Flow: An African American Arts Experience
Your all-inclusive subscription to the best of Black-centered arts in Cincy.
Come Flow with us!
Flow: An African American Arts Experience is a curated series from ArtsWave that showcases the richness of Black artistry, culture, and creativity through performances, exhibitions, and conversations. Launched in 2020, Flow highlights acclaimed Black artists from across the country and right here at home, working in a variety of disciplines.
The Flow Pass is your all-access ticket: one subscription that gets you premium seats, exclusive pre-show gatherings with food and drinks, and the chance to connect with the artists. It's a unique way to experience powerful Black-centered art while joining a community that's culturally curious and ready to explore something new.
2024-25 Flow Season
Remaining events below.
*All events subject to change.
Presenting Sponsor
THE VOICE OF WHITNEY:
A Symphonic Celebration
SEPTEMBER 20 – 21, 2025
CINCINNATI POPS ORCHESTRA
Experience Whitney Houston's musical legacy like never before. This special concert tribute features original and remastered recordings of Whitney's vocals set to new orchestrations in a one-of-a-kind reimagining of her biggest hits — including "I Wanna Dance with Somebody," "Higher Love" and "I Will Always Love You" — all accompanied by never-before-seen video footage, film performances and interviews.
2025-26 Flow Season
*All events subject to change.
Presenting Sponsor
Marcus Leslie Singleton: New Steps
Friday, October 17, 2025
CONTEMPORARY ARTS CENTER
Celebrate the Fifth Anniversary of Flow!
"New Steps" marks Marcus Leslie Singleton's first solo museum exhibition in the U.S., dedicated to Singleton's nuanced, deeply intimate paintings of Black American communities. Singleton captures everyday moments with vibrant colors, rich textures, and a focus on human connection.
American Voices
Saturday, January 17, 2026
CINCINNATI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
@ MUSIC HALL
Performance + Pre-Show Social in the Wilks Studio
Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. with a program honoring influential African American artists and composers, featuring works by Margaret Bonds, Rita Dove, and Wynton Marsalis, alongside Barber's solemn Adagio for Strings.
The Piano Lesson
Friday, April 24, 2026
CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK
Performance + Pre-Show Social
August Wilson's Pulitzer- and Tony-winning The Piano Lesson tells the powerful story of siblings in the Great Depression torn between preserving their family's heirloom piano and pursuing a new future, exploring themes of legacy, identity, and belonging.
Lalovavi
Thursday, July 9, 2026
CINCINNATI OPERA @ MUSIC HALL
Premiere of the Black Opera Project
Performance + Pre-Show Social
Set 400 years in the future, Lalovavi follows Persephone, a young royal betrayed over her rare immortality gene, as she embarks on an epic journey to uncover her past, find love, and claim her destiny.
