Greater Columbus Arts Council President and CEO Tom Katzenmeyer is retiring after 12 years with the organization.
During his tenure at GCAC, Katzenmeyer helped launch Columbus Makes Art to promote Columbus artists and arts organizations and established the Artists Elevated Awards, among other accomplishments.
His office walls are decorated with awards and local artists' work that he's collected over the years.
Katzenmeyer said that the arts scene in Columbus has changed during his tenure at the helm of GCAC.
"First of all, we have a lot more public funding going into the arts," Katzenmeyer said. "We have young collaborative leaders. A good example of that coming up is 'West Side Story,' which is a collaboration between CAPA (Columbus Association for the Performing Arts), the Opera, Ballet Met and the Columbus Symphony."
Katzenmeyer said there has also been "an enormous amount of talent," developed in the city over the last decade.
When looking to the future, specifically in securing arts funding, which has been a hallmark of Katzenmeyer's time at GCAC, he said the future looks good.
Columbus added a 5% ticket fee in 2019 to benefit the arts and is applied to arts, culture, sports and entertainment events in the city.
"It is almost exactly where we thought it was going to be," Katzenmeyer said of the funds generated through the ticket tax.
The pandemic shut down live performances and events shortly after the ticket tax was implemented, but Katzenmeyer said that since the arts have been back, the ticket tax has done exactly what it was meant to do.
"There's big events in the city 鈥� things like Broadway series and big sporting events. We get funds from the Blue Jackets, the Crew and the Columbus Clippers too," Katzenmeyer said.
Katzenmeyer said the arts, however, do need more support from young people.
"We need younger patrons. We need younger donors. We need younger workers in the arts. We're focused on all that," Katzenmeyer said. "But also, we have new younger people coming in to work for these new companies that are coming to Columbus and they want a healthy arts offering."
Looking forward, Katzenmeyer said GCAC's biggest project will be the Public Arts Initiative. The project will look to put more public art in the city, including larger installations. Katzenmeyer said it goes beyond the city's current mural projects.
Katzenmeyer said GCAC intends to hire a director of art in public places to run the initiative.
"So it's a challenge, but it's a very positive challenge," he said.
Speaking of challenges, Katzenmeyer said Columbus also has some challenges with work spaces that need to be renovated.
"Artists need work spaces, studio spaces, rehearsal spaces. So I think you're going to see a heightened focus on spaces too," he said.
Then, there's what comes next for Katzenmeyer.
"What's next for me? Everyone's asking me that question," Katzenmeyer laughed. "Why is everyone asking me that question?"
Katzenmeyer said he plans to stick around for another four to five months. He's also president of the Columbus Metropolitan Library Board of Trustees and intends to finish out his time in that role.
"And like what everyone else would say: do a little traveling. I have six grandchildren. There's a lot to do, but we're gong to stay here," Katzenmeyer said.
