Rep. McNally Announces $233,228 in Support for 18 Local Arts Programs and Organizations

July 21, 2023

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Lauren McNally (D-Youngstown) today announced $233,228 in funds from the Ohio Arts Council (OAC) for 18 artists, arts and cultural organizations, students, educators, and public arts programs in Mahoning County as part of OAC’s initial and major state fiscal year 2024 funding round.

“This funding will provide direct support to programs and people that bring beauty and culture into our lives,” said Rep. McNally. “These dollars from our state budget will improve learning and experiences for people throughout Mahoning Valley. It’s certainly one of the bright spots of this budget.”

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).

The Butler Institute of American Art (The Butler), one of the longstanding grantees of the OAC, received the largest Sustainability grant, a multi-year operating support program considered to be the agency’s flagship grant program, in the region at $122,908. The award will assist The Butler in providing free admission and programming that highlights the artistic work of local, regional, and national artists. It will also support the Butler’s Good Neighbors art education outreach and field trip programs, furthering their community engagement and partnerships with local school districts, as well as the Youth Honors Art Program for gifted high school seniors. Finally, it will assist in providing free monthly and weekly programs for families and age groups ranging from infants to seniors.

“We are very grateful to Governor Mike DeWine and members of the Ohio General Assembly for acknowledging the importance of public funding for the arts through the state budget’s appropriation to the OAC supporting our ongoing work and providing a funding source to address critical operational needs,” said Dr. Louis Zona, Executive Director of The Butler Institute of American Art.

Other organizations and operators within Mahoning County receiving funds include:

· $14,741 for the Ballet Western Reserve, Inc (Sustainability

· $122,908 for the Butler Institute of American Art (Sustainability)

· $4,900 for the Chaney Middle School, Youngstown City School District (TeachArtsOhio)

· $4,900 for the East Middle School, Youngstown City School District (TeachArtsOhio)

· $3,933 for the Estruscan Press (Sustainability)

· $4,200 for the Harding Elementary School, Youngstown City School District (TeachArtsOhio)

· $5,182 for the Henry H Stambaugh Auditorium Association (Arts Partnership)

· $4,200 for the Kirkmere Elementary School, Youngstown City School District (TeachArtsOhio)

· $7,346 for the Lit Youngstown (Sustainability)

· $4,200 for the Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School, Youngstown City School District (TeachArtsOhio)

· $11,292 for the McDonough Museum of Art, Youngstown State University (Sustainability)

· $8,176 for the Opera Western Reserve, Inc. (Sustainability)

· $4,200 for the Paul C. Bunn Elementary School, Youngstown City School District (TeachArtsOhio)

· $4,900 for the Rayen Early College Middle School, Youngstown City School District (TeachArtsOhio)

· $4,524 for the Stambaugh Chorus (Sustainability)

· $15,226 for the Students Motivated by the Arts – SMARTS (Arts Partnership)

· $4,200 for the Taft Elementary School, Youngstown City School District (TeachArtsOhio)

· $4,200 for the Volney Rogers Elementary School, Youngstown City School District (TeachArtsOhio)

In all, $21,814,824 in OAC grants were made out to 907 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).