Columbus to spend $20 million on city arts scene
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Columbus City Council has approved more than $20 million to support the arts in the city. However, it's not money that comes from the general fund; instead, it comes from tourists and residents.
You may be used to dealing with pesky ticket fees and probably don't want to see any extra. However, here in Columbus, the local hotel and event tax make it so the arts here in the city can thrive.
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'We funded 1,500 artists last year and 108 arts organizations; we'll do the same or more this year,' Greater Columbus Arts Council President and CEO Tom Katzenmeyer said.
When a customer buys a ticket or a hotel room in the city, there's a small local tax. That money goes into a pot that is then given to the Greater Columbus Arts Council to invest in Columbus arts.
'The ticket fee was actually put in place right before the pandemic and so many of us were cringing of will this come back? Will this be an industry that is viable? And the answer is absolutely yes,' Columbus City Councilmember Nick Bankston said. 'These are numbers that are surpassing what we saw in 2019 and pre-pandemic.'
In 2024 $24.6 million was raised from the hotel and cultural fee and is now going to the Greater Columbus Arts Council for them to invest in the city.
'It really shows, again, that our economy is booming and back, but more importantly, that the arts are back in Columbus and that folks are willing to spend that money,' Bankston said.
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This money makes pay-what-you-can admission, artist grants, murals and much more possible.
'I've been in this job for 12 years,' Katzenmeyer said. 'When I started, we were just receiving the bed tax. We then worked with city council to start a new fee, the ticket fee, and we now also get money from the Franklin County Commissioners. So it adds up to about $25 to $30 million depending on where those things land.'
Columbus residents and visitors can see the money at work, for example, with the mural assistance program. It launched in 2022 and has funded 81 new murals across the city.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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The food truck is available for catered parties and also appears at local events. © 2025 Vox Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Link copied to the clipboard. Just behind Stone Avenue is a convenience store that the North Main neighborhood fervently supports. The Drop-In Store offers one of everything, but during the week at lunchtime, chef Maria Gomes prepares Goan dishes, including curry and feijoada, as well as burgers, butter chicken wraps, and chicken chili enchiladas. There are two types of tacos too, including a shrimp variety made with South Carolina shrimp. Half the neighborhood will be there, and that's half the fun. There are at least seven tables if you want to bring a laptop and work too. Harry's Hoagies draws a lunch crowd to the Historic Overbrook neighborhood. 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Open in Google Maps Foursquare The Jones Oyster Co. does not take reservations, and its small, but well-designed dining room has quickly become a top spot for lunch. Chowder and chargrilled oysters stand out on the menu, and fresh oysters are exceptionally clean and cut nicely off the shell. A smoked fish dip app is delicious, and the wine-by-the-glass list is interesting, especially for white wine. In a fun nod, chef Brant Teske puts Hellmann's mayo on the lobster roll but Duke's mayo on his po-boy. The hush puppies feel more akin to fried corn fritters. Global ingredients are the push at Latin fusion cafe Asada. Features at the counter service restaurant include choclo tacos, burger arepas, okonomiyaki, and lomo saltado poutine, but lots of regulars show up for carne asada tacos with perfectly seasoned pico de gallo. Owner Gina Petti grew up on the West Coast to Italian and Japanese parents. Her upbringing is reflected in the beverage menu, which features sangria, hibiscus tea, local beer, wine, and sake. Bright paintings in the dining room are by Petti's husband, Roberto Cortez, who was a gifted artist. Open in Google Maps Foursquare Ali Saifi opened Pomegranate on Main to share what he calls the spirit of Iranian hospitality with Greenville, his adopted hometown. The bistro on South Main Street, with its lovely, tiled courtyard, offers open-flame kabobs, wraps on freshly baked flatbread, and dips like the smoky mirza ghasemi, featuring roasted eggplant, tomato, and garlic. In the winter, fresenjan, a pomegranate and walnut stew, satisfies, and entree salads feel complete with diced vegetables, lentils, raisins, chopped mint, and a cumin lime dressing. Open in Google Maps Foursquare Though open for breakfast, it's lunch Monday through Friday that folks line up for at OJ's Diner. Olin Johnson set out to reinvent Southern soul food with whole foods. Daily specials tend to sell out, especially the fried chicken and sauced ribs on Fridays. Table service is warm and efficient; it's possible to drown in the amount of tea served. Cobbler is made in-house and changes seasonally. Stewed greens and fried okra are notable side dishes. A slice of life gathers in the dining room over biscuits and cornbread. Open in Google Maps Foursquare It's funny to call Jasmine Kitchen a social enterprise cafe because it's so darn cheery, replete with a floral mural by notable Greenville artist Jean Wilson Freeman, but its mission is clear: to raise money and train area women who have survived abuse, human trafficking, and addiction creating a path to sustained employment. Open Monday through Friday for lunch, the counter-service restaurant produces excellent soups, sandwiches, and salads along with old-school pound cake that's worth ordering. The 105-year-old converted yellow cottage also has a lot for off-street parking. 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The Hip Sauce alone is worth the drive to either location, and the chicken nuggets might be as craveable as the burgers. The food truck is available for catered parties and also appears at local events. Open in Google Maps Foursquare
