Freshbox Blog

Customer Profile: The Greater Columbus Arts Council

According to philosopher Lewis Mumford, “the chief function of the city is to convert power into form, energy into culture, dead matter into the living symbols of art, and biological reproduction into social creativity.” Judging by this sentiment, he would have been a fervent supporter of The Greater Columbus Arts Council; a nonprofit that, ever since its foundation in 1973, has been partnering with area organizations and artists to convert Columbus into a thriving arts community. The GCAC has worked energetically to advocate for art in its many forms, supporting everything from BalletMet to the Wexner Center for the Arts to COSI to fellowships for individual artists such as playwright Herbert Brown and choreographer Nicole Cafera. Read on to learn more about why this Freshbox customer is such an asset to the Greater Columbus community.

Tell us about The Greater Columbus Arts Council.  What is your mission?
Through vision and leadership, advocacy and collaboration, the Greater Columbus Arts Council supports art and advances the culture of the region.  A catalyst for excellence and innovation, we fund exemplary artists and arts organizations and provide programs, events and services of public value that educate and engage all audiences in our community.  The Greater Columbus Arts Council intends to drive the city’s creative economy: we foster synergy among private and nonprofit organizations, artists, audiences and community leaders and also create an environment in which art and culture thrive. By generating sustained support and appreciation for the arts, and by incubating new talent and new thinking, our region is increasingly recognized as a cultural destination.

Where do you receive your funding?
Currently our primary funding source comes from the City’s bed tax receipts.  We also receive funding support from Franklin County Board of Commissioners for our arts education and Franklin County Neighborhood Arts grant programming and funding and program support from the Ohio Arts Council.

How did you hear about Freshbox and why do you continue to support it?
In late summer of 2009, Freshbox delivered a sample lunch box and a flier to GCAC’s office: the food was great and the mission even better.  When we read that Freshbox works in partnership with Faith Mission shelters we decided to support such local efforts by placing catering orders for organizational events with them.  Located across the street from GCAC, Freshbox delivers on foot and on time.  Within our means, GCAC prefers to support locally and conscientiously: the food is fresh, well presented, and fairly priced.

Whom does the Greater Columbus Arts Council serve in Columbus?  What services and opportunities do you offer them?
GCAC’s Grants Program supports 45 professional organizations of all sizes and disciplines. In 2011, we have budgeted $2.5 million for Project, Operating and BOOST grants. Project grants support local arts activities and elevate support of local artists by requiring that all artists participating in the activities receive payment.

For individual artists, we offer fellowship programs in partnership with the Columbus Museum of Art and Columbus Dance Theatre and will add three new fellowship programs in 2011 – film/video, music and playwriting.  Our OPPArt series offers professional development and networking for individual artists.

GCAC’s Art in the House program partnership with the TRANSIT ARTS teen program and local Settlement Houses provides a comprehensive network of free, out-of-school activities serving children and young adults ranging from 5-21 years old.

Artists-in-Schools links professional artists and activities with schools and other groups in the community.  Franklin County Neighborhood Arts grants provide small arts project grants of $200-$2000 that support a variety of grassroots arts and non-arts groups.  The program is designed to increase community participation in the arts.  The program awards about $55,000 annually, supporting approximately 50 projects a year.

GCAC also produces ArtZine in partnership with WOSU.  In its 5th season, the monthly cultural television magazine program showcasing local artists, arts organizations, and cultural activities has won numerous regional Emmy awards and a national award for excellence from the National Educational Telecommunication Association in January 2007.

Our annual Community Arts Partnership awards honor small, medium, and large businesses for their support of the arts and presents awards to individuals in three categories: Arts Education, Emerging Arts Leader, and Arts Partner.

ColumbusArts.com, an arts and cultural event Web site, serves all of the citizens of the Central Ohio region and shares data with the statewide calendar ArtsinOhio.com.  In 2011, ColumbusArts.com will expand to include a multi-disciplinary artist directory.

What has GCAC accomplished recently that has made you proud?
In 2010, GCAC has been able to expand its grant funding due to higher-than-anticipated bed tax receipts, and significantly increase the number of grant recipients.  Funding under Operating Support, Project Support, Technical Assistance Grants and Individual Artists Fellowships was up 12% and the number of grant recipients more than doubled to 80.

Considerable time and effort has been focused on revising our grant guidelines to better align them with our community’s objectives including Organizational Stability, Expanding Audiences, Efficiencies & Effectiveness, and Innovation.  Additionally, the revisions are an attempt to bring more clarity and consistency to our guidelines and reflect changes naturally occurring in our community’s arts organizations.

In September, GCAC, in partnership with the Columbus Bar Association, introduced a program offering free legal assistance for Franklin County artists and small arts organizations. This program is intended to provide legal help for arts-related issues such as contracts, copyright and trademarks, business structure, and lease arrangements.

The 2010 Columbus Arts Festival received three Pinnacle Awards from the International Festival and Events Association.

Do you have any big projects or new initiatives coming up?
In 2011, we will introduce new initiatives at the 50^th anniversary of the Columbus Arts Festival and launch a new Festival Web site and mobile app.  In addition, the ColumbusArts.com website will be redesigned and a multi-disciplinary Artist Directory will be launched to search Franklin and surrounding county artists.  New marketing partnerships will create stronger connections with Columbus’ young professional community.

This will be the 50th year that you organize the Columbus Arts Festival—to what can we look forward?
The Columbus Arts Festival presented by Time Warner Cable will celebrate its 50th anniversary on June 3, 4, and 5 and this momentous occasion will be marked by a big festival experience—including new initiatives such as the Emerging Artists Program for Central Ohio artists, Connect a Million Minds Day, which will explore creativity and imagination through the lens of science, and Savor the Arts presented by Dine Originals, a local gourmet experience.  The Festival will showcase the work of 230 artists, three stages, a poetry slam, educational programs for kids and adults, and more.

If someone is interested in supporting GCAC, what can s/he do?
Volunteer for the Columbus Arts Festival!  GCAC depends each year on over 50 core volunteers— Coordinating Committee members—and more than 400 on-site volunteers.  Energetic, friendly volunteers are always needed and can sign up through www.columbusartsfestival.org.  Additionally, anyone can make a financial contribution, which will help GCAC continue to provide funding, technical assistance, arts education programming, research, information and many other services including the Hanley Arts Fund, to local artists and cultural organizations.  Contributions to the Columbus Arts Endowment help guarantee that the arts and culture in Columbus remain sustainable and vibrant well into the future.

Is there anything else important that you would like people to know about GCAC?
Our vision defines cultural success as the recognition of our region as a cultural destination.  In order to encourage the vitality and variety of offerings by the arts community, the Grants program is based on two complementary principles: to build stable arts institutions and to encourage new artistic groups and projects.  The Columbus Arts Festival contributes to the region’s reputation by providing a demonstrated sales opportunity for artists and by drawing approximately 50% of its 250,000 attendees from outside of the Columbus metropolitan area.  Education is one of three major goal areas in our strategic plan, and success means a wide variety of arts organizations provide opportunities to educate and engage all audiences in our community.  GCAC supports these efforts by coordinating arts integration training for teachers; conducting hands-on arts activities at the Arts Festival; by providing booking services for Artists in Schools; and through the support of a comprehensive network of out of school time arts educational opportunities (Art in the House & TRANSIT ARTS) to over 1,000 students in the inner city.

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