ArtsWave announced a $25,000 matching gift from Cintas Cares to support its More Arts, More Kids initiative, which aims to double the impact of community donations and expanding access to arts field trips for local students.
The match helps build toward a $250,000 goal and is part of ArtsWave’s annual community campaign for the arts, which is underway now, according to a press release from ArtsWave.
The matching gift comes at a time when student access to arts experiences remains limited nationwide. According to a 2024 federal survey, only 54% of U.S. public schools report offering arts-based field trips.
Through More Arts, More Kids, ArtsWave is working to change that locally.
Each year through the initiative, nearly 20,000 students across the Cincinnati region attend curriculum-based arts field trips at no cost to their schools or families, according to a press release. The average cost of providing one of these experiences is about $20 per student, but thanks to the support from Cintas Cares, donations will now go further, with every $20 donated sending two students.
Anna Coutts, senior manager of community engagement and executive director of the Cintas Cares Foundation said she believes the arts have an impact in helping young people grow, express themselves and see new possibilities.
“We’re proud to support ArtsWave’s work to ensure these experiences are within reach for more students across our region,” Coutts said.
The initiative is designed to remove financial barriers and ensure that students across the region have meaningful, in-person arts experiences that support learning and development, the release said.
“This program ensures that every student has the chance to experience the arts as part of their education,” said Shauna Murphy, superintendent of Cincinnati Public Schools where every first through sixth grader will go on a field trip this year. “For our students, these field trips bring classroom lessons to life, spark curiosity and create moments of connection that stay with them long after the day is over.”
Cincinnati Public Schools is one of several districts participating in the program including Ludlow Independent Schools, Northern Kentucky Cooperative for Education Services, Hamilton City Schools and Catholic Inner City Schools.
ArtsWave is encouraging both new and returning donors to participate in the Cintas Cares match to expand access to the More Arts More Kids initiative. To have their gifts matched, the public is encouraged to donate at artswave.org/morekids.
