Dayton is full of the extras that make life matter — the sound of summer at The Levitt, the movement and soul of DCDC, the wild peace of our MetroParks, and The Contemporary Dayton — where today’s artists are held high, where local voices are amplified, where innovation still feels revolutionary.

This year has tested the arts like never before.

Corporate funding fell short. The NEA took back what we had already built into our season. We’ve tightened our belts again, working leaner and smaller — but more meaningful than ever.

And yet — we remain.
We remain a space where today’s artists confront today’s issues.
Where our community finds beauty, reflection, and joy.
Where innovation still feels revolutionary.

In 2025, The Contemporary Dayton will present an intentional year of depth and discovery — with groundbreaking new work by Xaviera Simmons, new Member Spotlight Exhibitions, and the thoughtful group show and fundraiser, In Small Measure.

Through it all, we’ll keep doing what we do best: helping people live with more joy and meaning — and giving artists the space to share their truth.

But we can only do it together.

When you make a year-end gift by December 31, your impact will be DOUBLED by a $35,000 Challenge Grant, helping us continue to provide art for the community and a community for artists.

As a thank you, every year-end donor will receive a Contemporary Dayton t-shirt — a small token of our gratitude for believing in the power of art to change lives.