"We hope to make the grants system more consistent and equitable for all applicants," says Sue Neumann, deputy director of the Ohio Arts Council.

Grant panels review funding requests and make recommendations to the Ohio Arts Council Board. This year, for the first time, many panels will be cross-disciplinary, and organizations’ requests for operating and project support will be considered separately. Grant amounts will no longer be determined by disciplines but by how an application ranks compared to all others received by the Arts Council during the grant period. Panelists will use a standard criteria and point system to judge the applications. The Board will meet in June to allocate funds based on those scores.

Panel meetings, which are open to the public, have always featured discussions that are informative to applicants, potential applicants and others. Under the new format, they promise to be even more robust. "In cross-disciplinary panels, it seems that more questions are asked and more information is shared because less is assumed," Neumann says. "At all panel meetings audience members can learn about other programs going on across the state, how to make a stronger application and what other funding sources are available. Each panel will set aside time to discuss policies, making sure the OAC meets the needs of our clients. Audience participation is encouraged during this phase."

Panel meetings planned for February include the Artist’s Projects Program, Performing Arts on Tour Program Artists and Visual Arts Operating Support. For dates, times or more information call 614/ 466-2613.