Creative Careers

Art Possible Ohio is committed to advancing your work in culture and education through high-quality resources and workshops led by experienced professionals. Whether you are a high school student or a professional artist we can help you get connected.
All individuals with disabilities who aspire to careers in the arts should have the opportunity to develop their skills.
Most U.S. employers (97%) say creativity is increasingly important to them.
The GDP could get a boost up to $25 billion if just 1 percent more of persons with disabilities joined the U.S. labor force.
AEO has included 1,500+ artists since it began in 1996
Artists with Disabilities Access Program
Art Possible Ohio offers technical support and advice for artists applying for grants through the Ohio Arts Council's Artists with Disabilities Access Program (ADAP). ADAP provides funding that gives individual artists with disabilities and organizations that serve them the resources they need to further their artistic development. Creative expression by artists of all abilities is essential to building dynamic and diverse communities throughout Ohio, and developing an artistic career is a long-term process. ADAP awards help artists with disabilities advance their artistic practices, making Ohio a more accessible and inclusive place to build an artistic career.
All applying artists must:
- Be an Ohio resident (the OAC defines an Ohio resident as someone who spends at least eight months of the year living and working in Ohio), and, if awarded funding, remain a resident during the grant period
- Have exhibited, performed, or published work as an artist within the past five years
- Have a disability (per Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) guidelines)
- Must be at least eighteen years of age. Students attending high school or students pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees at the time of application may not apply.
All applying organizations must be based in Ohio, serve Ohio artists, and possess nonprofit status or nonprofit intent. Applicants need not be registered with the IRS as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Applicants may be:
- arts and cultural organizations in any arts discipline (literature, performing arts, visual arts, traditional arts, multidisciplinary arts, etc.);
- other organizations that provide arts programming (government entities, social service agencies, etc.); or
- educational organizations (public, private, charter, and parochial schools from pre-kindergarten through university level) that demonstrate a commitment to arts programming in a larger community setting.
Grants are awarded to individual artists with no match required at two levels:
- Emerging Artist Level $500 - Emerging artists are individuals who have consistently worked in their chosen art form for more than three years, have demonstrated strong artistic potential, and want to develop their careers.
- Professional Artist Level $1,000 - Professional artists are individuals who devote a major portion of their time to creating, practicing, performing, or teaching any of the arts.
- Organizational Applicants $1,000 to $3,000 - 1:1 cash match is required.
- Cover in-state travel to attend or present a performance, exhibition, conference, class, or workshop
- Undertake a planning process with a consultant or agent to develop business skills
- Rent studio space or art equipment, or purchase art supplies or equipment (e.g., cameras, printers)
- Pay for professional services (e.g., production, marketing, etc.) or auxiliary aids or services that facilitate engagement in artistic activities at a deeper or higher level .
ADAP has two application cycles:
- June 1 annually (for activities taking place July 15—next June 30)
- December 1 annually (for activities taking place January 15— June 30)
Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to contact their OAC regional coordinator to initiate the application process, or work through Art Possible Ohio. Accommodations can be made for the application process.
ADAP applications are submitted electronically via the OAC’s ARTIE system. If an applicant needs support in applying (in-person explanation, data entry, transcription, technology, etc.) the applicant or his or her designee can contact the OAC or Art Possible Ohio.
OAC and Art Possible Ohio offer application accommodations and support. If you are seeking accommodations from Art Possible Ohio or OAC please contact those organizations at least two weeks prior to the due date.
Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to contact their OAC regional coordinator to begin the application process, or work through Art Possible Ohio. Accommodations can be made for the application process.
ADAP applications are submitted electronically via the OAC’s ARTIE system. If an applicant needs support in applying (in-person explanation, data entry, transcription, technology, etc.) the applicant or his or her designee can contact the OAC or Art Possible Ohio.
If you are seeking accommodations from Art Possible Ohio or OAC please contact those organizations at least two weeks prior to the due date.
Applications for this program must include support materials, including work samples, in order to be accepted.
Emerging Artists - The following support materials are REQUIRED:
- Artist résumé or biography
- Work samples – up to 12 images, songs, or writing samples, not more than five years old
- One (1) letter of support from someone who is knowledgeable about the artist’s work
Professional Artists - The following support materials are REQUIRED:
- Artist résumé
- Professional Biography or Artist Statement
- Work samples – up to 12 images, songs, or writing samples, not more than five years old
- Two (2) letters of support, each from someone who is knowledgeable about the artist's work
In both categories, if applicable, materials describing proposed class, conference, or workshop, as well as résumé(s) of proposed instructor(s), teaching artist(s), or consultant(s), may also be submitted.
Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to contact their OAC regional coordinator to begin the application process, or work through Art Possible Ohio. Accommodations can be made for the application process.
ADAP applications are submitted electronically via the OAC’s ARTIE system. If an applicant needs support in applying (in-person explanation, data entry, transcription, technology, etc.) the applicant or his or her designee can contact the OAC or Art Possible Ohio.
If you are seeking accommodations from Art Possible Ohio or OAC please contact those organizations at least two weeks prior to the due date.
Applications for this program must include support materials, including work samples, in order to be accepted.
Organizational Applicants - The following support materials are REQUIRED:
- Artist résumé(s) or biographies for artist(s) who will benefit from the grant activities (as appropriate)
- Work samples – up to 12 total images, songs, or writing samples, not more than five years old, for the artist(s)
who will benefit from the grant activities (as appropriate) - Two (2) letters of support for the organization and/or the artist(s) involved in the activity (letters of support
for an organization should be from an outside professional knowledgeable about the organization’s work in the disability field) - If applicable, materials describing proposed class, conference, or workshop, as well as résumé(s) of proposed instructor(s), teaching artist(s), or consultant(s), may also be submitted.
A panel of arts and cultural professionals, educators, artists, and other community members evaluate and score ADAP grant applications. Panel meetings are open to the public and audio-streamed online, and applicants are encouraged to attend or listen online. Applicants will be notified when the panel meeting is scheduled.
At the panel meeting, panelists discuss how well each application satisfies the program's evaluation criteria. Panelists highlight strengths and weaknesses, discussing all aspects of the application and its support materials. Following the public discussion, each panelist enters a final score for each application. Later, OAC staff use averages of these scores to determine funding award recommendations. The OAC Board is the only body authorized to make final funding decisions and must approve grant awards. The review process is competitive, and not all applications are funded.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to include as much information as possible in their responses to narrative questions in order to provide panelists with a complete picture of how the grant funding will advance the artists’ professional pursuits.
Criteria are divided into four categories: Program Quality, Community Engagement, Defining and Measuring Success, and Resource Management. Evidence of meeting the criteria may be found in any portion of an application or associated support materials. Each criterion is worth up to five points, for a maximum of 60 points.
Program Quality (30 points)
- Ability in artist's chosen art form is evident
- Artistic work shows high potential
- Commitment to advancing artist's art form is demonstrated
- Goals are clearly stated
- Goals align with intended program’s outcome to develop the artistic careers of artists with disabilities
- Applicant’s proposed project demonstrates artistic, educational, and/or cultural value
Community Engagement (10 points)
- Artistic work is promoted in the community (through public events, website, promotional materials, etc.)
- Project will increase applicant’s ability to engage community members in the future
Defining and Measuring Success (10 points)
- Applicant has established a quality plan for using the grant funds
- Project will advance the artistic career(s) of artist(s)
Resource Management (10 points)
- Project budget is complete and realistic, and supports goals for activity
- Applicant is qualified and demonstrates the capacity to complete the proposed project
Art Possible Ohio
info@artpossibleohio.org | 614.241.5325
We can help you prepare your application and put you in touch with people at OAC. We do not administer your grant.
Ohio Arts Council Contacts
Brianna Dance, Organizational Programs Coordinator for the Central and Southeastern Regions
brianna.dance@oac.ohio.gov | 614.728.4427
Janelle Hallett, Organizational Programs Coordinator for the Northeastern Region
janelle.hallett@oac.ohio.gov | 614.728.4413
Jim Szekacs, Organizational Programs Coordinator for the Western and North Central Regions
jim.szekacs@oac.ohio.gov | 614-728-4449
Ohio Arts Council's ADAP Grant
Visit the Ohio Arts Council website for more information and to apply.
Professional Development
Art Possible Ohio hosts workshops, open studios, webinars, and other professional development opportunities for artists and arts professionals.