Accelerator Grants

Inspiring a Vibrant Toledo

Overview

The Arts Commission values the many artists across disciplines who are part of Toledo's vibrant creative community. The Accelerator Grant is a competitive program offering financial support with a quick turnaround for local artists to advance their creative projects and their careers. Eligible categories of support for this program include equipment, supplies, professional development, and project support. Grant amounts are not to exceed $1500.

2024 Accelerator Grant Cycles

The 2024 Accelerator Grant Program Dates:

Cycle 1 - Opens April 22. Application deadline: May 20 - complete

Cycle 2 - Opens May 21. Application deadline: June 24 - complete

Cycle 3 - Opens June 25. Application deadline: July 22 - complete

Cycle 4 - Opens July 23. Application deadline: August 26 - complete

Cycle 5 - Opens August 27. Application deadline: September 23 - complete: Notifications to all applicants will be sent out mid-October.

Applicants are encouraged to apply to all cycles until they receive a grant award.

For all inquiries about Accelerator Grants, please contact Liz at LBayan@theartscommission.org

2024 Accelerator Grant

There will be 5 cycles of grants for 2024, the deadline for Cycle 1 is: May 20. Additional cycles will be held in June, July, August, and September.

2024 Grant Guidelines Informational Presentation

Grant Reporting Forms

2024 Reporting Guidelines 2024 Submit Final Report 2022 & 2023 Final Reporting Guidelines 2022 & 2023 Submit Final Report

Award Recognition

Award Recognition Requirements

Financial support for local artists.

Frequently Asked Questions

I’m not sure what items to include in the budget section.

Research the actual prices of items or services you are requesting funding for. Panelists like to see detailed and itemized lists that address why support is needed and how it is related to your creative practice. Double check the guidelines to make sure you are not requesting funds for ineligible expenses like rent or overhead. Requests MUST be directly related to your practice.

My project will not be completed within the granting period described in the guidelines, I will need more time. Should I still apply?

Awardees must spend funds within 60 days of receiving their award, and they must be able to submit a final report within 120 days of receiving their award. If your funding cannot be spent or reported on within that time frame, it might be best to wait and apply to a future round.

I already purchased what I needed. Can I request to be reimbursed?

No. This is not a reimbursable grant and awarded funds must be spent within the granting period communicated by TAC staff.

I am a business or organization. Am I eligible to apply?

Panelists typically award funds to individual artists or artist collectives, so please keep that in mind before you start an application. You can view all past recipients on the Accelerator Grant webpage to get a peek at past funded requests.

I do not live within 30 miles of downtown Toledo. Will that be a problem?

All applications are screened for eligibility before panels review requests. If you do not live or have a creative studio within that 30 mile radius, you are not eligible for this opportunity. Check with your local community to see what artist grants might be available to you.

Should I use AI to write my grant application?

Panelists can typically tell if an application is written solely using AI. If you do utilize this tool, be sure you are not fully relying on it to write a grant request. We strongly urge you to use AI to write a first draft, then edit your application to fit your individual voice and ensure that you include details that respond fully to the prompts. Most of the time AI does not do you justice as an artist on its own.

I received an ARPA grant in the past, am I still eligible to apply for an Accelerator Grant?

Yes! Just make sure that your requests for support are different and that you are not double-dipping ie. submitting a request for something TAC has already funded. Funds from Accelerator cannot be used to pay for expenses outlined in your ARPA award.

How is my application scored?

Applications will be reviewed based on: Intent in advancing career, quality of the application, artist impact, community impact, quality of work, capacity to complete the project.

I was denied funding, can I request to receive feedback on my application?

Yes. You can schedule a 20-minute appointment with TAC staff to review your application over the phone by clicking this link. We also strongly encourage applicants to use outside sources such as the Small Business & Nonprofit Workspace at the Main Library to learn about beneficial grant writing training, product photography workshops, and small business support options that are all offered for free. Plus, it never hurts to ask your friends or fellow artists to look over your submission.

Can I apply to multiple cycles?

Yes! Artists are encouraged to apply to each cycle until an award is received. After an award is received, you must wait two years before applying again.

2024 Grant Recipients - September

Kerry Kirkpatrick

Digital Art

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Debra Buchanan

Oil Painting/Drawing

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Aaron Peters

Glass/Sculpture/Paper

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Connor Ward

Music

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Joel Trzcinski

Music

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2024 Grant Recipients - August

Yvette Reyes

Mixed Media

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Erin Holden

Writing

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Mariah Maddox

Writing/Visual Storytelling

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Gabrielle Schaub

Oil Painting and Mixed Media

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2024 Grant Recipients - July

Black Swamp Players

Theater Arts

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Xuanyi Wang

Oil Painting

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Jaci Riley

Jewelry

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Jillian Wohlfarth

Literary Arts

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2024 Grant Recipients - June

Cydney Gottlieb

Multidisciplinary

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Kayla Kirk

Ceramics, Clay

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Timothy Spurchise

Glass, Metal

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Ryan Thompson

Glass

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2024 Grant Recipients - May

Brenda Singletary

Painting, Mixed Media

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Timothy Story

Sound Art, Composition, Music

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Ellie Martin

Vocal Jazz Composition, Singer-Songwriter

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Kelci Crawford

Illustration, Author

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2023 Grant Recipients - September

Alexandria Leatherbarry

Visual, Photography

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Janelle Teitlebaum Lorenzen

Visual, Mixed Media

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Lindsay Scypta

Visual, Ceramics

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Michael Belazis

Music, Indie Folk Music

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2023 Grant Recipients - August

Domenic Pennetta

Visual

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Jane Anderson

Music, Trumpet

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Haylie Robinson

Film, Documentary

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Brandon Williams

Music, Hip Hop

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2023 Grant Recipients - July

Shawn Messenger

Visual, Glass

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Emerson DeAngelo

Visual, Mixed Media

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Poonam Saini

Dance

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Tim Stover

Visual, Glass

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Noah Stephens

Visual, Photography

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Anthony Wright

Film

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Manuela Murphy

Multidisciplinary

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2023 Grant Recipients - June

Mary Gaynier

Multidisciplinary

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Ruxandra Nagy

Visual, Textile

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Gail Christofferson

Visual, Mosaic Glass

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Kimberly Djo

Visual, African Drums and Dance

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2023 Grant Recipients - May

Megan Aherne

Theater

Nick Amrhein

Photography, Director

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Bryan Bonfiglio

Musician

Erin Keaton

Painting, Visual Arts

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Jason Quick

Musician

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2022 Grant Recipients - September

Chloe Wagenhauser

Musician

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Cyd Gottlieb

Multidisciplinary

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Jennifer Marcson

Multidisciplinary

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2022 Grant Recipients - August

Aliyah Hicks

Multidisciplinary Singer/Songwriter

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Emily Horst

Ceramics

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Joel Trzcinski - Bliss Nova

Musician

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Shanelle Smith

Multidisciplinary

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2022 Grant Recipients - July

Benjamin Stalets

Musician, Songwriter

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Christina Humble

Multimedia Artist

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Mariah Maddox

Photography

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Natasha Overton

Ceramics

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2022 Grant Recipients - June

Megan Davis

Musician

Connor Degnan

Gallery owner, Muralist

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Marisa Dickens

Performing Artist

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Shawanda Johnson

Dance Studio Owner, Performance Artist

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Robin Jones

Hip-Hop & Spoken Word Artist

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2022 Grant Recipients - May

Brenda Singletary

Mixed Media

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Jeremy Gray

Gallery Owner, Artist

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Sarah Cohen

Musician, Songwriter

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Julie Schnell Madden

Ceramics

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2021 Grant Recipients - September

Rebekah Alviani

Photography

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Timothy Spurchise

Glassblowing & Metalworking

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Beth Genson

Encaustic

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David Bush

Poetry

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Oradella Wilson

Performance

2021 Grant Recipients - August

Amber LeFever Soboleski

Painting

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Chuchen Song

Glass

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Dan Denton

Poetry

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Kai Newby

Photography

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Kristin Kowalski

Ceramics

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Michael-Anthony Boyd

Fashion

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2021 Grant Recipients - July

Kathryn Henzler

Musician, Composer

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Robert Vanitvelt

Painting

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Travis Geiman

Musician

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2021 Grant Recipients - June

Theo Brooks

Glass

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Timothy Stover

Glass

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Simone Spruce

Artist, Activist, Educator

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Kayla Williams

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2021 Grant Recipients - May

Shannon Eis

Sculpture

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Joni Johnson

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Sara Kear

Illustration and Jewelry

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Keegan O'Brien

Glass

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2020 Grant Recipients - September

Lee Fearnside

Printmaking

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Dominick Gray

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Harley King

Larry Mack

Glass

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Janine Ody-Miller

Glass

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Paul Verdell

Painting

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2020 Grant Recipients - June

Alyssa Brutlag

Dancer

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Morag Hastie

Writer

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Jonie McIntire

Poetry

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Shawn Messenger

Glass

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Felissa Parker-Green

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Eric Thomas

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2019 Grant Recipients - May

Matthew Cook

Mercé Culp

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Erin Garber-Pearson

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Natalie Lanese

Mixed Media

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William Gruber

Rebecca Szparagowski

Glass

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Paul Verdell

Painting

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2019 Grant Recipients - June

James Dickerson

Photography

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Alex Goetz

Filmmaking and Photography

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Lindsay Scypta

Ceramics

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Steve Steel

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Ian Welch

Printmaking

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Marilyn Yakumithis

Jewelry

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2019 Grant Recipients - July

Jennifer Bak

Visual & Kinetic Artist

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El Corazon de Mexico Ballet Folklorico

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Emilio Gonzalez

Loraine Lynn

Mixed Media

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2019 Grant Recipients - August

Daniel and Joel Trzcinski

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Mariah Hicks

Nate Hicks

Jodie Summers

Marilyn Yakumithis

Jewelry

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2019 Grant Recipients - September

Josh Byers

Painting, Sculpture

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Jacob Jones

Bradley Scherzer

Murals

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José Treviño

2018 Grant Recipients - May

Malissa Kuznicki

Jewelry

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Aaron Pickens

Painting

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Daniel and Joel Trzcinski

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Children's Theatre Workshop

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2018 Grant Recipients - June

Natalie Lanese

Mixed Media

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Timothy Stover

Glass

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Stephen Williams

2018 Grant Recipients - July

Glynis Fuentes

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Zac Weinberg

Sculpture

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Michelle Paine

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Joanna Manousis

Glass

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Kerry Kirkpatrick

Digital

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2018 Grant Recipients - August

William Foraker

Loraine Lynn

Mixed Media

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Lou Krueger

Glass and Photography

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Beth Genson

Encaustic

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2018 Grant Recipients - September

Reina Mystique

Music Production

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Bradley Scherzer

Murals

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Travis Sanderson

Michael Belazis

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Jennifer Muse

Glass and Sculpture

2017 Grant Recipients - May

Alan Iwamura

Glass

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Jonie McIntire

Poetry

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Ian Welch

Printmaking

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Kate Kokonecki, Kelly Thompson and Jon Zenz

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James Dickerson

Photography

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2017 Grant Recipients - June

Corry Fitchpatric

Amber LeFever Soboleski

Painting

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Joanna Manousis

Glass

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Rachel McCartney

Jaci Riley

Jewelry

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Adam L. Sanzenbacher

Metal

Lindsay Scypta

Ceramics

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2017 Grant Recipients - July

David Cuatlacuatl

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Loraine Lynn

Mixed Media

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Adrianne Lee

Lisa Soltis

Boonie Patch Co.

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2017 Grant Recipients - August

Timothy Stover

Glass

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Brien Strancar

Glass

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Lauren Fowler

Glass and Porcelain

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Bianca Garza

Photography

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2017 Grant Recipients - September

Malcolm Cunningham

Ken Dushane

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Noel Welch

2017 Grant Recipients - October

Anne Dearth

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Albert Leland

Sandra Rivers-Gill

Writer

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Imani Lateef

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2017 Grant Recipients - November

Gail Christofferson

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Ben Cohen

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Emily Rippe Desmond

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Yusuf Lateef

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Mike Stevens

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2017 Grant Recipients - December

Julie Draeger

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Elsa Furia

James Serda

2024 Accelerator Grant Info Session

Learn more about Accelerator Grant application guidelines, best practices, and the review process.

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The Arts Commission
1838 Parkwood Ave
Suite 120
Toledo, Ohio 43604
419-254-ARTS (2787)

Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access Statement

Inclusion, diversity, equity and access are fundamentally important to our work at The Arts Commission. Our aim is to provide access and opportunity to art and culture for all in our community. It is our committed practice to stand alongside, listen and act based upon community needs. We have a responsibility to advocate for inclusion, diversity, equity and access. The Arts Commission will continue to deepen this practice as we move into the future.

The Arts Commission believes that the arts can provide the space to foster conversations that bring us together. The arts have long stood in the gap as a bridge between cultures. They have served as a place to support healing, as well as a place to develop and exchange compassion. We trust the arts in this role. By embracing our differences and celebrating our similarities we build a more vibrant, just, and inclusive society.

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