Peter Capell Award

We want this opportunity to be accessible to all and will work with applicants who need to use other means to apply. Alternative application options may include, but are not limited to:

• Using an adapted form in Microsoft Word (available upon request)
• Sharing a video application (available upon request)
• Working over the phone with a program manager on any questions about the application

Please contact Carlianne Jorve, program manager, as early as possible with accessibility requests. We may not be able to accommodate requests made after October 1, 2026. Carlianne can be reached at carlianne@artsmidwest.org, or you can sign up to attend office hours.

You may also enlist assistance from another person to complete the application. Please see the “How to Apply” section for more information.

If you are interested in nominating someone, please reach out directly to Carlianne Jorve to discuss the process. She will assist nominators in working directly with the nominee to complete the nomination to ensure accuracy of data and secure consent to nominate.

Arts Midwest welcomes applications for creative leaders that reflect a range of perspectives, locations, and experience. To be eligible for the 2026 award, you must:

• Live and/or work within Ohio, with your primary impact should be within that geographic region.
• Be employed by an organization that offers creative or cultural programming as a manager, director, or similar position. Organizations may be nonprofit or for-profit.
• Have a demonstrated history of engaging in partnerships and collegiality within the community in which you work.
• Have at least 10 years of experience in the field.

 Arts Midwest grants and awards are always open to Native Nations and communities sharing geography with the region now called the Midwest. Though Ohio does not currently share geography with any federally recognized tribal communities or nations, it is the ancestral home of the Erie, Kickapoo and Shawnee, and we encourage Native leaders to apply for this award.

The following individuals are not eligible for the award:

• Current Arts Midwest Board and staff members, and their families.
• Elected officials.

• September 1, 2026: Applications open
• October 6, 2026: Applications close
• October – November 2026: Panel review
• November 2026: Awardee announced

Arts Midwest uses SmartSimple grants portal for applications. You must register in the system before you apply, if you are a new user. Please follow the steps below to complete your registration and your application.

Step 1: Registration (for new users only)

1. Register in our SmartSimple grants portal
2. On the registration page, click “Individuals”
3. Input your information.
4. Once you have filled out your registration and submitted, you will receive an email with a login link. Click on the login link.
5. The link will take you to a screen where you will create a new password for your account. Then click submit.
6. Once you have created the password, you will receive a verification code in your email. Copy the verification code from that email, and paste in the box on the login page.
7. Now you’re in the SmartSimple portal! Make sure your profile is correct. Go to the top right corner with your name letter symbol and click on Personal Profile. Confirm the info is correct from your registration.

Step 2: Application

Navigate to the Individual Portal Home. To begin the application, click on “Begin a new application.” Click “Apply Now” on Peter Capell Award.

Click save and begin your application.

For the first question:

• If you completed the registration for yourself, click “I’m filling out this application for myself.” Your registration information will appear.
• If you registered yourself as the artist and are getting assistance with the application, you may click “I’m getting assistance filling out this application for myself” and it will prompt you to share your assistant’s contact information.

You will be asked to submit:

• Eligibility questions

• Narrative: In 500 words or fewer, please explain why you are an exceptional candidate for this award based on your entrepreneurial thinking, creative accomplishments, and community commitment.

• Supporting documentation: Please upload one file that showcases your entrepreneurial thinking, creative accomplishments, and community commitment.
  • Documents should be no more than two pages. Video or audio files must be no more than 5 minutes in length.
  • Examples include resumes, portfolios, press coverage, brochures, 5-minute audio or video files.

You will receive an email confirming receipt of your application. Arts Midwest staff will contact you if we have any questions.

Arts Midwest staff members will review nominations for eligibility and will send all eligible applications to an independent panel, who will recommend a winner to Mr. Capell for his concurrence.

The panel will use the following review criteria to assess nominations:

• Entrepreneurial thinking: Does the applicant demonstrate entrepreneurial thinking, business acumen, and innovation in their work and accomplishments?

• Creative accomplishments: Does the applicant’s work include notable accomplishments in creativity, arts, and/or cultural programming?

• Community commitment: Does the applicant demonstrate a commitment to and action toward increasing access to the arts, creativity, and/or cultural programming? Has the applicant/nominee fostered cross-sector partnerships that advance creativity and build communities?

The award recipient will receive a $2,500 unrestricted cash award from Arts Midwest.

The Peter Capell Award does not have any reporting requirements for awardees.

If you are selected, we will work with you to create a press release and blog post featuring your work, and provide you with a press kit if you would like to announce your award on social media.

If you have additional questions, we invite you to join Grants Manager Carlianne Jorve for office hours. You can sign up for office hours at the links below:

• September 16, 2026, from 11am-12pm EDT. Sign up here.
• September 30, 2026, from 2-3pm EDT. Sign up here.