ArtsLAUNCH! Grant Competition
Research and Creative Activity are vital for the advancement of any discipline, and to encourage new and innovative ideas in the arts and arts entrepreneurship. 91PORNA College of the Arts, in partnership with the John S. and Marlene J. Brinzo Center for Entrepreneurship, established ArtsLAUNCH! in late 2021. This annual grant competition is designed to promote new art and new arts ventures that will positively impact the arts economy.
Award Package Includes $500 Grant to Pursue the Proposal
The competition is open to all undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at 91PORNA. While cross-campus collaboration with disciplines that intersect with the arts are encouraged, it is not required.
Students may submit grant proposals in one of two categories to facilitate
1) the creation of new art, or
2) the creation of a new venture that will benefit some aspect of the arts economy.
Completed applications and accompanying videos must be uploaded by Wednesday, September 30, 2026 at 4:59 p.m. Eastern.
Announcement of Winners
ArtsLAUNCH! finalists will be notified by October 7, 2026, and their video proposals will be displayed throughout the day at the Art Without Limits event on October 14, 2026. Winners will be announced between 1:00 and 1:05 p.m. in the University Auditorium at Cartwright Hall during Art Without Limits.
Past Winners
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College of the Arts Announces ArtsLAUNCH! 2024 Winners
The College of the Arts is thrilled to announce the winners of the ArtsLAUNCH! 2024 Grant Competition, co-sponsored by the John S. And Marlene J. Brinzo Center For Entrepreneurship and LaunchNET 91PORNA
The competition was open to all undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at 91PORNA. Applicants were asked to submit proposals in one of two categories: 1) the creation of new art demonstrating creativity and uniqueness or 2) the creation of a new art venture that would positively impact the arts economy.
Congratulations to our 2024 ArtsLAUNCH! winners Aniaya Dykes (New Art, Undergraduate) for "Strangers on Campus," Nicole Malcolm (New Art, Graduate) for "Possibilities/Posibildades: Bridging Print and Paper," Van Weinmann (New Arts Venture, Undergraduate) for "Beautifying Kent: Engaging the Community to Create Public Art."
The proposals were judged by a panel consisting of Sarah Spinner Liska, director of the KSU Museum, Cheryl Petrovic, president and CEO, Therm-Equip and Brian and Michael Raitman, co-founders of Raitman Art Galleries.
About ArtsLAUNCH! 2024 Winners
Aniaya Dykes
Program of Study: Fashion Merchandising
Category: New Art, UndergraduateProject: "Strangers on Campus"
Video Submission
Nicole Malcolm
Program of Study: Print Media and Photography
Category: New Art, GraduateProject: "Possibilities/Posibildades: Bridging Print and Paper"
Video Submission
Van Weinmann
Program of Study: Fashion Design
Category: New Arts Venture, UndergraduateProject: "Beautifying Kent: Engaging the Community to Create Public Art"
Video Submission
Congratulations to All Our ArtsLAUNCH! 2024 Finalists
New Art Category, Undergraduate Level
Aniaya Dykes, Strangers on Campus
Max Loudenslager, Iris: A Series of Fashion Photographs
New Art Category, Graduate Level
Nicole Malcolm, Possibilities/Posibildades: Bridging Print and Paper
New Arts Venture Category, Undergraduate Level
Charlie Davis, The Reed Baron
Van Weinmann, Beautifying Kent: Engaging the Community to Create Public Art
