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Culture Works

Regional nonprofit funding and arts services

Overview

Culture Works serves as a nonprofit regional arts agency for the Dayton Region. It provides funding, advocacy, and practical services to support arts organizations—acting as the unified voice for the region’s cultural community, promoting arts on national platforms, and securing operating support for many local arts nonprofits. The organization helps fund and manage programs, educates the community, and partners with companies, foundations, and individuals to sustain a thriving arts ecosystem. Compared with others, Culture Works covers an eight-county area, is the region’s largest general-operating funder for arts groups, and combines funding with advocacy and services to build a vibrant cultural scene. Its goal is to inspire, support, and sustain arts and culture in the Dayton Region to improve quality of life, attract talent, and enrich community life.

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About Culture Works

Simplify's Rating
Why Culture Works is rated
B-
Rated B on Competitive Edge
Rated B on Growth Potential
Rated C on Differentiation

Industries

Consulting

Company Size

1-10

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Dayton, OH

Founded

1974

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What believers are saying

  • On January 12, 2026, Culture Works opened Dayton Masonic Center bookings through CW Events.
  • The 2026 campaign secured employers including City of Dayton, Montgomery County, and Messer Construction.
  • The November 10, 2026 annual meeting at Dayton Masonic Center signals active community engagement.

What critics are saying

  • The 2026 Campaign for the Arts runs March through June 30; donor fatigue hurts grants.
  • CW Events depends on event bookings at Dayton Masonic Center; empty calendars crush revenue.
  • If workplace giving from Dayton Children’s and Premier Health softens, Culture Works loses operating support.

What makes Culture Works unique

  • Culture Works is Dayton’s United Arts Fund, combining grantmaking, advocacy, and venue activation.
  • CW Events monetizes historic spaces like Dayton Arcade and Dayton Masonic Center.
  • Lisa Hanson has led since April 2017, giving Culture Works stable regional relationships.

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Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • Paid Vacation
  • Paid Sick Leave
  • Paid Holidays
  • Flexible Work Hours
  • Hybrid Work Options
  • Home Office Stipend
  • Phone/Internet Stipend
  • Employee Referral Bonus
  • Performance Bonus

Company News

Culture Works
Jan 12th, 2026
Culture Works Announces New Venture with Dayton Masonic Center: CW Events to Revitalize Center's Performance and Event Venues

Culture Works announces new venture with Dayton Masonic Center: CW Events to revitalize Center's performance and event venues. DAYTON, OH- (Jan.12, 2026). Culture Works, the Dayton Region's United Arts Fund and Local Arts Agency, announces a new venture with the Dayton Masonic Center beginning Jan. 8, 2026. CW Events, a subsidiary of Culture Works, will collaborate with members of the Dayton Masonic Center to revitalize, manage, and book the Center's performance and event venues. Culture Works launched CW Events in 2020 to help activate the Dayton Arcade's Rotunda and Tank as revenue-generating cultural spaces - hosting weddings, performances, corporate events, and community gatherings. Revenue generated through these events was reinvested directly into Culture Works' grantmaking and arts programs, strengthening the Dayton Region's arts ecosystem while expanding public access to arts and culture. CW Events' contract to manage and book events at the Dayton Arcade concluded Dec. 8. "As we concluded our contract at the Arcade, we were presented with an opportunity to bring that same expertise to another iconic space - the Dayton Masonic Center," said Lisa Hanson, President and CEO of Culture Works. "Part of Culture Works' mission is to activate the arts - cultivating a vibrant, attractive region where high-quality arts create lasting value for our community. From day one, CW Events and our work at the Dayton Arcade have supported that mission by curating meaningful arts experiences and securing revenue for our community grant-making." "Now, we are excited to shift our focus to activating the gorgeous Dayton Masonic Center," Hanson continues. "Our goal is to make this historic venue accessible and affordable for arts and performance organizations, dance competitions, and concerts, while continuing our strong reputation for producing exceptional weddings, galas, and private events in the 500-person ballroom and the building's other beautiful spaces." "It has been a tremendous honor to be part of the Dayton Arcade's revitalization," said Michelle Gnau, Director of Event Production and Sales for CW Events. "We are deeply grateful that this work generated meaningful funding for the arts, and we're excited to continue that mission up the hill at the Dayton Masonic Center." "The Dayton Masonic Center offers expanded opportunities to welcome local and regional talent into its two large theater spaces," adds Gnau. "With its beautiful private spaces - including a 500-person ballroom - we can continue delivering exceptional weddings, galas, and events while further supporting the arts community." For more information about Culture Works and the CW Events relationship with the Dayton Masonic Center, contact Diane Schoeffler-Warren at [email protected].

HubHub
Dec 8th, 2025
Culture Works: Private tour of Gilbert & George exhibition

Culture Works: private tour of Gilbert & George exhibition. HubHub Group recently had the pleasure of hosting another private exhibition viewing as part of Culture Works. Its members joined HubHub Group for a networking breakfast and exclusive look at Southbank Centre's Hayward Gallery exhibition, Gilbert & George: 21ST CENTURY PICTURES. This exhibition showcases Gilbert & George's artistic journey, highlighting new pictures created since the start of the millennium. The presentation highlights Gilbert & George's evolution over the past 25 years, exploring how technology has made their reflections of today's society bigger and bolder than ever before. Transforming the space with over 60 floor-to-ceiling installations, the artists debut new pictures alongside acclaimed pictures in a larger-than-life journey through the modern world as they see it. Gilbert & George are iconic artists, epitomised by their monumental commitment to being 'living sculptures' spanning the last five decades. Inspired by its modern world, they act as visual archaeologists of its times by capturing elements of its changing society. From newspaper headlines to road signs, postcards and overheard conversations, the artists blend images and text from everyday life to create vivid pictures that encourage dialogue about today's social norms and taboos. The resulting art is often provocative and challenging in its refusal to deliver simple messages about sex, religion, class, nationalism, corruption and death. As featured in Financial Times, The Guardian, The Telegraph, Time Out and Stylist as one of the top art exhibitions to see in autumn 2025. Find out more about the exhibition here and visit before it closes on the 11th of January 2026.

Dayton Daily News
Mar 1st, 2024
Bing Davis, Rodney Veal to co-chair 2024 Culture Works arts campaign

Culture Works, Dayton's longtime arts fundraising and advocacy organization, has named Willis "Bing" Davis and Rodney Veal as co-chairs of its 2024 Campaign for the Arts.

Culture Works
Jan 8th, 2024
Dayton Region Study Results Release: Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6)

In 2022, Culture Works made the significant financial and staff commitment to partner with Americans for the Arts to include the Dayton Region for their sixth economic impact study, AEP6.

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