Rep. McNally Announces $14,750 in Support for Four Local Artists, Programs and Organizations

October 31, 2023

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Lauren McNally (D-Youngstown) yesterda announced the October 19th funding of $14,750 in grants from the Ohio Arts Council (OAC) for four artists, arts and cultural organizations, students, educators, and public arts programs in District 59 as part of OAC’s second state fiscal year 2024 funding round.

“This continued direct funding support is extremely valuable to our communities. I’m especially excited to see the wide range of award recipients from my district that will benefit from this funding round,” said Rep. McNally. “Our state budget should always put people first and these dollars give community members like me a chance to see and experience something extraordinary and new.”

The OAC grants include operating support (Sustainability, Statewide Arts Services Organizations or SASO), project support (ArtSTART, ArtsNEXT, ArtsRISE, Capacity Building, Ohio Artists on Tour), arts learning (Arts Partnership, TeachArtsOhio, Big Yellow School Bus), and support for individual artists (Individual Excellence Awards, Artists with Disabilities Access Program, Traditional Arts Apprenticeships, Artist Opportunities).

Organizations and operators within District 59 receiving funds include:

$2,500 for Chrystal Robinson (Artists with Disabilities Access Program)
$2,500 for Ronald Van Hoose (Artists with Disabilities Access Program)
$4,750 for the Mahoning Valley Sojourn to the Past (ArtsRISE)
$5,000 City of Youngstown Parks and Recreation Department (ArtsRISE)

The $587,902 in OAC grants were made out to 182 recipients around Ohio. Funding to support the grants was made possible by the state’s 2024-2025 operating budget, which included a record-setting nearly $51.1 million state appropriation to OAC over the next two years, as well as by federal funds from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).