The Greater Columbus Arts Council announced 44 artists as recipients of the first round of its 2026 Artist Projects grants on June 2. The grants, totaling $504,300, support work in dance, fashion, literary arts, music, theater, visual arts and film.

GCAC received 291 applications for the round. After staff reviewed them for eligibility, a panel of 20 local arts administrators scored applications to select 99 finalists. Those finalists then went before more than 200 community reviewers at a Community Review Day held May 9 at Columbus State Community College. Reviewers assessed and discussed applications in groups before scoring each one against a public rubric. Individual artists could request up to $10,000; filmmakers could request up to $25,000.

Recipients span a range of disciplines. Filmmakers Jack Campise, Akillah Clark, Matthew Denis and Cam Henderson each received $25,000. The remaining 40 grants went to artists working in visual arts, literary arts, music, fashion, dance and theater, most at $10,000. A second round of applications will be reviewed later this year.

Source: Greater Columbus Arts Council