Dayna Smith, captain of The Luminary, a female-founded theater ensemble, has been a grant recipient for years through various local theater companies. Since The Luminary has existed, she’s applied every year. This year The Luminary was awarded $5,000 to put toward their 2026 program season.

“Most of our projects could not and would not have happened ― or at least not in a quality way ― without the Department’s support,” Smith shared. “Not only do they absolutely support local arts organizations, but they do so with such love and kindness. Funding is so hard to come by in the arts … this program has made it easy and taken a large amount of the stress that comes with making a play out of the equation. The arts are essential to a healthy society, and it brings me such gratitude and pleasure to know that our city sees value in this work.”