Ohio Citizens for the Arts

Keeping the arts strong in Ohio.

Ohio Citizens for the Arts (OCA), established in 1976 as the Ohio Citizens Committee for the Arts, is a volunteer, nonprofit grassroots organization working to increase public support for the arts in Ohio. Through the efforts of thousands of individuals and arts and education organizations, OCA advocates on behalf of the Ohio Arts Council and the greater arts communities throughout the state. Ohio Citizens for the Arts, a 501(c)4 lobbying organization, works in tandem with the Ohio Citizens for the Arts Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization, to leverage funds and support for the arts and arts education statewide.

Being based in the state capitol permits Ohio Citizens for the Arts to develop sound relationships with Ohio’s elected officials. Much of OCA’s efforts are thus focused on educating these individuals and their staff on the benefits that the arts and arts education bring to Ohioans on a daily basis. Fostering these relationships helps to maintain support and funding for the Ohio Arts Council, keeping Ohio’s arts and cultural communities alive. Ohio Citizens for the Arts Foundation presents Ohio Arts Day, an advocacy event that takes place every spring. After a morning of legislative visits, this event creates an opportunity for Ohio’s arts advocates and state legislators to recognize the achievements of professionals receiving the Governor’s Awards for the Arts in Ohio at a celebratory luncheon.

Nationally, Ohio Citizens for the Arts partners with other state arts advocacy groups, as well as Americans for the Arts, to ensure federal appropriations for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), which has a long history of supporting the arts in Ohio, including the Ohio Arts Council. These annual funding allocations allow Ohioans to engage in creative pursuits, enriching the lives and communities for citizens across the state. The benefits and opportunities that these federal dollars create cannot be disputed, making crucial the need for increased arts advocacy in the United States Congress.

Members of Ohio Citizens for the Arts are kept abreast of current policy issues both statewide and nationally through action alerts, information alerts, and a monthly e-newsletter. OCA also travels throughout Ohio to assist organizations in establishing and improving their advocacy committees, provides presentations on the value of arts advocacy, and encourages all to be active and effective participants in governmental affairs. Please make use of the E-Advocacy Center, which is located at the top of the homepage. Take a moment to write to your legislators and help them understand why the arts are important to you and your community. In and through the arts, Ohioans can support jobs, education, and economic development together. These investments in our communities and culture will improve the quality of life across the state.

We must forge ahead in our efforts to educate policy makers about the value of and need for the arts in Ohio. We must continue to deliver the message that the arts in Ohio are part of the solution. The arts are economic drivers that generate revenue:

Creative industries contribute more than $25 billion to Ohio's economy annually
Creative industries support 231,200 jobs in Ohio's economy annually
Creative industries generate $1.06 billion in state and local tax revenues annually
Creative industries generate $1.78 billion in federal tax revenues annually

Ohio Citizens for the Arts is committed to help you, your organization, and your community to continue the fight for arts funding. Together we can educate and prepare legislators to be better equipped to make the right decisions about investing in the arts.

We welcome you to become a member of our organization today! If you are already a member, invite your friends and colleagues to join you in supporting the arts in Ohio!