The Ohio Arts Council’s board met this week and approved 75 awards for Ohio artists, including three from Lorain County and one from Cuyahoga County, through the agency’s Individual Excellence Awards program, according to a news release.

Artists Donna Coleman, Myles Dunigan, Rachel Mentzer all of Oberlin, and Liz Maugans of Bay Village, were recognized in the visual arts 2D category for their outstanding accomplishments, the release said.

Each approved artist will receive a $5,000 award, according to the release.

Award funding totals $375,000 for state fiscal year 2025, the release said.

“Every year, the Individual Excellence Award recipients showcase the exceptional artistic talent across Ohio,” said Donna S. Collins, executive director of the Ohio Arts Council, in the release. “This year’s awardees demonstrate that artists can build thriving and sustained careers here in the Buckeye State.”

Awards give artists the resources to experiment and explore their art forms, develop skills and advance their careers, and receive affirmation and acknowledgment for outstanding work, according to the release.

Funding recommendations for Individual Excellence Awards are made through an anonymous, open panel review process focused on the exceptional merit of past artistic work, the release said.

During this funding cycle, nearly 600 applications were received from artists from across the state.

Applications in crafts, design, interdisciplinary, media arts, photography, visual arts 2D, and visual arts 3D were accepted, according to the release.

The Ohio Arts Council is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally and economically.

For more information about the Ohio Arts Council’s grant programs, visit oac.ohio.gov/grants.