the public in both planning and implementing programming, and must show financial support that includes a nominal cash match from outside sources (i.e., beyond staff time and overhead provided by the applying school or agency). Or, if a college, university, agency development office, or research foundation expressly prohibits departments or programs from raising outside (non-OAC) funds, the applicant must submit a statement of that policy signed by the development office along with the application. NOTE: Indirect costs may not be used as a cash match if a grant is awarded and should be shown in the in-kind section of the budget.