Historic Fort Steuben, Local Nonprofits Receive Ohio Arts Council Grants
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STEUBENVILLE -- Several area organizations are set to receive a share of $23.2 million in grant money being awarded by the Ohio Arts Council.
“It’s great,” explained Paul Zuros, executive director of Historic Fort Steuben, after learning that his group would receive a $14,878 sustainability grant from the council. “It shows the state of Ohio and the Ohio Arts Council have an interest in investing in programming here and in Jefferson County.”
Three other Jefferson County-based organizations also are receiving sustainability grants, which means they don’t have to apply every year: Inspire Toronto will receive $6,736, the Steubenville Cultural Trust will receive $6,500 and the Steubenville Art Association will receive $2,766. Also receiving grant money are the Deersville Community Players in Harrison County, which will receive a $5,507 sustainability grant, and Bellaire High School in Belmont County, which will receive a $42,000 TeachArtsOhio grant.
Sustainability grants, according to the arts council, support ongoing arts and cultural activities in all genres. More than half of this year’s awards -- 545 of 1,013 grants -- fall into that category. That works out to $17,954,115 of the $23,196,364 in total awards, the largest single round of grant funding in the program’s history.
“The sustainability grant gives us support each year for four years,” said Judy Schmidt, president of the art association. “The support of the OAC has allowed us to do many things for ourselves, our artists and our community.”
The organization, she added, holds events such as Come Paint with Our Artists, which allow area residents, regardless of their ability, to work with local artists and take a painting home with them. The association also has worked with the ALIVE Women’s Shelter, the Physical Activity and Life Skills program, the Halloween party at Aracoma Park in Mingo Junction and a children’s art wall in Steubenville’s Beatty Park. Soon, Schmidt said, association members will paint scenes on structures around the restored shelter house.
“The grants from the OAC have allowed us to give to our community and will allow us to continue to do so,” she said.
For Abby Lemasters, president of Inspire Toronto, receiving the grant money is important.
“It allows us flexibility in adding new things if we want to,” she explained. “Every year we give the OAC an update on where we are and what we want to do. It’s just amazing that they are able to support such a small town and allow us to do things that, typically, we might not be able to do.”
The money will help the cultural trust with its many projects, including the Steubenville Nutcracker Village, the Great Steubenville Eggshibition and the Catfish Crawl Artwalk.
“We have used it in all of the programs,” said Gretchen Nelson, vice president of the cultural trust. “We added the patriotic America-themed catfish, we had America-themed eggs and we have made a George Washington nutcracker, so he will be new this year.”
A portion of the money is being used to help cover the rent for the Fourth Street building that houses the George Dvorsky creche display during the holidays. The patriotic nutcrackers and Thomas Cole prints are displayed there during First Fridays on Fourth. The grant also will help bring members of the Canton Ballet to perform scenes from “The Nutcracker” at the Masonic Temple during the holiday season.
The ballet company also received funding through the cultural trust, Nelson explained, adding the arts council likes to see recipients work together.
“Donations and grants are critical to what the cultural trust does,” she said. “We have such a small budget, and we want to keep the events free so people can come and see all of the nutcrackers. We’re very grateful to work with the Ohio Arts Council.”
According to the council, the grants are part of its commitment to directly fund arts programming in each of Ohio’s 88 counties, something it has done for the past 11 years.
“As they have for decades, Ohioans remain broadly supportive of public funding for the arts and culture in their communities. Our mission reflects that demand,” explained Donna S. Collins, executive director of the arts council. “We continue to be impressed and humbled by the historic volume of applications we receive and grants we make.”
Lemasters said her organization has received OAC grants in the past to help with events such as the Gem City’s annual Concerts at the Gazebo series, which continues Wednesday at 7 p.m. with an appearance by the Mad River Men. The group also presents the city’s Christmas light-up event, held the day after Thanksgiving and featuring Toronto’s Christmas tree, music, games and dancing and singing characters.
“So, anything that is art-related or anything that you can tie back to musical or visual performances, anything like that, we can cover with this grant,” Lemasters said.
That will include the Art in the Park and Art in the Rec events that allow the city’s children to participate in learning experiences exposing them to music and visual arts. Local musicians and artists create programs that allow participants to, for example, build and play their own ukuleles or drums.
“We’re actually in the second week of Art in the Rec, and Bob Morris, a retired art teacher from Toronto, puts the programming together for us, tells us what to order and conducts a workshop for students in first through fourth grades,” Lemasters added.
Zuros said the grant money allows the fort to continue its programs, including the Constitution exhibit, the spring quilt show, Christmas at the Fort and the Summer Concert Series at the Berkman Amphitheater.
“It’s a way for us to provide free entertainment on Thursday evenings during the summer,” he said of the series, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary. “It gives people a chance to come down to the amphitheater next to the Ohio River and spend time in the community, meeting friends and listening to music.”
The series remains free thanks to grants and supporters throughout the area.
“We have financial support from a lot of people in the community, which is really important, and a grant like this helps us as well,” he added.
Bad weather on a few Thursdays led to a couple of postponements, Zuros said. Those concerts have been rescheduled for Thursday, when Restless Hearts and Aristotle Jones and the Appalachian Soul Band will perform, and Aug. 13, when the New Age Adenas and Silver Springs, a Fleetwood Mac tribute band, will perform. Both shows begin at 7 p.m.
Schmidt said the grant the art association received will help with the 77th annual Steubenville Art Association Exhibit, which will open at 5 p.m. Sept. 17 at Youngstown State University at Steubenville.
“It will allow us to buy the winning ribbons, get the programs and certificates printed, pay for professional judges, keep entry fees reasonable, advertise and encourage artists from all over this part of Ohio to show their talent,” she said of the event, which has been held since 1946 with three exceptions: the two COVID-19 years and last year, after Eastern Gateway Community College closed.
“We will continue to give to our community and our members as we have done all along with the help of the OAC,” she continued. “Workshops will begin after the summer, we will plan our art shows, we will be available to local nonprofits for art events, we will work with the disabled and do anything else that will spread the joy of the visual arts to our community.”