About the Commission
The Commission was established in 1988 as the Ohio Arts Facilities Commission, through chapter 3383 of the Ohio Revised Code. As indicated by the name, our focus then
was only on arts facilities. Through the years, our responsibilities have been increased by the General Assembly to include funding
oversight for projects at science and technology museums, local historical facilities, state historical sites and professional sports venues. This led to a 1996 change in our name to the Ohio Arts & Sports Facilities Commission. After review by the Commission and the legislature in 2004, our name was changed to the Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission to better fit our mission and scope.
The General Assembly and Governor assign projects to the Commission in the state's biennial capital improvements bills. Since 1988, $485 million has been appropriated for nearly 300 projects of various sizes and complexities. These projects are spread among 65 Ohio counties.
The Commission does not have discretionary control over decisions regarding capital funds. Likewise, the Commission does not play a formal role in deciding which projects to fund, but can assist communities and state officials in determining project eligibility upon request. Rather, our role is to
establish and implement operational policies and oversight mechanisms to ensure that the state resources entrusted to its care
are spent properly. We protect state interests by verifying that each project has significant community support and a solid
management plan.
After projects are assigned to the Commission, our staff works with communities and project sponsors to assist them through the required processes. These include project management assistance, funding administration and contract oversight. Careful planning and supervision by the Commission help maximize the impact of the State's investment by ensuring the projects, once completed, will operate successfully. This protects the state from future costs and liabilities that result from investing in projects that may fail.
The Commission is not involved with day-to-day operations at our partner facilities.
Other Useful Information
Why These Projects are Important- How cultural facilities bolster community development
Meetings- Quarterly meeting schedule, notices and agendas
Directory- A complete listing of Commission members and staff with contact info
News- The latest press releases issued by the Commission
Guides & Reports- Helpful publications, including: Planning & Assessment Guide, Project Sponsor Resource Guides, Legislative Resource Guide, and the Commission's Annual Report
Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission, 20 East Broad St., Suite 200
Columbus, Ohio 43215-3416, tel: (614) 752-2770, fax: (614) 752-2775