Established in 1965, its mission is to "foster and encourage the development of the arts and assist the preservation of Ohio's cultural heritage."
In 2010, it moved back Downtown, into the Rhodes State Office Tower, its current location.
[1] In January 2021, Susan Allan Block, wife of the owner of Block Communications, resigned from the Ohio Arts Council after she posted vulgar comments about Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and support for the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol.
Informed by focus groups, one-on-one interviews, site visits to organizations and communities, and a statewide survey of all 88 counties—the State Arts Plan serves as the foundation for the agency's future.
Four actions areas: INVEST, ENGAGE, INNOVATE and LEAD underpin the plan, guiding program prioritization and resource deployment.