COVINGTON, Ky. — ArtsWave and MeetNKY have launched the Northern Kentucky Creative Placemaking Grant, aiding organizations and artists using art to transform communities.
Inside the Center for Great Neighborhood, with skilled hands and a patient rhythm, artist Charlotte Reed works to twist and pull each strand of wool with precision, despite being visually impaired.
“I’m drafting it out. So, I’m pulling the fibers out. And then I’m using this drop spindle to create some spin,” Reed explained. “That spin causes twist in the fibers. And this is how we create yarn.”
Reed was diagnosed with Stargardt disease at 14 years old. Stargardt disease is an inherited condition which leads to vision loss. Reed credits her family with helping her explore art in various ways. Now, nearly four years later, she shares her passion through Art Equals, an organization that strives to make art more accessible for the community.
“Art equals is really about, creating spaces where we can bring people together and give them opportunities to create,” Reed said.
Last year, Art Equals received the ArtsWave Catalyst Grant, helping fund multiple projects, including the “Create While You Wait Packets,” designed to place have art activities in locations one would not typically think of like doctor offices.
“ArtsWave was actually our first granter. And so we’re really appreciative of, they’re taking a chance on us,” Reed said.
Rachael Parker, director of Northern Kentucky Creative Placemaking said ArtsWave and MeetNKY want to help northern Kentucky artists like Reed to grow communal relationships and economically.
“The arts and creative placemaking, having the ability to transform our communities,” Parker said. “They do that through social, economic and physical change, which instills pride in residents and attracts visitors. And it really creates a regional connectivity for everyone living here,” she continued.
Leaders at the Center for Great Neighborhoods, who have also received grants from ArtsWave, emphasized how funding art not only help artist, but it is also a tool to bring people together.
“It’s not a one size fits all kind of thing,” said Jameela Salaah, program director at the Center for Great Neighborhoods. “You want to be able to have different projects and programs, and different ways of thinking to have a successful community, to be able to grow that community.”
Reed said she’ll continue to show that we all have a little artist in us.
“I wanted to be able to share that with everybody else because, I think so often people are told you’re not artistic, and so they think that means they can’t be creative,” she shared.
Applications for the Northern Kentucky Creative Placemaking Grant are open until March 15 at 5:00 p.m. Eligible artist and organizations can receive up to $10,000 per project. Funded projects will take place between June 1, 2025, and May 31, 2026, with a focus on strengthening northern Kentucky’s cultural and economic vitality.
