CINCINNATI (Feb. 18, 2025) – ArtsWave, the Cincinnati region’s leading arts funder, and meetNKY, Northern Kentucky’s Convention and Visitors Bureau, have announced the launch of the Northern Kentucky Creative Placemaking Grants — a new initiative designed to use the arts to drive economic growth, strengthen communities, and highlight Northern Kentucky’s unique cultural identity.
Now open for applications, the grants will provide up to $10,000 per project to eligible organizations. Funded projects will take place between June 1, 2025, and May 31, 2026, with a focus on strengthening Northern Kentucky’s cultural and economic vitality.
“This innovative partnership with meetNKY allows us to build on our longstanding investment in Northern Kentucky,” said Alecia Kintner, President & CEO of ArtsWave. “By deepening our commitment to creative placemaking, we're not just supporting individual artists and organizations—we're catalyzing economic growth and fostering an even stronger sense of community to unify the entire region.”
Creative placemaking has been proven to deliver measurable economic benefits, from increased foot traffic for small businesses to higher property values and job creation. According to Americans for the Arts, arts-driven development stimulates local economies and boosts tourism—making it an essential strategy for regions like Northern Kentucky that are looking to grow.
“Creative placemaking projects not only boost our region’s appeal as a destination for meetings, conventions, and tourists, but they also instill pride in our residents,” said Julie Kirkpatrick, President & CEO of meetNKY. “This partnership connects us even closer with ArtsWave’s vast capabilities and networks, tying Northern Kentucky to the region’s vibrant arts ecosystem.”
Lisa Sauer, former co-chair of the ArtsWave Campaign and retired P&G executive, offers a resident’s perspective, “As a Northern Kentucky resident, I'm thrilled to see this targeted investment in our community. We know that the arts have the power to transform neighborhoods, attract visitors, and improve quality of life for everyone. This grant is yet another tool for building growth in Northern Kentucky and the region as a whole.”
How to Apply
To be eligible for the Northern Kentucky Creative Placemaking Grants, organizations must:
Have 501(c)(3) status or operate as a nonprofit with an established fiscal agent within the Cincinnati-Middletown, OH-KY-IN MSA, which includes: Brown, Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, and Warren Counties in Ohio; Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Gallatin, Grant, Kenton, and Pendleton Counties in Kentucky; and Dearborn, Franklin, and Ohio Counties in Indiana.
Have a primary mission focused on arts or cultural heritage programming that benefits Northern Kentucky communities.
Full grant guidelines and application details will be available at artswave.org, and for more information on other grant opportunities—or to support ArtsWave’s mission—visit artswave.org.
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About ArtsWave
ArtsWave fuels the Cincinnati region’s arts, supporting 150+ organizations, projects and artists each year. Since 1927, it has been the primary way the region funds the arts, raising millions annually from tens of thousands of individuals, businesses and foundations to drive a more vibrant economy and connected community. Through the Blueprint for Collective Action, ArtsWave strategically makes investments that maximize the arts’ impact across the region. To learn more and give to the 2025 community campaign, visit artswave.org.
About meetNKY
meetNKY drives quality of life and economic growth for Northern Kentucky through tourism marketing and destination development. Learn more at meetNKY.com and visitcincy.com.
