More than 20 organizations in the three-county area will receive funding from the Ohio Arts Council.

Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties will receive $324,502 combined from the state in its fiscal year 2026 budget. OAC awarded 965 grants statewide totaling $23.3 million, the largest single round of grant awards in the organization’s history.

OAC awarded $293,395 to 12 Mahoning County organizations in addition to eight $3,500 grants to Youngstown City Schools arts programming at the district’s elementary and middle schools.

The Butler Institute of American Art was the single largest recipient with a $103,939 sustainability grant.

“It’s general operating funding, so it’s not required for a special project,” Butler Executive Director Louis A. Zona said. “It’s open-ended, and we’re glad about that, because it could be for a gas bill that’s high one month. It could be any number of ways in which the money can be expended. So we couldn’t be happier.”

Other Mahoning-based beneficiaries are: Hola Fest Youngstown, $4,489 (ArtSTART); Ballet Western Reserve, $16,852 (sustainability); Etruscan Press, $4,464 (sustainability); Henry H. Stambaugh Auditorium Association, $44,493 (sustainability); Lit Youngstown, $6,500 (sustainability); Mahoning Valley Sojourn to the Past, $6,458 (sustainability); McDonough Museum of Art/Youngstown State University, $12,640 (sustainability); Opera Western Reserve, $9,261 (sustainability); Stambaugh Chorus, $6,046 (sustainability); Students Motivated by the Arts (SMARTS), $32,447 (sustainability); and Youngstown Playhouse, $17,806 (sustainability).

SMARTS saw its support jump by more than 60% after receiving two grants totaling $19,248 last year.

SMARTS President and Founder Becky Keck said, “This is the first OAC sustainability grant SMARTS has received in our 28-year history, and it is a powerful acknowledgement of the importance of arts education for our young people.

“The grant will provide funding for SMARTS’s free, high-quality arts education classes for PK-12 students, allowing us to maintain existing programs and expand to address community needs. In this uncertain and challenging time, this support gives us stability and hope. We are grateful to the Ohio Arts Council team, the Governor, and the legislators for their continued support of arts and culture in Ohio.”

Youngstown Playhouse also received a sustainability grant for the first time.

“This will be a recurring grant for the next several years,” Playhouse board President John Cox said. “Being able to count on this money and use it at our discretion is huge for a non-profit organization. It’s great to be recognized by OAC.”

TRUMBULL COUNTY

Four Trumbull County organizations received a total of $21,586: Medici Museum of Art, $14,281 (sustainability); Warren Philharmonic Orchestra, $3,409 (ArtSTART); Fine Arts Council of Trumbull County, $2,618 (ArtSTART); and Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership, $1,278 (sustainability).

TNP was the only Trumbull organization funded in the 2025 budget.

Medici Executive Director Katelyn Amendolara-Russo said, “I’m really grateful to the Ohio Arts Council for this support, because it plays a crucial role in helping to sustain our exhibition and educational initiatives and community programs. Flexible funding empowers innovation and accessibility for all ages here, which is great.”

Leanna Dunaway, assistant executive director of the Warren Philharmonic Orchestra, said its targeted grant will help fund the orchestra’s annual children’s concert, covering such expenses as the rental fee for Lakeview High School auditorium to the cost of printed materials given to the students attending the performance.

Jessica King, president of FACT’s board, said the OAC money will help cover the cost of free workshops, such as its free Kids Club workshops every other Saturday at Art on Park in Warren, and its lecture series.

“The arts are so vital to the community, and getting funds like this just helps us to be able to continue to provide free programming, which a lot of places are not able to do,” King said.

Four Columbiana County organizations received a total of $16,826 — Stage Left Players, $7,769 (sustainability); Lepper Library, $5,507 (sustainability); Burchfield Homestead, $2,515 (ArtSTART); and Salem Chamber of Commerce, $1,035 (sustainability).