2025 Recipients of The Arts Commissionʼs New Project Grant Program Announced

The Arts Commission is pleased to announce the recipients for the 2025 Project Grant. The Arts Commission deeply values the vibrant and diverse creative community that defines Toledo. We recognize the important role artists play in shaping the city's identity and are dedicated to supporting their growth and sustainability.

Through our granting programs, The Arts Commission offers direct support to artists at different stages of their careers, helping them pursue new projects, develop their creative practice, and contribute to the regionʼs cultural landscape.

The Project Grant, launched in May 2025, is a competitive program offering financial support to artists of all mediums to create or complete original works of art that show artistic growth and creative experimentation.

This all-new grant program received 49 eligible applications, which were reviewed by a panel of local artists, arts professionals, and board members who then made funding recommendations.

Nearly $15,000 was awarded to five artists. The recipients are:

Alex Goetz, Filmmaker

Alex Goetz is a wildlife filmmaker and photographer based in Toledo, Ohio, and co-founder of Running Wild Media. He has contributed to outlets such as National Geographic, PBS, CNN, and was a winner of the National Geographic WILD "Wild to Inspire" film competition. This project is a short narrative film that follows a group of determined kids as they band together to rescue turtles attempting to cross busy roads. This film aims to be more than just heartfelt and entertaining—itʼs designed to spark awareness and educate viewers on how we can coexist with local wildlife and take simple, actionable steps to help protect it.

Filmmaker Alex Goetzʼs funded project is a short narrative film that follows a group of determined kids as they band together to rescue turtles attempting to cross busy roads. When asked about the project Goetz said, “This project is a bit out of my comfort zone, as it represents my first foray into scripted fictional storytelling based on real-world wildlife challenges. I've been eager to find a way to tell more stories based in the Midwest, and specifically my community in Northwest Ohio, that could have a real positive impact for wildlife.ˮ Alex says, "This project is a slight departure from the documentary work I typically create, and a first attempt at creating a narrative film. So to have the support and partnership of The Arts Commission means a great deal."

Kayla Kirk, Ceramic Artist

This project is exciting because it's my return to conceptual art making in over four years. Over the past five years I've poured all of my development as a ceramicist into functional pottery. My soul needs to make this work. I feel I finally have my business in a place where I can devote the time and energy into making this important work that hopefully many people will be able to resonate with. In 2017, Kayla Kirk graduated from the University of Toledo with a BFA in Sculpture and a BA in Art History. Kaylaʼs work is guided by personal narrative and energized by the magical transformation of raw clay into fine art.

Ceramic artist, Kayla Kirk, is creating a new body of sculptural work centered around themes of grief, upheaval, and the rebirth that comes out of loss. The work will be shown at the University of Toledoʼs CVA Gallery in the fall of 2026. “Being awarded the Project