Making Waves Blog

More than 40 arts organizations helping to build a more vibrant economy and connected community across Greater Cincinnati will receive operating support grants thanks to the thousands of contributors to the 2016 ArtsWave Community Campaign, chaired by Jill Meyer and Awadagin Pratt.

ArtsWave raised $12,450,000 during the 2016 Annual Community Campaign for the arts that build Greater Cincinnati’s national reputation, deepen people’s roots in the region, enliven neighborhoods, bridge cultural divides, and fuel creativity and learning for children. An additional initiative, in partnership with the Cincinnati USA Regional Tourism Network, also was announced at the Community Campaign celebration.

In case you missed my live-tweeting during #SB50, here is my round-up of the three most memorable moments of Super Bowl L, and how they tie into ArtsWave (hint: they don’t involve football).

Andrew Hungerford, artistic director of the Know Theatre, spoke with ArtsWave about bringing new and innovative works from exciting playwrights to Cincinnati audiences and the significance these productions hold for the Cincinnati.

At ArtsWave, we believe Greater Cincinnati's long-standing and vibrant arts community helps differentiate our region. How can we get more people talking about these successes and unique organizations that make Cincinnati amazing? How do we create, polish and amplify a positive reputation through the arts?

The Cincinnati Arts and Technology Center is having its 8th Annual Student Show and Sale on Dec. 12. Taking this opportunity to shop local can deliver a little hope this holiday season.

ArtsWave announces its Young Professionals Grant Program, a new initiative that provides funding to support the development of programming – or the expansion of an existing program – that engages young professionals.

The Cincinnati Arts Association brings into focus a different aspect of troops serving in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with the presentation of "Letters Home" at the Aronoff Center for the Arts. The production brings to life actual letters written by soldiers serving in the Middle East and is part of the Cincinnati Arts Association's Arts in Healing Program, which is supported by an ArtsWave strategic partnership grant.

Jamie Bennett, executive director of ArtPlace America and a popular TEDtalk presenter, offered inspiring words about how the arts can enliven neighborhoods and deepen roots in a community at National Philanthropy Day.

Director of Park Operations Shaun Higgins took a few moments away from readying Pyramid Hill for the annual Holiday Lights on the Hill to chat with us about this unique area destination.

Jill Meyer, CEO and President of the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber of Commerce, spoke at the most recent ArtsWave ArtsBreak. Community leaders came to the gathering to learn more about how arts can help to put Cincinnati on the map, attracting young professionals and top talent to the local economy, and deepen community roots, keeping those talented employees here once they arrive.

The Aronoff Center for the Arts' 20th Anniversary is the perfect time to reflect on the region's growth and how the arts make downtown Cincinnati a destination. Here's four ways the Aronoff Center has made an impact on our region.

Arts education in the 21st century is an unmistakably vital tool for success, a catalyst for skill development in the business world and beyond. In celebration of Arts in Education Week September 13 – 19, here’s our list of five key life skills that kids learn when they make, study, and learn through art.

The Fitton Center for Creative Arts in Hamilton provides a hub of activity for the community. New Executive Director Ian Mackenzie-Thurley shares his excitement for upcoming season.

At home and at work, it’s all about the right recipe. Of course, recipes do best when you have high quality and abundant ingredients on hand. At ArtsWave, we’ve been thinking about what happens when you add Cincinnati’s high quality and abundant arts experiences into the mix of other civic and regional priorities.

Having both younger and transplanted employees engage in a program like BOARDway Bound is a win-win-win for employers, the employees and the arts. Why? Here are just a few reasons

Sometimes you need a change in perspective. Each year, the Americans for the Arts convention offers me an opportunity to get the 30,000 foot view of the role of arts in our nation. Three things stood out for me this year at the annual gathering of more than a thousand local, state and national arts administrators, organizers, policy-makers, educators and advocates.

“Art is for looking, not touching.” Most of us have been restricted by this phrase at some point in our lives, probably as curious children exploring an art museum. The Cincinnati Art Museum (CAM) is offering a place for that curiosity to run wild with the new Rosenthal Education Center (REC).

The development and production of new work is just one of the ways our largest arts organizations build the national and international reputation of our region. This summer, Cincinnati Opera produces the world premiere of Morning Star, a new opera by celebrated composter Ricky Ian Gordon. The piece received two workshops through Opera Fusion: New Works, a unique collaboration between Cincinnati Opera and University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music created in 2011 to foster the development of new American operas.

The arts can play a powerful role in uncovering and celebrating our shared history. Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park is bringing a new, uniquely Cincinnati story to our region with Cincinnati King, a new play about the legendary King Records.