Cultural Tourism Grants

The Cultural Tourism Grants, administered through a partnership between ArtsinStark and Visit Canton, are designed to increase regional visitation and drive economic growth in Stark County, Ohio through support for arts and cultural initiatives. These grants aim to attract new visitors from outside Stark County by enhancing community events and programming with strong cultural and artistic components. The grant program is part of Visit Canton's broader effort to leverage cultural experiences to boost tourism and regional development. Eligible applicants for this grant include a range of organizations or events that fall within categories such as visual arts, museums, performing arts, theaters, historic attractions, cultural sites, and community festivals. Projects must offer distinctive experiences that contribute cultural or artistic value to the area and are not commonly available within a 90-mile radius or 90-day timeframe. Proposals from for-profit organizations are permitted, provided they demonstrate clear partnerships or economic benefits to the community. Each project must be partially funded through other sources, with a required minimum of 50% matching funds, which may include in-kind or other grant funding. Allowable expenses vary by project type. For example, up to $20,000 may be requested for temporary exhibitions or national entertainment acts, while community festivals may request up to $5,000 for cultural programming and marketing. However, funding cannot be used for venue rentals, staffing, or food and alcohol costs. Repeat projects must demonstrate new investments and cannot use funds for recurring expenses. The application process is competitive, and organizations may submit multiple proposals per cycle, but total grant awards cannot exceed $20,000 per cycle. All applications must be submitted online via Visit Canton's grant portal at least 90 days before the project execution date. Required materials include detailed project descriptions, operational and marketing budgets, performer/vendor quotes, and attendance projections. Applications are scored based on completeness and collaborative value. Grant Cycle #2 is currently open and supports projects running from July 1 to December 31, 2026. Applications are accepted from February 18 through March 20, 2026, with award announcements made by April 1, 2026. Fund distribution is split into two disbursements: 70% upon signing a Memorandum of Understanding and 30% after the submission and approval of a final evaluation report. The report must include financial details, visitor statistics, and demonstrated community impact. Noncompliance may result in forfeiture of the remaining funds and affect eligibility in future grant cycles. Applicants with questions or in need of clarification are encouraged to contact Allison Gromofsky, Senior Manager of Community & Partner Relations, at allisong@visitcanton.com. This grant is issued annually and follows a consistent cycle to ensure ongoing support for arts-driven tourism in Stark County.

Collaboration with multiple partners is highly desired; complete all application components for scoring consideration.