Fueling Community: Our Blueprint

Introduced in 2015, the Blueprint for Collective Action provides a ten year framework for ArtsWave’s community investments and strategic initiatives. The Blueprint helps to build a more vibrant regional economy and connected community through the arts in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Metro Region.

Its five objectives reflect the distinctive resources and assets of the local arts sector in alignment with broader community needs.

Through $10+ million in annual grantmaking, ArtsWave’s “Blueprint for Collective Action” intentionally encourages arts programming that supports our community through these goals:

The arts put Cincy on the map, attracting employees, new businesses and tourists to our region.

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, more than two-thirds of American adult travelers included an arts, cultural or heritage event while on a trip. Talented workers, visitors and businesses are attracted to Greater Cincinnati thanks to our region’s thriving and innovative arts scene.

The arts deepen roots in the region, retaining employees and residents, including new college graduates.

Residents who are engaged in the arts have a stronger and more positive connection to the community. Nine out of ten arts participants report making new friends through shared arts experiences.

Over 5,600 individuals have joined an ArtsWave affinity group, further cementing their connection to each other and the community.

The arts bridge cultural divides, making our region more inclusive, diverse, equitable and respectful of all. The arts reflect and celebrate the diversity of our community, and an ArtsWave study showed that more than half of Greater Cincinnati residents have a strong interest in the arts and cultural customs of both their ancestors and world cultures. Art enhances our understanding of other cultures, fostering empathy.

The arts enliven neighborhoods, improving everyone’s quality of life. Community arts centers and galleries serve as vital neighborhood hubs and, along with public art, build pride of place for residents.

When after-school arts programs are available, neighborhood crime drops up to 5%. Residents of arts-rich neighborhoods are almost two times as likely to feel connected. Over 2.3 million people have attended free or low-cost events held by ArtsWave-funded organizations in their neighborhoods and beyond.

The arts fuel creativity and learning, preparing kids to be productive citizens and future employees, and to live creative lives. The arts have the power to transform education by improving learning of core curriculum and teaching essential skills such as creativity and critical thinking.

Low-income students engaged in the arts are five times less likely to drop out of school and two times more likely to graduate from college. ArtsWave’s “More Arts, More Kids” initiative has made over 50,000 arts field trips possible, reaching 1st-6th graders in CPS, CISE and Northern Kentucky schools.