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.

I want to apply as an individual. Am I eligible?

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.

I want to apply as an organization. Am I eligible?

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.

How much funding can I receive?

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.

How can I use the funds?

Artists must dedicate funds to activities that directly advance their artistic careers, including:

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 .

Organizations must dedicate funds to activities that directly advance the artistic careers of artists with disabilities or allow artists with disabilities to spend more time creating and promoting their chosen art form, as described in the list above. Requests to purchase equipment may not exceed $1,000 

When can I apply?

ADAP has two application cycles:

May 1 annually (for up to 12 months of activities taking place July 1—next June 30)
November 1 annually (for up to six months of activities taking place January 1—June 30) if program funds are not expended.

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.

How do I apply as an artist?

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.

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.

How do I apply as an organization?

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.

How will my application be reviewed?

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