You helped raise $12.45 million for the arts

It's always been big and old. The biggest and the oldest of its kind, actually, in the country.

But ArtsWave Community Campaign is not acting its age: The 67-year-old project is still growing.

The arts nonprofit announced Thursday that it raised a record-breaking amount of gifts in the campaign this year, reaching its goal of $12.45 million. That's about $200,000 more than last year's total.

"The incremental increases mean that thousands of people are agreeing to do a little more ... To be able to sustain this level of a campaign in our economy and in changing world is a phenomenal accomplishment," said Alecia Kintner, ArtsWave CEO and president.

Jill P. Meyer, president and CEO of the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, is campaign co-chair with her husband, Awadagin Pratt, pianist and artist-in-residence at University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

Meyer joined the effort because she wanted to bridge the gap between the arts and business communities.

She built that link by promoting the arts' role in the city's economic vibrancy, Meyer said. Businesses are looking for more talent and cultural offerings help attract and retain these in-demand potential employees, she noted.

"The arts is not just fluff," she said. "It's a must-have."

The ArtsWave Community Campaign is also doing more than expanding. It's evolving with the city that it relies on and supports.

That movement now includes a fundraising challenge by the Cincinnati USA Regional Tourism Network, which was also announced Thursday. The RTN will match up to $500,000 each year for three years. So far, ArtsWave has collected $365,000 in early pledges.

Add in current results of that partnership to the community campaign. Now, ArtsWave has raised $13.18 million for arts grants, services and marketing initiatives.

The two organizations will also produce a new marketing campaign to increase awareness of the area as a cultural tourism destination.

"What we know about the both of us is that we are, by model and by design, collaborative organizations," said Linda Antus, CEO and president of the Cincinnati USA Regional Tourism Network. " ... We already collaborate with (area convention and visitors bureaus), the attractions and the hotels. Bringing in an organization that is an arts advocate is a wonderful, unique layer."

The Community Campaign also featured a few new initiatives this year created to engage new audiences this year.

"There were so many facets that were so much fun that engaged people in new ways," Kintner said.  This includes a Toast to the Arts, a drink contest with more than 35 local restaurants and bars, and the Tidal Art x Tech Challenge, an arts innovation challenge.

It worked: Meyer noted that the number of African-American contributors tripled. The number of women involved also increased.

Here's are some more highlights of the campaign announcement:

• More than $70,000: Amount raised through CincySings, the choral competition. 
• 40,000: Early estimate of the number of people who contributed to or engaged in the community campaign. 
• More than 13,000: Number of employees and retirees who contributed from the three largest workplace campaigns: Procter & Gamble, Fifth Third Bank and GE.
• More than 11,000: People who attended this year's Macy’s Arts Sampler weekend.
• Nearly 4,000: Donors younger than 40 who, in total, contributed more than $500,000.
• 1,000: Individuals who pledged $1,500 or more.
• $75: Most commonly donated amount. Most donations are under $150. 

How can I help?

ArtsWave supports more than 100 arts organizations in Greater Cincinnati. To learn more and to donate, visit www.theartswave.org.