Pas de Deux

There are some months when you pick your show. And then there are months like this one, when the Cincinnati Ballet basically says, why choose?

On one end, you’ve got something bold, creative, and a little unexpected. On the other, a full-on family experience that feels just as much like an event as it does a performance.

Let’s break it down.

Photo: Peter Mueller

“Director’s Vision: Liberty in Motion”

For when you want something fresh, surprising, and a little bit different

This is the kind of show that reminds you ballet isn’t just tutus and tradition.

“Director’s Vision” is a patriotic triple bill that closes out the main company season at the Aronoff Center, and it’s built to show the range of the dancers, and of what ballet can be.

You’ve got three very different works sharing one stage:

Justin Peck’s “The Times Are Racing”
This one leans all the way into contemporary energy. Set to an electronic score by Dan Deacon, it pulls from a mix of dance styles and has a youthful, rebellious feel. And yes, the dancers are in sneakers. Vans, specifically.

Claudia Schreier’s “First Impulse”
A neoclassical piece that blends traditional ballet lines with more modern movement. It’s sleek, athletic, and emotionally driven, the kind of work that shows off both precision and power.

George Balanchine’s “Serenade”
And then there’s the classic. “Serenade” is one of the most beloved ballets of all time and a true milestone in dance history. It was the first original ballet Balanchine created in America, and it still feels timeless. If you’ve never seen it live, this is your moment.

What makes this program so compelling is the contrast. You go from sneakers and electronic music to one of the most iconic classical works ever staged, all in the same evening.

Photo: Aaron M. Conway

“Pinocchio”

For when you want a fun family outing

Pinocchio is everything you want in a family performance: a familiar story, colorful characters and just the right amount of heart. “Pinocchio” goes on a series of adventures, encountering characters like Geppetto, the Blue Fairy and the Fox and Cat, and learning lessons about honesty and love along the way.

The performance is narrated and runs about an hour, with no intermission. That alone is a win for parents.

But here’s what really sets this one apart:

It magic starts before you even take your seat. The lobby opens an hour early and is all a part of the experience. The Aronoff lobby turns into a carnival, with something happening on every level before the show:

Orchestra level:
Photo opportunities alongside costume displays, plus a sensory-friendly station where children can touch and explore fabric samples that match the costumes on display. There’s also a hands-on prop-matching activity that lets kids connect what they see before the show to what they’ll see on stage.

Loge level:
Craft stations where kids can make a Pinocchio-style hat, create a clothespin Jiminy Cricket and decorate their own whale.

Balcony level:
A puppet show every 15 minutes, interactive games, and a Magic Mirror photo booth.

This means your whole crew will begin experiencing the wonder of ballet the moment you walk in the door.

This is one of those moments where you can see exactly what makes a company like Cincinnati Ballet special.

One program pushes boundaries, mixes styles and reminds you that ballet can feel modern and a little unexpected. The other leans into story, tradition and fun, and turns a night at the theater into a full experience for families.

You don’t have to be a longtime ballet fan to find your way in here. You just have to pick what kind of experience you’re in the mood for. Or better yet, see both and get the full picture.

Small Wonder

Even the littlest artists can get creative at the Contemporary Arts Center with the opening celebration of the CAC's School Outreach Program (SOP) exhibit and an updated “Soft Bones” installation by artist Garrett Goben, on Saturday, April 11, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“‘Soft Bones’ is an interactive installation in the CAC's Creativity Center,” says Elizabeth Hardin-Klink, CAC’s director of education. “Goben likes to design new sports and games for people to play as a form of performance art. This installation invites visitors to come together and create the rules and objects for their own games using the handmade sculptures and game pieces he's created. The interactive piece is designed for visitors of all ages to use, inspiring them to step outside of their routines and experience something profound in everyday spaces.”

The Family Festival also marks the opening of an art exhibit for CAC’s School Outreach Program (SOP(, an initiative designed to bring contemporary art experiences into the classroom. Along with docent-led gallery visit and in-class workshops, SOP includes participation in CAC's annual student art show.

These two great new additions to the 6th floor will be on display for visitors to learn about and explore. Guest artists from the SOP will join in on the fun with hands-on art making related to the work. Special visitors from DIY Printing and Visionaries + Voices will have creative stations with projects that visitors of all ages will enjoy.

“CAC has partnered with Visionaries + Voices for many years through their SOP,” says Hardin-Klink. “This partnership brings V+V artists and educators into the classrooms and invites students to the V+V gallery to learn directly from working, local artists with disabilities. This partnership is incredibly important, letting students connect with many different types of artists and creating a more inclusive arts community.”

Visitors will also have the chance to meet artist Goben, the mind behind “Soft Bones” and learn more about the update piece, which was first installed during the grand opening of the Creativity Center in 2022. 

“This much-loved piece has been a source of inspiration and joy for thousands of CAC visitors and was in need of a refresh,” says Hardin-Klink. “After taking some time away, ‘Soft Bones’ is back and better than ever with new game pieces, new interactive sculptures, and some additional new surprises that the CAC knows its families will enjoy.  

Other interactive opportunities during the Family Festival include

• Screen Printing – DIY Printing (an SOP studio partner) will be leading a collage print making activity with remnants from their printing studio. Visitors can learn about screen printing, then create and take home their own collage print. 

• Felt a Mini Rug – CAC Educators will be on hand to lead visitors through a mini rug making activity inspired but the new rugs in Garrett Goben's Soft Bones installation. Participants can try their hand at felting while create a tiny game rug to take home. 

• Design a Game Piece and Game Board –Visitors can use clay to sculpt their own game pieces, and wooden game board to take home, inspired by Garrett Goben's Soft Bones sculptures. 

• V+V Relief Printing – Work with V+V artists to create a relief print using foam plates. Experiment with ink and scratch drawings to create a unique, one-of-a-kind print to take home. 

At First Sight

Alex Steffen

Bo Cross

Claire Sinsley

Daniel Kelly

Jude Dean Punter

Kennede Oninku

Rae Brady

2026 Thesis Exhibitions

Gallery receptions:
Friday, April 10, 5–8 p.m.
and Friday, April 24, 5–8 p.m.

Students:
Alex Steffen, Illustration
Bo Cross, Illustration 
Clair Sinsley, Painting & Drawing
Daniel Kelly, Painting & Drawing
Jude Dean Punter, Painting & Drawing
Kennede Oninku, Sculpture
Rae Brady, Illustration 

Gallery Hours:
Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–8 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

All events are free and open to the public.

For more information, visit www.artacademy.edu/events

As graduation season nears, student are prepping for year-end exams and projects. At the Art Academy of Cincinnati (AAC) that means exhibitions.

The 2026 Thesis Exhibitions, installed throughout AAC’s campus galleries, offer a layered view into the practices shaping a new generation of artists and designers.

“The thesis exhibitions are an opportunity for students to present their work in a professional gallery setting, marking their transition from student artist to emerging professional,” says Sarah Stolar, executive director of academic affairs and academic dean at AAC. “Over the course of at least two years, students have been developing the work they present, resulting in projects grounded in sustained investigation of concepts that are meaningful to them.”

This year’s titled group exhibitions – “Kaleidoscope,” “Phantasmagoria,” “Overhead Underbelly,” and “All Roads Lead Here” –emerge as distinct but interconnected frameworks, shaped by the artists themselves. Together, they transform AAC’s galleries – including Pearlman, McClure, Chidlaw, SITE1212, and the Clean Cube – into an expansive, multi-site presentation of contemporary practice.

“This group of students has exceeded all expectations,” says Stolar. “They are not only technically skilled, but more importantly, they are pushing boundaries, asking critical questions, and challenging the norm, which is everything a strong, relevant, and important artist should be doing.”

The exhibitions foreground material exploration, narrative, and process, revealing a wide range of approaches that move fluidly between disciplines.

“The thesis exhibitions and corresponding papers are a vital culmination of AAC’s educational experience,” says Stolar. “While this is an expected component of graduate programs, at AAC the thesis experience stands as a defining example of the rigor of our BFA program. Preparing for the exhibition is a direct continuation of this education, as students learn how to professionally mount, light, and market their work. They take on every aspect of the process from the ground up, with guidance from faculty and staff, gaining hands-on experience that prepares them for the expectations and realities of being a professional artist.”

Working across painting and drawing, illustration, sculpture, photography, digital arts animation, design, print media and creative writing, students present fully realized bodies of work developed through sustained studio inquiry.

“As an alum of the BFA program, class of 2000, I remember the excitement building as we prepared for our thesis exhibition,” says Stolar. “It was a special time that marked a kind of ‘coming of age’ as artists. I know firsthand how meaningful this moment is for our students and how important it is for them to make their voices heard in order to stand out in a sea of contemporary artists.”

See What’s New

Summer gets a little bit closer, as Summerfair reveals this year’s commemorative poster on Thursday, April 9, from 6–8 p.m. during a special event at HighGrain Brewing Brentwood, 9176 Winton Road,

Along with the poster, Summerfair will also be officially releasing their new collaboration with The Cincy Hat.

The Cincy Hat Summerfair collection includes two limited-edition hats that will help support artists and arts organizations in the region. Each hat pairs the iconic Cincy Hat logo with Summerfair’s signature bright and vibrant colors.The collaborative hats will be available for the first time at the poster unveiling.

At the HighGrain event, Summerfair poster artist Rich Blandford will be signing posters, which will be for sale at $10 ($20 value).

“Rich is a first time winner of our prestigious poster competition,” says Jayne Utter, managing director of Summerfair Cincinnati. “We are excited to present his bright and beautiful design. It's so different from anything we’ve ever had!”

A graphic designer and art director for 18 years, Blandford is a graduate of Jefferson Community College, in Louisville, Ky. Now retired, Blandford continues to work as an artist.

“I’m honored my artwork has been chosen to promote Cincinnati’s top fine arts and crafts show,” says Blandford. “I tried to capture the excitement of heading into Coney Island for the Summerfair experience not only as a patron, but also as a participating artist, coming through the entrance with same joy and anticipation that all the visitors feel when arriving to see all the creative works on the other side of the gate.”

HighGrain Brewing is creating a light lager for this year's Summerfair, with cans featuring the poster artwork created by Blanford. The beer will be available for the first time at the poster reveal event.

For nearly 60 years, Summerfair has been dedicated to supporting visual and performing arts in Greater Cincinnati. During the annual fine arts fair, enough funds are raised to support awards, scholarships and exhibitions. This year’s fair, May 29-31, takes place at Coney Island, which is Summerfair’s home.

This joint fundraiser with The Cincy Hat will support Summerfair’s mission to support artists and arts organizations in the region and Cincy’s Hat’s mission to provide housing and educational opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities.

Summerfair will be held at Coney Island from Friday, May 29 through Sunday, May 31. Advance tickets are on sale now at summerfair.org, with one-day ($10) or multi-day tickets ($15) tickets available. Children 12 and under admitted free.

Major League

Opening Day signals the official return of baseball around the Buckeye state and Ohio Goes to the Movies is celebrating with baseball-themed movies this month.

Ohio Goes to the Movies, the statewide initiative celebrating Ohio’s film legacy, baseball takes center stage. From the iconic “Major League,” which put Cleveland at the heart of baseball pop culture, to underdog stories rooted in Ohio communities, the state has helped shape how generations experience the game.

Baseball Hall of Fame announcer Marty Brennaman joins the fun, lending his voice for this baseball-themed video.

Check out the Spring line-up of films at ohiogoestothemovies.org.

Drawing Inspiration

The Evolving Face of Main Streets, USA
Wednesday, March 25, 7 – 8:30 p.m.

Randy Smith – Smith recently retired from a 35-year career as creative director for Jack Rouse Associates (JRA), where he provided design leadership for a variety of JRA’s museum and entertainment projects.

Muhammad nafisur Rahman – Rahman is an assistant professor of communication design at the University of Cincinnati’s Ullman School of Design at DAAP and research lead of the eXperiential Design Lab (XDL).

Stephanie Sadre-Orafai – Sadre-Orafai is associate professor of anthropology and director and faculty chair of the Taft Research Center at the University of Cincinnati/

Tod Swormstedt – Swormstedt is the founder and curator of the American Sign Museum. He formerly served as the editor & publisher of “Signs of the Times” magazine.

D.J. Trischler – Trischler is an assistant professor of communication design at the University of Cincinnati’s Ullman School of Design at DAAP

Register now

The American Sign Museum continues to both honor the heritage of signmaking and explore its future.

The new exhibition, “Back to the Drawing Board: The Art of the Sign Sketch 1925 – 1975,” looks at the process of creating a sign, from simple sketches to detailed renderings. It also offers a timeline of historic events, to give context to how signs changed with and during pivotal periods.

Typically headed for the trash after their usefulness has ended, sign sketches could be viewed simply as renderings for how a sign will look and function in its environment. That practical view does not do justice to the artistry and detail that signmakers put into these sketches.

This exhibition will take you “back to the drawing board” when considering what qualifies as art through an exploration of sketches spanning 50 years and gathered from across the country.

Digging a bit deeper into this concept, a panel of experts will discuss how graphic and commercial design have evolved over time in response to new technologies and cultural shifts and explore how the artistic process has been impacted. “The Evolving Face of Main Streets, USA” moderated by retired DAAP professor Randy Smith, will take place on Wednesday, March 25, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

The main streets of communities across the U.S. are supported by their businesses. Those businesses are in turn supported by creatives across fields like graphic design and signmaking to create vibrant and memorable visual messaging that can turn streets into spectacles. Join the ASM for a panel discussion for a dive into how graphic design and signage in particular have shaped the face of main streets across the country over the past century.

With more than 75 sign sketches from the museum’s permanent collection and on loan from private collections, the self-organized exhibition brings 50 years of sketches from across the country together to explore the artistry of the signmaking process through objects that are usually never seen by those not involved in the work.

Get Your Goat

The world can be a scary place, but you can count on one thing to make it better – baby goats!

ArtsWave, the region’s engine for the arts, along with the artist collective Often Seen Rarely Spoken, MeetNKY, the City of Covington, and The Gruff, officially unveiled “Pineapple on Pizza,” a new outdoor mural at The Gruff in Covington. Goats from The Party Animal Express joined the celebration!

The artwork is part of Rust-Oleum’s “Spray It Forward” mural program, a national initiative that created murals across the country last year. The ribbon-cutting (and chewing!) celebrated the place-making project ahead of Spring.

The project represents a milestone in ArtsWave’s growing commitment to creative placemaking in Northern Kentucky, aimed at strengthening neighborhood identity and fostering connection through public art.

Sense of Adventure

“No Man’s Land” Film Festival
Monday, March 16

6–7 p.m.: Sitwell's, 324 Ludlow Ave., social hour
7 p.m.: Film screenings at The Esquire Theatre, 320 Ludlow Ave,

Tickets are $25 in advance; $30 at the door. A cash bar and food will be available for purchase on site. Purchase tickets

Kayaking the length of the Mississippi. Adapting to mountain biking after a life-altering injury. Breaking down barriers to climbing.

Those are just three of the fantastic stories in this year's installment of the "No Man's Land" Film Festival. Adventure Crew brings the premier all-women and genderqueer film festival back to Cincinnati on Monday, March 16. New this year, the event is moving to the Esquire Theatre in Clifton for a full-blown movie experience.

“We’ve gotten such great feedback about this event the last few years, and we’re excited to make it even better with the move to a theater,” said Miriam Wise, Adventure Crew’s director of support and engagement. “Our lineup of films promises moments of awe, laughter and maybe even a few tears as viewers experience inspiring stories of overcoming challenges in the outdoors, whether those challenges are physical, mental or societal.”

Film line-up at the Esquire:

“Still Rider” – After a mountain bike crash resulted in a life-altering injury, Chantelle Grafton and her husband Warren have gone to great lengths to get Chantelle back out on the trails. “Still Rider” explores this journey, highlighting the unanticipated complexities that come with a major spinal cord injury and, more importantly, the benefits of prioritizing adaptive design for those with and without accessibility issues.

“Fifty-Fifty” – Tying in with a climbing partner means more than just sending the crux together. For renowned alpinists Ines Papert and Sarah Huenekin, the peak of their aspirations comes as they both climb past the age of 50 - pushing themselves harder while learning more about each other, as well as themselves.

“Internal Peaks” – Jr and Vanessa are professional athletes on a mission to bring to light the intersectional relationships between their outdoor pursuits, climate change, and who belongs in these spaces. As children of immigrants, they know what it feels like to be the bridge between different worlds. They recognize that shining a light on disappearing glaciers far away starts at home in Jackson Hole.

“Iikaiksimatsa’pao’p: Grateful to Be On the Land” – The film follows Cassie Ayoungman, founder of Soul of Miistaki and member of the Siksika nation, on her journey to bring the healing power of the mountains to those within her community. Breaking down barriers to climbing, and integrating Indigenous teachings and land-based learning, she raises questions about representation, builds community, and redefines what it means to be on the land.

“The Bride of Mont Blanc” – In a profound act of historical resurrection, modern-day adventurer Elise Wortley straps on her 19th-century hobnail boots and bonnet to celebrate history’s forgotten female explorers, whose absence from history continues to have knock on effects today.

Armed only with the gear available to Henriette d’Angeville in 1838, Elise attempts to recreate the first female ascent of Mont Blanc — Europe’s most iconic peak to understand the lack of female representation in the the mountains. In doing so she also explores her own relationship with the outdoors and how its impacted a long battle with debilitating anxiety.

This film was made by an entire female crew from the director, mountain guides through to all post-production. (U.S. premiere)

(Intermission)

“Mother River” – A look into Devin Brown's journey as she seeks to be the First black female on record to kayak the entire Mississippi River.

“Trails Still Blazing” – Megan McJames carved her own path in her alpine ski racing career, culminating in three Olympic performances. Her newest path into motherhood takes the values she found in her athletic career and applies them to that of being a parent — notably, doing things her own way. Trails Still Blazing explores the balance between women as caregivers and women as adventurers and, in doing so, hopes to inspire more women to feel confident following their passions, wherever they may lead.

“Life of Pie” – It wasn’t long ago that the small Colorado town of Fruita was solely a hub of agriculture and oil and gas development. But singletrack shredders and pizza chefs Jen Zeuner and her partner, Anne Keller, have helped transform the high-desert town into a mountain biking hotspot with their Hot Tomato Café. It wasn’t always easy — some residents of conservative Fruita weren’t quite ready for their “lifestyle” at first. But the women’s delicious East Coast-style pizza — and the love they put into making it — have made them indispensable members of the community and turned the Hot Tomato into the living room of the Grand Valley’s outdoor recreation industry. 

Based in Denver, the film festival has reached audiences in nearly every U.S. state and abroad. “No Man’s Land” celebrates the full breadth of women and gender-nonconforming athletes, creatives, storytellers and adventurers. Its mission is to un-define feminine in adventure, sport and film. Through human collaboration and action-oriented solutions, “No Man’s Land” continues to implement and inspire change in the outdoor, sport, and film industries.

All proceeds from the Cincinnati event will support Adventure Crew, a nonprofit that connects city teens to nature and each other through engaging outdoor adventures.

Adventure Crew connects city teens in Greater Cincinnati with nature and each other through outdoor adventures. Founded in 2013, the nonprofit now serves all Cincinnati Public Schools junior high and high schools, plus six schools in Northern Kentucky – a total of 33 schools and nearly 1,000 students per year. Through challenging monthly adventures, city teens develop the courageous spirit to step out of their comfort zone and discover new worlds – outside in nature and inside themselves. This deep connection to nature will set a positive course for their lives – and help create the next generation of environmental stewards.

A Time to Dance

Courtesy of Pones

“Eunoia”
CAC Black Box Theatre
44 E. Sixth St, Cincinnati, OH

 Saturday, March 7, 7 p.m.
Sunday, March 8, 2 p.m.

Tickets: Community Support & Access pricing, from $0 to $50+ https://Eunoia2026.eventbrite.com

In partnership with the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC), Pones returns with the highly anticipated second year of “Eunoia,”a performance designed to foster community, celebrate artistic innovation, and support Pones’s ongoing mission.

Pones provides artistic opportunities for community growth by creating engaging new ways for audiences to experience dance. Founded in 2008, Pones has collaborated with over 400 artists, 180 service and arts organizations, and 170 education partners. Pones’ accessible and participatory performances have been seen in over 90 Greater Cincinnati locations, as well as Indianapolis, and Chicago.

Following the Pones tradition of dynamic, socially conscious productions, “Eunoia” puts the focus on joy as a powerful form of advocacy – as an act of protest – demonstrating that social justice can take the shape of resilience and celebration amid adversity.

Performances will take place Saturday, March 7 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 8 at 2 p.m. in CAC’s Black Box Theatre, 44 E Sixth St. CAC’s Black Box provides the perfect stage for community-driven performances and creative collaborations.

“Eunoia” features 14 brand new works from 16 choreographers, spanning genres from contemporary to pole, and color guard to acro yoga. This vibrant showcase gathers the Pones collective alongside local partners, highlighting how creativity flourishes when diverse voices come together to uplift and inspire one another.

 In addition to the performances, attendees will enjoy live music by Siri Imani, a photo booth hosted by Casey Miller Photography, a selection of auction items, snacks from Smidge of the South, and a full bar with drinks available for purchase. The evening is not only a celebration of creativity, but also a fundraiser supporting the Pones mission to expand access to the arts, nurture emerging talent, and create lasting partnerships that strengthen the cultural fabric of our region. 

Community attendance and participation helps ensure that dance continues to serve as a platform for dialogue, inclusion, and meaningful community engagement well beyond this event.Pones provides artistic opportunities for community growth by creating engaging new ways for audiences to experience dance. Founded in 2008, Pones has collaborated with over 400 artists, 180 service and arts organizations, and 170 education partners. The collective’s accessible and participatory performances have been seen in over 90 Greater Cincinnati locations, as well as Indianapolis and Chicago. Ongoing programs are available year round for artists and art groups, schools, and businesses.

Going Wilde

During the 19th century, Cincinnati hosted many of the era’s glitterati, including Charles Dickens, Jenny Lind, and Oscar Wilde.

Underscore: The Importance of Being Oscar

Tuesday, March 3, 7:30 p.m.
Wilks Studio
Cincinnati Music Hall, 1241 Elm St.

Tickets:$25 per event; $60 for 3-event package. Order at cincinnatiopera.org or 513-241-2742.

Cincinnati Opera is offering a new look at Wilde’s trip to the city, with the first performance in a new series, “Underscore: The Importance of Being Oscar.”

Before writing his controversial play “Salome,” the source material for Richard Strauss’s opera which opens Cincinnati Opera’s season this summer, Wilde visited Cincinnati three times during his speaking tour of America in 1882.

“Cincinnati Times-Star,” Feb. 17, 1882

“He was deeply impressed by the quality, variety and quantity of our arts,” says Evans Mirageas, The Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director of Cincinnati Opera. “On his whirlwind one-day tour of Cincinnati, he bought books from one of the best bookstores in America of the day, Robert Clarke and Company. He visited the original Art Academy (then known as the School of Drawing and Design) and declared that Cincinnati would be a great incubator for art. He toured the original Rookwood Pottery,  and then visited with its founder the formidable Maria Longworth Nichols. He capped it all off that night by attending a concert at Music Hall, performed by the opera superstar Adelina Patti-among a crowd of 7,000(!) frenzied music lovers.”

“The Importance of Being Oscar” is an original one-act play by Mirageas and Audrey Chait that dramatizes the interview Wilde gave just prior to his first lecture at Music Hall.

“I studied Literary Arts at Brown University, and am always delighted when there’s an occasion to pull out my playwriting card,” says Audrey Chait, the opera’s Artistic Programs & New Works Manager. “Co-writing ‘The Importance of Being Oscar’ has been a delight! Evans is a wealth of knowledge about so, so many things, but when he really hones in on a topic he likes, it’s extraordinary. So we’ve been enjoying a deep dive on all things Wilde.”

Evans Mirageas, The Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director of Cincinnati Opera

As interviewed by Samuel Flickinger of the “Cincinnati Gazette,” Wilde applies his trademark wit to his impressions of Cincinnati, the Aesthetic movement, music, fame, and much more. The performance stars Douglas Fries as Oscar Wilde and Chris Logan Carter as the Interviewer, with performances by soprano Heidi Middendorf, tenor Jack Keller, and pianist Matthew Umphreys.

“Getting to know Wilde through his own words brought to life by Douglas Fries gives you a sense of how the lush, beautiful and dangerous personality of ‘Salome’ was so easy for Wilde to create,” says Mirageas. “We even take a bit of calendar license to have Wilde recite a portion of the final scene of the play as he describes how the actress Sarah Bernhardt is already inspiring him to write the play.”

The Underscore series offers a way to experience the rich stories, history, and drama at the heart of opera. From March through May, audiences will be immersed in fun and imaginative experiences inspired by the operas featured during Cincinnati Opera’s 2026 Summer Festival. From theatrical investigations to topical discussions to lively character explorations, attendees will discover the unexpected connections and relatable moments that make opera resonate.

“Cincinnati Opera comes to life in the summer with our season of grand opera in Music Hall,” says Chait. “During the year, we are in the habit of creating programming that builds excitement about the upcoming opera season. In the past, we have hosted the Opera Raps series, consisting of lively lectures, often with special guests, and always with live music. This year, we wanted to build on the Opera Raps series – providing context and interest for the upcoming season, but also breaking out of the mold that we’d used for many years. The new events take different immersive formats, including a play with music, a murder mystery night, and a DJ battle. We are excited for opera audiences to experience our programming in new ways. These events are experiences that stand alone as entertaining evenings at the opera, but they are also designed to whet your appetite for the summer season.”

Next up is “Carmen’s Revenge—An Operatic Murder Mystery” on Tuesday, April 21, at Second Sight Spirits, 301 Elm Street, Ludlow, Ky.

Spoiler alert: Things don’t go well for Carmen at the end of Bizet’s opera. But what if the drama didn’t stop at the end of Act IV? Join us for an interactive, irreverent, and, of course, operatic glimpse into what comes next for Carmen’s friends and foes–no prior “Carmen” knowledge required! Filled with clues and plot twists, plus live performances of classic “Carmen” arias, you’ll learn more about the opera while engaging with the cast of characters and fellow guests to uncover the truth. Will you be the sleuth who pieces it together and solves the murder?

The series concludes with “The Afrofuturist Salon” on Thursday, May 7 at Artsville, 5021 Whetsel Avenue. The finale invites guests to step into the vibrant universe of “Lalovavi,” Cincinnati Opera’s bold, new Afrofuturist opera. This event brings together cultural innovators, creative voices, and curious minds for cocktails, connection, and conversation inspired by Afrofuturism and the power of hair, style, identity, storytelling, and legacy. Featuring “Lalovavi” librettist Tifara Brown, wig designer Tiara Jones, and Cassandra Jones, University of Cincinnati Assistant Professor of Africana Studies, exploring the intersections of Black futurism, beauty, and self-expression. The experience flows into a high-energy DJ set with spoken word and remixes inspired by “Lalovavi.”

“Cincinnati Opera is full of surprises, and that we are also willing to push the envelope in order to create new experiences for our audience,” says Mirageas. “We are excited to reach out to some new folks who may not have been to the opera before, in addition to providing fresh experiences to our regulars. We also hope people discover that Cincinnati Opera is everywhere, not just in Music Hall. We’re in schools, churches, wineries, and sports stadiums!”

Self Expression

OneNKY Center Artist-in-Residence

Artists must be 21 or older and identify as 2D visual artists. Preference will be given to those living or working in Northern Kentucky, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, or with strong ties to the region. Applicants will submit an existing body of work that reflects a cohesive vision and celebrates Northern Kentucky or the Greater Cincinnati region’s history, culture or identity.

Specific information, qualifications, timeline, overview session sign-up and more can be found at artswave.submittable.com/submit/.

For questions about the Artist-in-Residence program, contact rachael.parker@artswave.org.

Applications due March 6, 5 p.m.

New artwork makes a place feel refreshed and invigorated like nothing else can.

The OneNKY Center, 209 Greenup St. in Covington, opened in September with a gallery of works by local artists. But now it’s time for an update with the OneNKY Center Artist-in-Residence Program.

ArtsWave, MeetNKY and the Northern Kentucky Port Authority are currently accepting applications for the new program at the OneNKY Center Gallery Fueled by ArtsWave.

The open call invites 2D visual artists to apply for a high-visibility residency and exhibition opportunity inside the OneNKY Center at 209 Greenup St. in Covington.

“This residency is a powerful example of how Northern Kentucky continues to invest in its creative future,” said Julie Kirkpatrick, president and CEO of MeetNKY. “When artists are embedded in spaces like the OneNKY Center, we're doing so much more than just displaying artwork, we’re shaping how residents and visitors understand our community. That kind of intentional placemaking strengthens our identity and enhances Northern Kentucky’s appeal as a destination.”

The Artist-in-Residence Program builds on the formal collaboration among ArtsWave, MeetNKY and the Northern Kentucky Port Authority to expand creative placemaking efforts across Northern Kentucky and the launch of the OneNKY Center Gallery. Together, the three organizations are integrating arts and culture directly into civic and economic development infrastructure.

“This is about more than an exhibition,” said Rachael Parker, ArtsWave’s Director of Northern Kentucky Creative Placemaking. “Our goal is to ensure art is part of the core strategy in how we design spaces, grow our economy and build connection. By placing artists at the center of civic spaces, we’re creating environments people want to gather in, work in and return to. That energy fuels local pride and long-term economic strength.”

The selected artist will receive a $5,000 honorarium and the opportunity to present a cohesive exhibition from April through Sept. 10, 2026, in the gallery’s 1,500-square-foot, first-floor public space. The residency also includes networking opportunities, three artist talks with the local community, and the creation of an original work to remain at the OneNKY Center.

The OneNKY Center houses 10 regional growth organizations, including MeetNKY, BE NKY Growth Partnership, the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and others, making it a central hub for economic and civic leadership. ArtsWave’s director of creative placemaking is also based in the building, marking ArtsWave’s first-ever satellite office in Northern Kentucky.

Twist of Fate

For the first time in its four-years history, Paloozanoire is bringing it's annual visual arts exhibition to the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC).

“FACES: Don’t Get It Twisted – Untangling a Textured Legacy” opens Friday, Feb. 20. The fourth installment of Paloozanoire is set to celebrate, uplift, and illuminate the talent of diverse artists from across the nation.

“FACES” focuses on artists who use their work to shed light on the storytelling traditions surrounding textured and ethnic hair across generations and its enduring impact worldwide. The exhibition features works by Stephanie Amon, Nate Austin, Jonae Boatwright, Marquest Cathcart, Blessing Chidera, Yann Couedor, Nyzere Dillon, Asia Estelle, Peyton Euria, Chibuike Ifedilichukwau, Kid Kardiac, Eddy Ochieng, Petie Parker, Reggie Singleton, STU, and Kyra Watkins.

“‘FACES’ represents the evolution of our commitment to honoring the legacy, stories, and artistic depth of underrepresented artists,” says Ray Ball, Paloozanoire co-founder and co-director. “We are thrilled to bring this exhibition back to the city in partnership with CAC, expanding its reach and impact in 2026.”

The exhibition centers the influence and cultural impact of diverse artists whose perspectives shape contemporary art and community narratives.

This year, the focus shines a light on the storytelling traditions surrounding textured and ethnic hair across generations and its enduring impact around the world. Through diverse mediums, including painting, sculpture, photography, textile, and installation, the exhibition invites audiences to witness and engage with a textured legacy told through the eyes of some of the region’s most compelling artists.

The exhibition will be open through March 22, in the 4th floor gallery of the CAC.

State of Grace

Take a look behind the scenes with Cincinnati Ballet. Kirk Peterson narrates the pantomime language between Odette and Prince Siegfried. This silent language between dancers can be seen throughout the performance and highlights the emotional story unfolding on stage.

“Swan Lake”
Music Hall, 1241 Elm St.

Friday, Feb. 13, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 14 – 2 and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 15, 1 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 19 – 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 20 – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 21 – 2 and 7:30 p.m.

Tickets and info at cballet.org.

Swan Lake is an iconic ballet masterpiece that has entranced audiences for generations.

The classic, romantic tragedy premieres from Cincinnati Ballet during Valentine’s Day weekend, making it a must-see for romantics. The iconic and challenging choreography by Kirk Peterson after Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov will captivate patrons, while the stunning Tchaikovsky score is brought to life by The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

The rigorous choreography of Swan Lake showcases the talent of the dancers while also using it to communicate with the audience. Pantomime gestures are used extensively to convey the emotions of the characters depicted within the ballet and further their emotional arcs. The choreography of Odette and Odile demands extraordinary versatility, asking dancers to transform seamlessly from a figure of light and love into one of darkness and deceit within the same performance. This duality not only tests technical precision, but also demands profound emotional depth and dramatic nuance.

The dancers will be sporting refreshed costumes which until recent edits had been unchanged since the 1990s. Updated elements will be added to Prince Siegfried and many of the Corps costumes.

Wall to Wall

Summerfair Emerging Artists Exhibition
Opens Friday, Feb. 13, 6 to 8 p.m.
Clifton Cultural Arts Center, 3412 Clifton Ave.

The exhibition continues through Feb. 27. The gallery is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

For more information visit www.summerfair.org.

Friday the 13th is a lucky day for 20 local artists.

Summerfair Cincinnati holds an opening reception and awards ceremony for its annual Emerging Artists exhibition, features works by 20 junior and senior art students from area colleges.

“How to be in an exhibition is not taught in classes, and we at Summerfair see this exhibition as a real teaching moment,” says Jayne Utter, managing director of Summerfair. “It’s a learning experience in how to deal with real life. Students learn to work with the director and gallery manager, how to prepare their works for the show, and follow the directions set by Summerfair. “

The Emerging Artists exhibition is an important part of Summerfair’s mission to support young artists in the region through awards, scholarships, and exhibitions. These young artists represent the next generation of artists to emerge on the local art scene. They are nominated by their professors, juried by Summerfair, and are given the opportunity to exhibit their work among their peers.

“My favorite part of this experience is when the students arrive,” says Utter. “It’s so rewarding to watch them show parents and friends their work in a gallery setting. I don’t know who is more proud, the students or the parents!”

The artists in this year’s exhibition represent seven area schools and feature works in a variety of media.

Art Academy of Cincinnati:

Daniel Kelly, Claire Sinsley, Aminata Thiam, and Grazinana (Grace) Wojtylak

Miami University:

Piper Duda, Michael Eheart, and Chelsey Pauley

 Mount St. Joseph University:

Chloe Babcock, Dahlia Baer, and Zoie Zobel

 Northern Kentucky University:

Alexis Armes, Jazaya Miller, and Gigi Modafarri

Thomas More College:

Hannah Kay Farrell

University of Cincinnati | DAAP:

Alyssa Baker, Sidney Whipps, and Venus Yam

 Xavier University:

Briana Dunn, Ian McIlvain, and Ellie Rockford

“What CCAC does for our community is priceless,” says Utter. “They have been hosting our Emerging Artist Exhibition since 2011 and Summerfair has been supporting this wonderful organization for years, including donating $110,000 toward their building fund for this space.”

Off to a Good Start

Support the 2026 artswave Campaign

ArtsWave funding supports more than 150 local arts organizations, projects and artists through one collective community campaign. Donations come from individuals through workplace giving campaigns at hundreds of regional companies, special events, direct giving and a variety of other community-driven funding mechanisms.

As a thank-you, ArtsWave offers donor benefits that connect supporters more deeply to the arts, including the ArtsWave Pass with half-off arts tickets and local deals, access to exclusive experiences and invitations to donor-only events like ArtsWave’s exclusive BLINK donor lounge that donors can access during this year’s festival.

The 2026 ArtsWave Community Campaign runs through May 19. To donate or learn more, visit artswave.org. To explore the thousands of arts events and opportunities in Cincy, download the ArtsWave App at artswave.org/app or through your app store.

The Cincinnati community has proudly supported its incredible art for almost a century. That support continues, as the 2026 ArtsWave Community Campaign began this week. The region’s primary source of funding for the arts – and the largest community arts campaign in the nation – officially launched its annual effort to support more than 150 arts organizations, artists and projects across the Cincinnati region.

The launch event brought together arts, business, civic and education leaders to rally support for the ArtsWave campaign across the Cincinnati region.

This year’s campaign is chaired by James Zimmerman, partner-in-charge at Taft, Stettinius & Hollister, who will lead the effort to sustain and strengthen the region’s arts sector through collective community investment. Joining him at the kickoff were Cincinnati Public Schools Superintendent Shauna Murphy and numerous other business, civic and arts leaders, underscoring the campaign’s broad impact.

Cincinnati’s Arts Sector Fuels a Stronger Region

The 2026 ArtsWave Community Campaign launches as the Cincinnati region continues to earn national recognition for the strength and consistency of its arts sector.

Most recently, the region was again ranked among the nation’s most arts-vibrant communities by SMU DataArts, placing in the top 5% of more than 900 communities studied nationwide. The Cincinnati region ranked highest across Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky and was one of just 22 communities recognized nationally for sustained arts vibrancy in the years following the pandemic.

That strength shows up not only in national rankings, but in shared experiences that bring people together across the region. BLINK will return this year, with ArtsWave serving as the event’s illuminating sponsor, reinforcing the role of the arts in creating moments of connection that cross neighborhoods and state lines.

The impact is also felt in classrooms across the region. ArtsWave’s More Arts, More Kids initiative provides arts field trips to nearly 20,000 students each year from school districts across the Cincinnati region, including Ludlow Independent Schools, Hamilton City Schools, Catholic Inner City Schools, Northern Kentucky Cooperative for Education Services, and every first through sixth-grade student in Cincinnati Public Schools. These shared experiences connect classroom learning to creativity, curiosity and community.

At the kickoff event, Superintendent Murphy highlighted the role these experiences play in education and community life. “When students experience the arts together, whether it’s their first theater performance or museum visit, it changes how they experience learning and how they see each other,” Murphy said. “These field trips aren’t extras. They’re meaningful experiences that support academic growth, creativity and connection across our district.”

2026 ArtsWave Campaign Cabinet

The 2026 ArtsWave Community Campaign is led by Chair James Zimmerman and the following corporate and community leaders.

James Zimmerman, Chair,
Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP

Matt Barney, Messer Construction Co.

Catherine Botos, GE Aerospace

Eric Combs, Dinsmore & Shohl LLP

Kathy Cook, Fitton Center for Creative Arts Board

Anna Coutts, Cintas Cares Foundation

Brendon Cull, Cincinnati Regional Chamber

Jennifer Damiano, KeyBank

Patrick Dingeldein, PNC Bank

Douglas Fox, Plante & Moran, PLLC

John Gray, Fifth Third Bank

Trey Grayson, Frost Brown Todd LLP

Devon Greco, BeNKY

Gregory Harris, First Financial Bank

Barbara Hauser, P&G

Heather Hawkins, Taft, Stettinius & Hollister LLP

Renee Hevia, CPS, retired 

Andrew Hof, Novus Foods

Paul Jenny, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

Marcene Kinney, GBBN Architects

Holly Mazzocca, Bartlett Wealth Management

Rob McDonald, Taft, Stettinius & Hollister LLP

Peter Metz, Cincinnati Regional Chamber

Samuel Moore, P&G, Retired

Theodore Nelson, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Gregory Olson, Urban Sites

James Smith, Cincinnati Business Courier

Chet Swisher, Cincinnati Insurance Companies

Susan Zaunbrecher, Fifth Third Bank

Sam Zeller, Taft, Stettinius & Hollister LLP

Reflecting on this momentum, Zimmerman said, “What we’re seeing across the Cincinnati region is the result of decades of intentional, collective investment. The arts don’t just happen on their own. They thrive when a community chooses to support them together, year after year.”

Discover More: Why our
Arts Matter Now

The 2026 campaign theme, Discover More, builds on ArtsWave’s long-standing role as a connector, linking people to experiences, organizations and one another.

“Discover More is an invitation,” said ArtsWave President & CEO Alecia Kintner. “It’s about discovering more connection between neighbors, more opportunity for students, more vibrancy in our neighborhoods and more reasons to feel proud of the Cincinnati region. The arts make all of that possible, but only when all of us pitch in to support them.”

Since 1927, the community-funded ArtsWave campaign has provided stable, reliable support for the arts across the Cincinnati region. Today, that collective investment supports more than 150 arts organizations, projects and artists, helping keep the arts within reach for everyone while strengthening them as a shared asset for the region’s success.

Early Momentum and Growing Impact

Early momentum is already strong with thousands of donors pledging over $2.3 million to the 2026 Campaign.

Zimmerman announced that Western & Southern Financial Group’s $99,000 Challenge for the Future of the Arts, launched in honor of ArtsWave’s 99th year, has already surpassed its original goal. Business and civic leaders have contributed more than $135,000 through new $5,000 gifts and increased renewals as part of ArtsWave’s Executive Leaders for the Arts initiative.

“This response sends a clear signal,” Zimmerman said. “Leaders across Cincinnati understand how the arts make our community stronger and serve as a key asset. They’re a major part of how we define ourselves here in the Cincinnati region.”

Zimmerman also announced a new lead gift of $25,000 from a long-time supporter for ArtsWave’s More Arts, More Kids initiative. This is the first step toward a $250,000 goal — the annual cost of providing an arts field trip for every first- through sixth-grade student in Cincinnati Public Schools.

Shafer’s lead gift will send 1,300 CPS second graders to Cincinnati Ballet’s production of Pinocchio this April and is designed to encourage additional contributions of $20 or more, roughly the cost of one student’s arts field trip.

Portrait of the Artist

Rembrandt van Rijn (Dutch, 1606–1669), A Scholar in His Study (“Faust”), 1652, etching and drypoint, 8 1/4 x 6 5/16 in. Rembrandt House Museum, Amsterdam

Rembrandt van Rijn (Dutch, 1606–1669), “Sleeping Puppy,” about 1640, etching and drypoint, 1 9/16 x 3 3/16 in. Rembrandt House Museum, Amsterdam

Rembrandt van Rijn (Dutch, 1606–1669), “The Windmill,” 1641, etching and drypoint, 5 11/16 x 8 3/16 in. Rembrandt House Museum, Amsterdam

Rembrandt van Rijn (Dutch, 1606–1669), “Farmhouses Beside a Canal,” about 1645, etching, 5 1/2 x 8 1/8 in. Rembrandt House Museum, Amsterdam

Rembrandt van Rijn (Dutch, 1606–1669), The “Star of the Kings: A Night Piece,” about 1651, etching and drypoint, 3 11/16 x 5 5/8 in. Rembrandt House Museum, Amsterdam

Visitors to the Taft Museum of Art have been greeted by a pair of Rembrandts for more than 90 years. That couple will soon be joined by nearly 50 rarely exhibited works, presenting the depth and breadth of Rembrandt’s etching subjects, including portraits, self-portraits, scenes from daily life, landscapes, narrative scenes, and still lifes.

Co-organized by the Rembrandt House Museum (the artist’s former home and studio in Amsterdam) and the American Federation of Arts, “Rembrandt: Masterpieces in Black and White–Prints from the Rembrandt House Museum” is the first time in 27 years that this exquisite collection of etchings will be shown outside of the Netherlands. The exhibition also demonstrates Rembrandt’s centuries-long impact on the field of printmaking through a select group of etchings by Rembrandt’s contemporaries, as well as later admirers including James McNeill Whistler and Pablo Picasso.

“Rembrandt: Masterpieces in Black and White–Prints from the Rembrandt House Museum”

Feb. 7–May 17
Taft Museum of Art, 316 Pike St.

Co-organized by the Rembrandt House Museum and the American Federation of Arts,

General admission is free for Taft members, military, and youth (17 and under); $20 for adults; and $18 for seniors. Admission is free on Sundays and Mondays.

Tickets, programs, and information at taftmuseum.org/Exhibitions/Rembrandt.

“This is an exciting time to showcase the pioneering techniques of one of the world’s most famous artists,” says Tamera Lenz Muente, curator, who will oversee the presentation of the show at the Taft Museum of Art. “One of the Taft’s most significant and beloved paintings is Rembrandt’s ‘Portrait of a Man Rising from His Chair,’ so it’s wonderful to be able to further highlight his artistic achievements.”

Rembrandt van Rijn (Dutch, 1606–1669) is widely regarded as one of the greatest artists of all time. His innovation, creativity, and influence is evident not only in his paintings, but also in the more than 300 etchings he made during his career. At a time when most saw etching primarily as a vehicle to reproduce famous works of art, Rembrandt utilized the medium to create groundbreaking compositions. Filled with delicate lines and velvety shadows, his etchings often convey the same psychological intensity seen in his oil paintings. 

“In 1999, the Taft debuted etchings from the Rembrandt House Museum to critical acclaim in the U.S., and we are thrilled to be one of three museums on their second American tour,” says Muente. “It’s an opportunity to introduce a new generation to Rembrandt’s remarkable creative vision. The intimacy of his etchings, their awe-inspiring draftsmanship, and their emotional impact make these works still very relevant today.”

In the exhibition, 45 etchings – many among his most well-known – demonstrate Rembrandt’s pioneering approach to printmaking. Eight sections examine themes including the artist’s working directly from life, creating emotional impact through the use of light and dark, and shaping identity through portraits and self-portraits. A special part of the exhibition focuses on how Rembrandt made his etchings, through video, etching tools and materials, and copper plates used by the artist himself. Finally, fifteen etchings by later artists show Rembrandt’s impact across generations. Throughout, Rembrandt’s innovative visual storytelling emerges in powerful details of human expression, and his lasting legacy becomes evident. 

“We at the Rembrandt House Museum are delighted to bring Rembrandt's fascinating prints to audiences outside of the Netherlands,” says Epco Runia, head of collections at the Rembrandt House Museum and the show’s curator. “With this exhibition we hope to demonstrate that each of Rembrandt's prints is a work of art in its own right. If you take the time to look at them closely, a whole world opens up to you: a world in black and white, but with enormous visual richness.”

---

Header image: Rembrandt van Rijn (Dutch, 1606–1669), “Self-Portrait, Wearing a Flat Cap,” about 1642, etching, 3 11/16 x 2 7/16 in. Rembrandt House Museum, Amsterdam

All That Jazz

Family favorites. Classic characters. Big Broadway spectacle. Thie 2026-27 Broadway in Cincinnati season checks every box – whether you’re bringing kids, planning a date night or finally saying yes to that subscription.

Here’s what’s coming to Cincinnati in 2026-2027:

• The Great Gatsby (Sept. 15–27): This is what you want musical theatre to be! Big songs, incredible sets and songs and choreography that will get stuck in your head. The Tony Award-winner also has local roots: Jay Gatsby is based on George Remus from Cincinnati. You’ll love it, Old Sport!

• BOOP! The Musical (Oct. 20–25): “We could see BOOP!” Everyone’s favorite cartoon diva is now the star of a musical full of color, music and old-school charm. The costumes and tap numbers steal the show.

• The Sound of Music (Nov. 10–15): The hills are alive, the songs are iconic and if you don’t get chills when “Do-Re-Mi” starts, check your pulse. A multigenerational crowd-pleaser that never gets old.

• ’Twas' The Night Before… (Cirque du Soleil) (Dec. 2–13): Holiday fun, reimagined. Cirque blends acrobatics, music, and visual magic into a seasonal show that feels festive, surprising and anything but predictable.

• Six (Jan. 5–10, 2027): Divorced. Beheaded. Live! This pop-concert-meets-history-lesson is loud, funny, and unapologetically modern.

• Maybe Happy Ending (Jan. 19–31, 2027): Quiet, quirky, and unexpectedly emotional. This Tony-winning musical is a unique story of love and connection.

• Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Feb. 16–28, 2027): Be our guest for this family favorite. Check out the newly redesigned costumes, familiar songs and just enough nostalgia to make you feel like a kid again.

• The Outsiders (March 16–28, 2027): Stay gold! This raw, emotional musical adaptation brings S.E. Hinton’s story to life with a cast album you can’t forget and  incredible moments that stay with you.

• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (April 13–25, 2027): Accio tickets! It’s not just Harry otter fan who will love the magic and the staging in this spellbinding play. It continues the story of the wizarding world in theatrical form.

• Hadestown (May 14-16, 2027): Myth meets music for this Tony Award-winning reimagining that draws audiences into its emotional (under)world.

• Buena Vista Social Club: (June 1-13, 2027): Music lovers, this one’s for you. The band is center stage, playing live music inspired by the Grammy-winning album. The show celebrates Cuban culture and artistry in a combo concert-story-party .

Next season’s productions are strong and memorable, spanning genres and themes, meaning there’s something for everyone at the Aronoff Center, making Broadway in Cincinnati a year-round destination.

Lesson Planning

Winter may have a hold on us, but the Art Academy of Cincinnati kicks of its Spring semester with the annual faculty exhibition.

Join the opening reception on Friday, Jan. 30, 5 to 8 p.m. in the AAC’s Pearlman and McClure Galleries. The artwork in the show represents all mediums taught at the Art Academy, made by the artists who teach them.

“AAC Faculty Exhibition 2026” features works by 17 faculty artists, offering a look at the applied experience of the teachers who guide and help shape so many young artists in the city

“AAC Faculty Exhibition 2026” celebrates the depth, range, and continuity of the AAC’s artist-educators, featuring new and recent work by faculty across painting, sculpture, photography, video, design, writing, and interdisciplinary practices.

AAC’s faculty are accomplished, practicing artists and designers whose work is exhibited, published, and collected regionally and nationally, and whose professional engagement directly informs their teaching. Working within AAC’s intimate, studio-based learning environment, faculty provide sustained mentorship, individualized guidance, and rigorous critical dialogue, fostering a culture where experimentation, conceptual development, and technical excellence thrive.

Many members of the AAC faculty have been part of the institution for decades, and a significant number are proud alumni of the Academy, creating a powerful through-line between AAC’s past, present, and future. Their long-term commitment reflects a deep investment in the school’s mission, its students, and its historic Over-the-Rhine campus. Together, their work reveals a vibrant, intergenerational community of makers for whom teaching and creative practice are inseparable. They are artists who not only shape the next generation of creative voices but also continue to actively contribute to the cultural life of Cincinnati and beyond.

Rachle Reisert

Sarah Stolar

Ian Hersko

Never Forget

Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away
Cincinnati Museum Center, 1301 Western Ave.

Through April 12.

Tickets and group sales information at cincymuseum.org/Auschwitz.

Exhibit created by Musealia in cooperation with the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum and curated by an international panel of experts, including world-renowned scholars Dr. Robert Jan van Pelt, Dr. Michael Berenbaum and Paul Salmons, in an unprecedented collaboration with historians and curators at the Research Center at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, led by Dr. Piotr Setkiewicz.

With the endless barrage of bad news right now, it may not seem like the ideal time to confront one of the most harrowing episodes in history. But the stories of resilience found throughout the “Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away” exhibition at Cincinnati Museum Center illustrate the best of us, giving all of us hope in a world that seems to have gone mad.

The exhibition showcases the profound humanity of those who perished and the extraordinary resilience of those who survived one of the Holocaust’s most notorious camps.

“Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away.” offers a poignant and sobering glimpse into the devastating reality of the German Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz, and the enduring significance of its history. Featuring more than 500 original objects from the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum and more than 20 other international museums, the exhibition traces the rise of Nazi ideology that during World War II and the German occupation transformed an ordinary Polish town known as Oświęcim into a place where unimaginable atrocities and extraordinary human resilience intersected.

“This exhibition shares the real artifacts and evidence of what happened in Auschwitz, connecting guests with objects, photos and stories that reveal the lives of those who lived, and died, in Auschwitz,” said Elizabeth Pierce, president & CEO of Cincinnati Museum Center. “Understanding these moments in history helps us understand how to make our world better now and in the future. It renews our commitment to our shared humanity.”

Among the exhibition’s more than 500 artifacts and 400 photographs are hundreds of personal items that belong to survivors and victims of Auschwitz, including suitcases, eyeglasses and shoes. Some of the key artifacts include concrete posts that were part of the fence of the Auschwitz camp, fragments of an original prisoner barracks from the Auschwitz III-Monowitz camp and objects from the perpetrators, the SS guards, including a gas mask. All bear witness to the lives, and humanity, lost at Auschwitz.

In addition to the international artifacts, the exhibition includes specially curated stories and select artifacts of local Holocaust survivors who came to Cincinnati to rebuild their lives after the war. These stories are presented by the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center, which was founded by survivors and moved to Union Terminal in 2019. Many of those survivors and refugees arrived through Union Terminal, as did many of the American soldiers who liberated camps in Europe, making the Holocaust & Humanity Center the only Holocaust museum in the United States with a positive, authentic connection to its site.

In commemoration of Holocaust Remembrance Day on Jan. 27, admission to the Holocaust and Humanity Center is free throughout January, with $5 off admission to “Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away.” Once a place of arrival and refuge for Holocaust survivors rebuilding their lives in Cincinnati, Union Terminal remains a powerful space to gather, learn, and reflect together.

“We are honored to partner with Cincinnati Museum Center to bring this landmark exhibition to Union Terminal,” said Jackie Congedo, CEO of the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center. “This exhibition builds on the powerful legacy of our local Holocaust survivors, whose courage and stories continue to shape our community and guide our mission.”

The opportunity to bring this impactful exhibition to Cincinnati has been generously supported by the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati; H.B., E.W. & F.R. Luther Charitable Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee; Jacob G. Schmidlapp Fund, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee; Helen G., Henry F., Louise Tuechter Dornette Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee; The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati; Western & Southern Financial Group; Les and Renee Sandler; The Kanter/Knue Family; The Neil Bortz Family; Rosenthal Family Foundation; Beth and Louis Guttman; and Ginger Warner.

Art Class

Consistently Recognized Arts-Vibrant Communities

These 22 communities have appeared at least three times in the Arts Vibrancy Index since 2020, evidence of sustained arts vibrancy in the post-COVID era.

• Ann Arbor, MI

• Austin–Round Rock–San Marcos, TX

• Bennington, VT

• Bozeman, MT

• Boulder, CO

• Brevard, NC

• Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN

• Cleveland, OH

• Denver–Aurora–Centennial, CO

• Hailey, ID

• Hudson, NY

• Ithaca, NY

• Juneau, AK

• Kalamazoo–Portage, MI

• Milwaukee–Waukesha, WI

• Missoula, MT

• Newark, NJ

• Portland–Vancouver–Hillsboro, OR-WA

• Rifle, CO*

• Steamboat Springs, CO

• Vineyard Haven, MA

• Wilmington, DE-MD-NJ 

*Rifle, CO was previously listed in the index as Glenwood Springs, CO. The name reflects updated Census Bureau Core Based Statistical Area definitions.

What are you doing this weekend? Chances are good you’re going to a concert, seeing a play, or wandering through an art museum. Without too much effort, you could do all three!

SMU DataArts, the National Center for Arts Research, recently released its 10th annual ranking of the most arts-vibrant communities in the United States, placing the Cincinnati region in the top 5 percent of communities nationwide in the 2025 Arts Vibrancy Index.

“Being recognized again speaks to the strength and consistency of our arts ecosystem,” said Alecia Kintner, president and CEO of ArtsWave. “This sustained recognition reflects a long-standing, shared commitment to collective action for the arts from individual donors and artists to organizations, civic and business partners. The data reinforces the role the arts play as a public good that strengthens our entire region.”

Beyond its placement in this year’s rankings, the Cincinnati region is also recognized as one of a small number of communities frequently included in the Arts Vibrancy Index over the past five years, demonstrating sustained arts vibrancy in the post-COVID era. The rankings are based on SMU DataArts’ Arts Vibrancy Index (AVI), which uses a data-driven approach to analyze per-capita supply, demand and public support for the arts across more than 900 communities nationwide.

The Cincinnati region’s sustained presence in the index reflects a broad and interconnected arts ecosystem, with creative activity happening year-round across neighborhoods, public spaces and institutions. From major regional moments like BLINK, to everyday arts experiences, this depth and consistency contribute to a more connected community and vibrant economy.

To mark the 10th anniversary of the Arts Vibrancy Index, SMU DataArts expanded the list to 100 communities, up from 40 in previous years. In addition to identifying arts-vibrant communities, the research center has also expanded its analysis to provide deeper insight into long-term trends shaping the arts and culture sector. For details and to visualize community and state index data in depth, visit the data explorer.

“The Arts Vibrancy Index has shone a light on the people, organizations and investments that make local culture vibrant for the last 10 years,” said Dr. Jennifer Benoit-Bryan, executive director of SMU DataArts. “By expanding our list to one hundred communities, we celebrate the top 10 percent of arts-vibrant communities nationwide. Through all the ups and downs of the last decade, communities have continued to invest in their local arts, and the index has provided data-backed insights to inform planning, advocacy and well-deserved recognition.” 

The Arts Vibrancy Index is composed of 13 measures covering aspects of arts supply, demand and public support, adjusted for cost of living and population differences. Communities are measured using Core Based Statistical Areas, which capture the economic and cultural reach of a region and its surrounding areas. For more information on how the Arts Vibrancy Index is calculated, including metrics, data sources and the data explorer, visit culturaldata.org/arts-vibrancy-2025.