Accelerator Grants

The Accelerator Grant, administered by The Arts Commission in Toledo, Ohio, is a competitive funding opportunity that provides local artists with small-scale, rapid-turnaround grants to support their professional development and creative projects. The program is structured to accommodate emerging and established artists working across diverse disciplines, including but not limited to visual, literary, musical, and performing arts. The grant is intended to help artists make tangible progress in their practices through support for project costs, equipment, materials, and professional development opportunities. Each grant awards up to $1,500 and must be used within 90 days of the award being disbursed. Artists are also required to submit a final report within 120 days of receiving funds. This is not a reimbursement-based grant, so expenses must be planned for the grant period and may not include prior purchases. Ineligible expenses include rent, overhead, or duplicate funding of previously supported items. Applicants must live or have a creative studio within a 30-mile radius of downtown Toledo, and the program is currently open only to individuals and artist collectives. Nonprofits and organizations are not eligible. The 2025 Accelerator Grant operates in two cycles. Cycle 2 applications are currently open from July 7 through July 27, 2025, with a firm submission deadline of 11:59 PM Eastern on July 27. Applications must be submitted online via the Good Grants platform. Artists who applied but were not selected in Cycle 1 are encouraged to reapply in Cycle 2. Applications are reviewed by a diverse panel, including an Arts Commission board member, representatives from Toledo and the Midwest arts communities, and The Arts Commission’s leadership team in ex-officio roles. Evaluation criteria include dedication to artistic practice, artistic merit, career impact, and public/community engagement. During the review process, early August is reserved for initial scoring and comments. This is followed by a Zoom panel discussion in mid-August, where funding recommendations are finalized. Artists are expected to receive decisions via email shortly after the panel convenes. Grant outcomes can range from full funding, partial funding, conditional funding, denial with suggestions for resubmission, denial, or deferral for further review. Though artists may apply to both cycles in a year, those who receive a grant must wait two years before reapplying. The program is generously supported by the Ohio Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional promotional opportunities are provided through the Arts Commission, including potential exhibition features like “Interconnected,” which showcases work by past Accelerator and Merit Award recipients. For questions or further guidance, applicants may contact Liz Bayan via email at LBayan@theartscommission.org or by phone at 419-254-2787. The Arts Commission offices are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM and are located at 1838 Parkwood Avenue, Suite 120, Toledo, OH 43604.

Ensure your request is specific, itemized, and connected directly to your creative practice. Do not use grant funds for rent or previously purchased items. Avoid full reliance on AI-written responses; personalize your application.