Oberlin Faculty Earn Ohio Arts Council Excellence Awards

Six faculty members representing Oberlin’s creative writing, theater, and music composition programs are among 77 Ohio artists honored by the Ohio Arts Council. Each received a 2026 Individual Excellence Award—a $5,000 grant that recognizes outstanding artistic achievement across a range of disciplines. 

The awards provide artists with the resources to experiment and explore their art forms, develop skills, advance their careers, and receive affirmation and recognition for their outstanding work. The winners were selected through an anonymous, open-panel review process that focused solely on exceptional artistic achievement. 

This year, the Ohio Arts Council received 469 applications from artists across the state. Oberlin’s recipients, and their respective award categories, are:

• Assistant Professor of Theater Kari Barclay (playwriting)
• Associate Professor and Chair of Creative Writing Emily Barton (arts criticism)
• Lecturer of Creative Writing Amanda Hodes (poetry)
• Assistant Professor of Creative Writing Elizabeth Lindsey Rogers (poetry)
• Assistant Professor of Creative Writing Ghassan Zeineddine (fiction)
• Associate Professor of Composition Jesse Jones (music composition)

“Our communities are full of artists who make their livelihoods, hone their crafts, start their businesses, and share their talents right here in the Buckeye State,” says Donna S. Collins, executive director of the Ohio Arts Council. “By supporting outstanding artists, we recognize the value of individual creativity and the essential role that arts and culture play in our lives.”

Learn more about the awards on the Ohio Arts Council website.