Grants & Programs | Ohio Arts Council's Heritage Fellowships

Ohio Heritage Fellowships

In 2003 the Ohio Arts Council partnered with the Ohio Folk Arts Network to create the Ohio Heritage Fellowships to honor Ohio folk artists or groups who are the finest and most influential masters of their particular art forms and traditions.

Ohio Heritage Fellows are among our state's living cultural treasures. They embody the highest level of artistic achievement in their work and the highest level of service in the teaching and other work they do in their communties to ensure that their traditions stay strong.

Each year, the Ohio Arts Council will award up to three $1,500 Ohio Heritage Fellowships to individuals or groups whose work in the folk arts has had a significant impact on the people and communities of the state. The folk and traditional arts grow out of particular cultures and are recognized as the artistic expressions of ethnic, linguistic, occupational or regional groups. The Fellowships will honor Ohio master folk and traditional artists or groups who carry forward the folk traditions of their families and communities through practice and teaching. One of the fellowships may be awarded to an individual or group whose achievements have had a positive impact on the excellence, vitality and public appreciation of folk and traditional arts in Ohio.

The OAC considers nominations for Ohio Heritage Fellowships in three categories: performing arts (folk dance and music), community leadership, and material culture (folk art and crafts). The performing arts and material culture fellowships are given to individuals or groups for their lifelong record of artistic excellence, authenticity and significance. The community leadership fellowship is given to an individual or group whose lifelong achievements have had a lasting positive impact on the excellence, vitality and public appreciation of the folk and traditional arts in Ohio.

To nominate a folk artist or outstanding community leader in the traditional arts for the Ohio Heritage Fellowships please use the Web-based online application form at www.oac.state.oh.us/Search/OhioHeritageFellowships//SearchFellowshipNominations.asp. You can also search the list of previous nominees on this page. Deadline for the 2007 Fellowship Nominations is July 15, 2007*. Nominations are reviewed by a panel of experts in the folk and traditional arts. Awards will be announced in the fall. Self-nomination is not permitted. Nominees must be Ohio residents.

*When a deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, the OAC will accept applications until 5 p.m. on the next business day.

2006 Heritage Fellowship Recipients

Performing Arts

RAY SPONAUGLE from Newton Falls has been playing the fiddle most of his life. He plays with some of the country�s most renowned performers, and shares his gift and his love of music with school children, retirement home residents, and at open jam sessions and other community events. Sponaugle has won the Mid-American Fiddling Contest twice.

Material Culture

BOB WHITE from Coolville is recognized as one of the finest stringed-instrument builders in the United States. He designed and created the custom-made Gibson F model mandolin. He began playing Bluegrass music as a young man and his instrument building and repair work began soon after. White�s mandolins are renowned for their structural integrity, sound and visual appearance.

Community Leadership

CLEVELAND HUNGARIAN HERITAGE SOCIETY serves the large Hungarian community in Northeastern Ohio. The Society has almost 200 members and it is involved with 42 Hungarian social and cultural organizations based in and around Cleveland including cultural gardens, music and dance groups. The all-volunteer Society operates their museum and library as a historical, cultural and artistic center. They promote public appreciation of Hungarian folk and traditional arts through exhibitions, seminars, lectures, a newsletter, oral history project, and performances involving music, dance and traditional costumes.