Unruly Arts receives a grant from the American Rescue Act (ARPA) for Local Arts and Culture Organizations and Artists.

The Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, in partnership with the Lucas County Commissioners and the City of Toledo, is pleased to announce that Unruly Arts is included in the first round of organizational and artist grants from the Toledo-Lucas County Rescue Plan Grant program.

In 2021, as the disproportionately negative economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the arts ecosystem deepened, The Arts Commission worked with the Toledo Area Cultural Leaders to advocate for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding toward the rescue and recovery of the sector.

In response to this crisis, The Lucas County Board of Commissioners, Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz, and Toledo City Council joined together in partnership to approve $6 million in ARPA funds to support a multi-year grant program for the recovery of nonprofit arts and cultural organizations and artists in Toledo and Lucas County.

“All of us working in the arts are so deeply grateful to our elected officials for including us in this recovery effort,” said Marc Folk, President and CEO of The Arts Commission. “This funding will assist nearly every nonprofit arts and culture organization in Toledo and Lucas County and more than 100 local artists. Our region is widely known as an arts and culture destination and this investment will accelerate our ability to rebound. Simply put, our recovery would have taken years longer without this critical support.” 

Nonprofit arts organizations and individual artists were eligible to apply to a competitive process based on their demonstrated practice, need, and location within Toledo and/or Lucas County.

37 organizations and 101 artists were approved in this first round of funding for a total of $1,699,000.

We are so very grateful to our Elected Officials for seeing the value that Art has to offer to everyone.

Greater Toledo Community Foundation Awards Grant to Unruly Arts

The Board of Trustees of the Stranahan Supporting Organization of the Greater Toledo Community Foundation has approved a grant to Unruly Arts in the amount of $45,390.00. These funds will be used to create a digital art program for school age youth and adults. Digital art is an artistic work or practice that uses digital technology as part of the creative or presentation process. The impact of digital technology has transformed activities such as painting, drawing, sculpture and music/sound art, while new forms such as digital installation art and virtual reality have become recognized artistic practices. 

The Stranahan Supporting Organization grant will be used to fund the purchase of iPad Pro tablets; the rent of a dedicated building; and a stipend for an artist in residence or a part-time instructor.

According to Studio Director Lori Schoen, “Digital artmaking allows the studio to increase the mediums available to the artists and in ways that might have physical or chemical limitations in traditional media. Studies have shown that this new technology will appeal to many youths currently not being served by any other program...especially those on the autism spectrum, youth interested in animation and visual effects, and artists with physical disabilities”.

The Greater Toledo Community Foundation is a public charitable organization created by citizens of our community to enrich the quality of life for individuals and families in our area. In existence since 1973, the Foundation has more than 900 individual current funds with assets of approximately $409 million. The Foundation provides philanthropic services for individuals, families, businesses and corporations to meet their charitable giving needs. For more information on the Foundation, visit the organization’s website at www.toledocf.org or follow them on Facebook or LinkedIn.