COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio's arts and cultural scene is about to see a huge boost, thanks to a new round of funding from Gov. Mike DeWine.
The governor on Friday announced more than $23 million in grants for 139 organizations, courtesy of the new Ohio Arts Economic Relief Grant Program. Among those on the list is Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which gets one of the largest checks at $1.5 million.
"Ohio's arts communities are an integral part of why Ohio stands out as a great place to live and a great place to visit," DeWine said in a statement. "These grants will help ensure that communities continue to have access to the programming and learning experiences Ohioans love."
The program was created through a bill sponsored by state Sen. George Lang (R-West Chester), with dollars coming through the federal American Rescue Plan Act. It will eventually doll out $50 million to performance venues and exhibit groups based on loss of revenues during the COVID-19 pandemic, and organizations can use the money for basic expenses like recruiting and paying employees as well as operating costs.
Roughly 60 Northeast Ohio arts and cultural entities were part of the first round of grant funding, including the Cleveland Botanical Garden ($671,017) and Western Reserve Historical Society ($477,832). The Sandusky State Theatre, badly damaged by a 2020 storm, will also get more than $41,000 as it attempts to rebuild and hopefully reopen later this year.
The governor's office says the next round of funding will be announced in the coming weeks. You can view the full list from the first round below: