The Ohio Arts Council approved $375,000 in Individual Excellence Awards to 77 artists across the state for fiscal year 2026. Seventy-three artists will each receive $5,000, while four collaborative artists will each receive $2,500. The council received 469 applications in seven categories: choreography, criticism, fiction, non-fiction, playwriting and screenplays, poetry, and music composition.

Recipients span communities throughout Ohio. Fiction and poetry drew the most awards, with recipients from Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo, Akron, Oberlin, and smaller cities including Cardington, Bluffton, and Mount Vernon. Music composition awardees include artists from South Euclid, Athens, Oberlin, and Cincinnati. Playwriting and screenwriting recipients are based in Cleveland, Toledo, Akron, Lakewood, Kettering, Athens, Cincinnati, and Rocky River.

“By supporting outstanding artists, the Ohio Arts Council recognizes the value of individual creativity and the essential role that arts and culture play in our lives,” said OAC Executive Director Donna S. Collins. The awards are made through an anonymous panel review process based on the merit of past artistic work.

Source: https://oac.ohio.gov/home/news-and-events/all-news/iea-fy-2026