Inspiring Change

Communities often find inspiration and encouragement through the work of their artists.

With a new round of recently announced grants, ArtsWave is encouraging individual artists to explore themes of “Truth” and “Inspiration” and to envision a more equitable future through their work.

ArtsWave, the region’s engine for the arts, has awarded $204,700 to 24 local artists through its 2026 Inspire Artist Grants. Now in its sixth year, the program provides financial and career support to individual artists in the Cincinnati region.

The Inspire Artist Grants are part of ArtsWave’s broader effort to strengthen the sustainability of artists and organizations focused on preserving and advancing BIPOC arts and culture.

The 24 funded projects span a variety of mediums, including film, performance and visual art, exploring themes of migration, heritage and the diverse BIPOC experience here in Cincy. Some highlights include multi-year grant recipient K.A. Simpson’s spoken word album exploring the intersection of memory and identity, and Jay Kalagayan’s historical fiction comic series that uncovers the forgotten story of the first Filipinos in North America.

In addition to funding, the program offers selected artists professional development opportunities, including writing, project management, and business development sessions.

2026 Inspire Artist Grants

Markus Cook | How to Resurrect a Loved One

Bertha Davis | The 90’s: A Documentary for the Ages

Clifford Fenell | Many Voices: Stories of Us.

Ashley Glass | SDOH (The Social Determinants of Health) Short Documentary/Trailer

Brandon Isaac | Pride in my Heritage: Coming Home to Yourself

Julia Orquera Bianco | Iluminar

Derrick Smith | Building a Nest in a Dying Tree

Jori An Cotton | Voices of Resilience: Amplifying Stories, Art, and Healing Across Sheltered Communities

Gabriel Martinez Rubio | Free-Dom

Geri P | Broken Kids

Roberto | SI DIOS QUIERE

K.A. Simpson | You Should Have Been There: Things That Sounded Funnier in My Head

The Silent Poet| Threads of Solidarity: A Collective Manifesto in Word and Action

Noam Denenberg | Carbon Dreams

Drea | Rankin House, tribute to the successful journey

Ximena Flores | Inti Echoes

Jeni Jenkins | Here in The Middle: Colors of Colorism, Bodies in Margins

Jay Kalagayan | St. Malo: First Filipinos in North America

Noel Bassam Mohammad Maghathe | Between Us

Lisa Merida-Paytes | The Paroxysm-Tree Project

Rebecca Nava Soto | The Land Remembers: We Were Always Here

Christina Sifri | Land and Body

Janyla Smith | The Essence of My World

Ingrid Woode | Twilight Sanctuaries  

This year, participants will work closely with ArtsWave staff and local professional artist, mentor and ArtsWave-grant recipient Michael Thompson to bring their projects to fruition.

New to 2026, the cohort introduces a new category specifically for emerging artists to receive additional mentoring and career guidance throughout the project cycle.

The Inspire Artist Grants are made possible through partnerships with the City of Cincinnati, Duke Energy, Greater Cincinnati Foundation and the Contemporary Arts Center. The program culminates in a professional showcase of the selected projects at the Contemporary Arts Center in July 2026.

For more information about this year’s Inspire Artist Grants, visit artswave.org/inspire.

Life is Sweet

Nutcracker season has officially arrived at Cincinnati Ballet, and the excitement begins in the Karen F. Maier and Delane Starliper Display Case. The space that welcomes dancers and visitors has transformed into a festive preview of the Land of Sweets, showcasing costumes from past productions, twinkling seasonal décor and visual elements that signal the start of rehearsals and the return of one of Cincinnati’s favorite holiday traditions.

This is all part of the prep for "Cincinnati Ballet’s “The Nutcracker,” returning to Music Hall, Dec. 18–28. As the Ballet’s longest-running and most attended production, it draws thousands of families from across the region to share the magic, music and memories of the season.

Find tickets to “The Nutcracker” and more information at cballet.org.

Happy Together

The holiday season seems to start earlier and earlier each year. A few events are already underway, with more kicking-off this weekend. From evenings spent under the lights to listening to your fave carols, we’ve got a rundown of can’t-miss programs to make the most of the festive season.

First things first

You don’t have to wait until the day after Thanksgiving to start celebrating! Check out these holiday programs kicking off this weekend!

Festival of Lights
Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden
Nov. 20 – Jan. 4
cincinnatizoo.org/events/festival-of-lights

The Cincinnati Zoo is shining bright for the 43rd annual PNC Festival of Lights! In addition to admiring the dazzling display five million LED lights, visitors can find five Fiona fairies in Fairyland, take in a blacklight puppet show, marvel at the spectacular Wild Lights on Swan Lake, and enjoy seasonal concessions.

One of my family’s traditions is baking Christmas cookies together about a week before Christmas. We bake probably about sixt to eight different types (sometimes more!) and fill tins for each family to take home to their respective houses. This involves my mom, me, and some of my nieces and nephew. I can’t wait for Zion for be old enough to join us!

– Tiffany Coleman

Servatii Cincinnati Christkindlmarkt
Nov. 22 – Dec. 28
Moerlein Lager House and Smale Riverfront Park
cincinnatichristkindlmarkt.com 

This traditional German market returns for its fourth season, bringing European vibe to Smale Riverfront Park. Anchored at Moerlein Lager Hous, this year’s Christkindlmarkt expands its footprint from the Schmidlapp Event Lawn all the way to Carol Ann’s Carousel.

This winter wonderland under the Fest Test, features a large digital screen, a stage stacked with performers, and new food and beverage options. You can also cozy up in a private heated igloo for up to 15 guests, send letters to Santa, and enjoy rides on the carousel.

Taking the stage

For some folks the holidays aren’t official until you’ve gotten dressed up and gone to the theatre for classic (or not so classic!) tale. 

A Christmas Carol
Playhouse in the Park, 962 Mt. Adams Circle
Nov. 21 – Dec. 28
www.cincyplay.com/productions/a-christmas-carol-25

The holiday story you love unfolds in spectacular fashion in Moe and Jack’s Place – The Rouse Theatre! In Charles Dickens’ classic tale, Ebenezer Scrooge is a greedy curmudgeon who finds his heart changing when three spirits and the ghost of a long-lost friend show him the errors of his ways. Across one fateful Christmas Eve night, Scrooge recalls the warmth and generosity of past loved ones, learns the value of kindness through Tiny Tim and the Cratchit family and glimpses a terrifying future should his heart remain the same. Featuring dazzling set, costume and lighting designs, A Christmas Carol promises a magical holiday experience for your family

Each and every holiday season since my son Max (who is 31) was 5 years old, the ETC Holiday Show has been part of our family tradition. We have carried on the tradition with our grandchildren to this day. They travel in town for the holidays and make sure we get tickets as soon as we know the dates! We never want to miss an opportunity to share these productions with them and some friend's little ones too. And I have to be honest, even if I didn't have a little one to share the experience, I'd still attend. It's that good!

– Pam Kravetz

It’s Fritz
Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, 1127 Vine St.
Dec. 3 – 31
ensemblecincinnati.org/calendar/its-fritz/

Everyone knows Fiona the hippo, but her little brother Fritz is still figuring out who he wants to be. In this new family-friendly musical, Hippo Cove’s newest arrival is ready to wade out of the background and into his own big moment. Having a world-famous big sister, though, makes Fritz wonder if there’s any spotlight left for him. When he sets out to find what makes him special, the path isn’t always clear, but with some help from the zoo’s colorful cast of animals, Fritz discovers that standing out starts by listening, learning, and leaning on those who believe in you.

Every Christmas Story Ever Told
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, Elm st
Dec. 11 – 28
cincyshakes.com/on-stage/every-christmas-2025

CSC's holiday smash hit Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!) is back again for another season of holiday hilarity! What begins as another annual production of A Christmas Carol, soon devolves into a slightly irreverent (but undeniably adoring) look at all of your “Beloved Holiday Classics” including pop culture favorites like It’s a Wonderful Life, The Grinch, Rudolph, Charlie Brown and more! Add in topical references that always keep this annual tradition fresh and fun as we send up everything from Dickens to Dr. Seuss in an evening of high-octane jollity and frivolity.

Holiday Pops
Music Hall, 1243 Elm St.
Dec. 12 – Dec. 14
www.cincinnatisymphony.org/holiday-pops

There's nothing quite as magical as the Pops during the holiday season, when family memories are created anew at festive, sold-out performances of “Holiday Pops”! Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Cody Fry returns to the Music Hall stage for an evening of holiday magic featuring Studio for Dance, Sycamore High School Select Ensemble, SCPA Chorale, Winton Woods Varsity Ensemble and the May Festival Youth Chorus.

The Nutcracker is the kickoff to “Christmas week” for us. We all love it and each year we recall the memories of Nutcrackers past when each of our girls puts their Nutcracker ornaments on the tree. They each got one when they attended their first Nutcracker.

– Kathrine Nero

Cincinnati Ballet’s The Nutcracker
Music Hall, 1243 Elm St.
Dec. 18 – 28
cballet.org/performances/the-nutcracker-presented-by-sheakley-family-2/

No holiday is complete without a trip to the Land of Sweets! Don’t miss Cincinnati Ballet’s “The Nutcracker”at Music Hall. Full of magic and wonder, with sparkling choreography, awe-inspiring sets and costumes, and Tchaikovsky’s beloved score is family tradition like no other!

When Clara receives a nutcracker on Christmas Eve, her dreams take her on a grand adventure. Follow Clara and her Nutcracker Prince on a journey with a fantastic cast of characters – the Snow Queen and her King, Sugar Plum Fairy and Cavalier, mischievous mice, brave toy soldiers, and even Clara’s friend Minnie the Poodle.

Our little holiday circuit goes like this – After Thanksgiving dinner we decorate the tree, then we volunteer as the “Santa family” welcoming folks to Music Hall for the Pops. We always catch the Mighty Wurlitzer Holiday Concert that Friends of Music Hall puts on, and we galavant around Cincinnati to take in all the lights. We ring in the New Year at the Pops concert, then we head to Sundry and Vice for a nightcap.

– Yemi Oyediran 

Out and About

Looking for some space to burn off all that extra cookie energy or take in the twinkling lights of the city?

Festival of Ferns
Krohn Conservatory
Now through Jan. 4, 2026
www.cincinnati-oh.gov/cincyparks/visit-a-park/find-a-parkfacility/krohn-conservatory

Cincinnati Parks’ Krohn Conservatory invites you to experience dazzling enchantment this holiday season with A Festival of Ferns! Walk through a botanical model of Cincinnati created by Applied Imagination. Experience classic trains and iconic landmarks like the Cincinnati Museum Center to the Roebling Bridge. Surround yourself with ferns, familiar and unexpected from towering tree to delicate maidenhairs complemented by the crimson hues of our seasonal poinsettias. Families, new and old delight in nature blended with tradition. Come celebrate with us among the fronds!

Holiday Junction featuring the Duke Energy Holiday Trains
Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal
Now through Jan. 5, 2026
www.cincymuseum.org/holiday-junction

The Duke Energy Holiday Trains have been a Cincinnati holiday staple for decades, delighting generations since they first debuted downtown in 1946. Track-level views reveal intricate details of the display, where over 300 rail cars and 50 locomotives steam past anxious passengers waiting to board while cars sit with snow to their hubcaps and the perfect trees strapped to their roofs.

Winterhaus
Fountain Square
Now through February
myfountainsquare.com/winterhaus

Looking for a cozy spot? Winterhaus on Fountain Square is a heated, glass-enclosed, tented retreat with a full bar, Cincinnati-centric shopping options, and daily programming. There’s also space for co-working private event. Plus you can enjoy great views the Duke Energy Holiday Tree and CVG's Fountain of Lights, on the Tyler Davidson Fountain.

UC Health Ice Rink presented by Fifth Third Bank
Elm Street Plaza
Nov. 21 – Feb. 16, 2026
elmstreetplazacincy.com/ice-rink

Ice skating in the heart of downtown is one of Cincinnati’s quintessential winter traditions. This year, the beloved rink brings its signature charm and festive atmosphere to a new location at Elm Street Plaza, where families and friends can make lasting memories.

Twelve years ago, a few girlfriends and I decided to kick off the season with a holiday cookie baking night. We planned a potluck menu, brought our favorite seasonal drinks, and had so much fun we made it an annual tradition—rotating homes, adding new dishes, sharing big announcements and even turning it into a sleepover one year. As life evolved and families grew, the tradition grew with us. We welcomed our loved ones, created kid-friendly activities like gingerbread village building, and somehow the baking became hilariously competitive. And yes… we’re still enjoying those cocktail recipes.

This year feels extra special—my daughter is hosting her own version with her best friend. A new generation of holiday magic.

– Tiffany Orr

Cincinnati’s Nights of Lights
Nov. 26– Jan. 3, 2026,
Clermont County Fairgrounds
queencitylightshow.com

Cincinnati’s favorite holiday drive-thru experience, Cincinnati’s Nights of Lights, celebrate’s its 10th season at its new location at the Clermont County Fairgrounds in Owensville, Ohio.

Guests will enjoy two million dazzling lights synchronized to holiday classics, creating a one-of-a-kind experience for families, couples and friends. Visitors can enjoy the warmth and comfort of their cars as they drive through the immersive displays of sparkling tunnels, animated scenes and festive music. Bonus: You can bring your own cookies and hot chocolate!

Scuba Santa’s Water Wonderland
Newport Aquarium
Nov. 28 – Dec. 24
www.newportaquarium.com/scuba-santa-s-water-wonderland/ 

Celebrate this one-of-a-kind Cincinnati holiday tradition with Scuba Santa and a Water Wonderland full of playful penguins, colorful holiday lights and a flurry of magical bubbles! Through holiday magic, kids can tell Scuba Santa what they want for Christmas while he swims underwater with a tank full of sharks, rays, schools of fish and a curious sea turtle! Meet cheerful elves straight from the North Pole and join in the fun as Scuba Santa fills the Theater with bubbles. His magical bubbles will float and fall all around you and every time a bubble pops, a wish will come true for someone throughout the world.

Select Company

Summerfair Select, an exhibition of works by 16 outstanding local artists, opens at The Weston Gallery, 650 Walnut St., this Friday, Nov. 21, 6 to 8 p.m. The opening reception celebrates this enduring regional arts grant, featuring work by Cincinnati-area artists who received Summerfair Aid to Individual Artists Awards from 2022 to 2024.

“It’s an honor to showcase these exceptional artists at The Weston Gallery,” says Jayne Utter, managing director of Summerfair. “The growth they have had due to our support is heart warming. The creativity from each of them is not to be missed.”

To celebrate this enduring regional arts grant, the Weston Art Gallery presents 16 Cincinnati-area artists who received Summerfair Aid to Individual Artists Awards from 2022 to 2024. The exhibition opens Friday, Nov. 21. The Weston Art Gallery is at the Aronoff Center for the Arts, 650 Walnut St. in downtown Cincinnati.

The artists featured in the exhibition are all recipients of Summerfair Cincinnati’s Aid to Individual Artists Awards. Summerfair’s longest running award program, the AIA Awards are presented each year to artists living within a 40-mile radius of Cincinnati.

The artists in the exhibition are

Sherry Cucinotta Ackell has been an artist and performer throughout her life, with early dance classes influencing her first ceramics pieces, dance figurines. After winning multiple awards in the Midwest Ceramics Show, she attended the University of Cincinnati as a double major in musical theater at Collage Conservatory of Music and art at the college of Design Architecture and Art. She currently works a sculptor at Turtle Creek Pottery.

Steven Finke received a BFA from Ohio University and a MFA from the University of Miami in Florida. After graduate school he settled in Ohio and taught sculpture at Northern Kentucky University for 32 years. He currently lives in Southwest Ohio where he is working on a long term environmental project that integrates sculpture and forest in an aesthetic reflection on impermanence.

Jason Franz is a Cincinnati-based artist and educator, who has served as the co-founding executive director of the nonprofit Manifest Creative Research Gallery and Drawing Center for the past 21 years. He received a BFA degree from the Art Academy of Cincinnati, and an MFA from the University of Cincinnati. After a decade serving in the exhibitions department at the Cincinnati Art Museum, and before and after the launch of Manifest, he has taught drawing, painting, and design at AAC, UC, and Xavier University.

Peyton Harshfield is an artist based in Northern Kentucky, known for her dynamic and engaging creations that transform public spaces into vibrant community focal points. She graduated from Northern Kentucky University with a BFA in integrative media, specializing in sculpture and painting. Her education provided a strong foundation, allowing her to blend techniques and materials in innovative ways.

Lindsey Kiser has worked in scratchboard for 34 years, a medium she finds uniquely capable of capturing intricate details, light, and drama. She is a member of the International Society of Scratchboard Artists. Kiser studied art at Georgetown College, drawing and art history at Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art at Oxford University, England, and received a doctoral degree from NKU Chase College of Law.

Pam Kravetz is an artist, curator, artistic director, and art educator born, raised, and living in Cincinnati, Ohio. She is a regionally and nationally recognized visual artist with more than 50 art exhibits and installations, with works ranging from ArtWorks street art to installations at Cincinnati’s Children’s Hospital to Contemporary Arts Center.

Paul Kroner is a lifelong maker, with creative instincts that first led him to a career in graphic design, earning his degree in graphic design from the University of Cincinnati. But his passion for fine art remained a constant thread. In his late 40s, that passion took center stage, and his art practice fully emerged.

Jee Eun Lee, born and raised in South Korea, has been an exhibiting artist for more than 20 years. She received her BFA. and MFA. in sculpture at Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea, and moved to the U.S. in 2010, where she earned a second M.F.A. degree at Syracuse University, New York. She is currently the head of the ceramics area at Northern Kentucky University.

Joshua R. Maier lives and works as both artist and educator in Cincinnati. Growing up, he divided this time from farmlands spanning Southern Ohio to Northern Kansas. He earned his BFA in creative writing and 3D art from Bowling Green State University of Ohio. After nearly a decade of working as an artist in Kansas City within the production glass art industry, as a production potter, and an academic studio technician he began his graduate studies at the University of Missouri – Columbia in 2013. There he received his MFA in Ceramics & Sculpture

Lisa Merida-Paytes holds an MFA from the University of Cincinnati and a BFA from the Art Academy of Cincinnati. She uses paper, copper and steel wire together while strengthening the materials with liquid starch, paper clay slip and epoxy. She has taught at all levels throughout the Midwest and served in various professional positions, including gallery director at FUNKe FIRED ARTS and art director/founder of the Kennedy Heights Art Center.

Emily Moores earned her BFA from The Cleveland Institute of Art and her MFA from The University of Cincinnati. Her work consists of hand-cut and ornately layered materials, which create both wall works and large-scale installations. Emily’s work investigates the playful engagement of the body as essential to understanding and experiencing spaces or objects.

Brigid Patricia O’Kane earned her BFA from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Mich., and her MFA from the University of Cincinnati. She co-founded Manifest Creative Research Gallery and Drawing Center, a not-for-profit arts organization in Cincinnati. She shares her expertise as an associate professor at the UC where she teaches drawing and advanced studies at the undergraduate and graduate levels. 

Charity Rust-Jordan is a multidisciplinary artist and educator, who holds a BFA in Spatial Arts from Northern Kentucky University, and is certified to teach mindfulness and mediation. As an instructor, she provides workshops and classes largely focused on ceramics and an Art and Mindfulness. 

Gary Sczerbaniewicz, born in Upstate N.Y., earned a BFA in sculpture from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, and an MFA in sculpture from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, and an MFA in sculpture from the University at Buffalo. He served as visiting assistant professor of sculpture at the University of Notre Dame and is currently assistant professor of spatial arts – sculpture at Northern Kentucky University.

Sara Torgison is an interdisciplinary artist with a focus in ceramics and fiber art. She received an MFA from the University of Cincinnati– College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning (2021) and a BFA from Cal Poly Humboldt in Arcata, CA (2010). Her work often blends media, extending finite and fragile surfaces to emphasize and inhabit marginal spaces.

Stephen Wheeler holds a BFA in painting from Northern Kentucky University, and describes his work at “whimsical realism,” creating colorful scenes and characters from the realm of imagination and play.

The AIA Award was the area’s first program designed to distribute funds to individual artists. The application process is extensive and winners are selected by outside experts in a blind screening process. The $5,000 award can be used for anything from funding research, assisting in the creation of new works or purchasing supplies and material for production. To provide further support for its AIA recipients and to demonstrate the impact the grant has on their artistic development, Summerfair mounts a triennial exhibition for the twelve most recent award winners in partnership with The Weston Gallery. The exhibition continues through Jan. 11, 2026.

Write Away

Ready to geek out over books? Celebrate the joy of reading and writing together at Books by the Banks!

The day-long festival, which is free and open to the public, features national, regional, and local authors and illustrators; book signings; panel discussions, along with activities for the entire family.

Organized by local libraries and booksellers with support from sponsors, the festival includes the chance to visit authors from a range of genres — from science fiction to graphic novels to local interest and more — along with fun and informative author panels and book signings.

Books by the Banks Cincinnati Regional
Book Festival
Saturday, Nov, 15, 2025, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m at the
Main Library, Cincinnati and Hamilton County
Public Library
800 Vine St.

Admission is free.

This year’s headliner is New York Times-bestselling author Tessa Bailey. Known for her character-driven romances, Bailey’s books includeeIt Happened One Summer, Pitcher Perfect, The Au Pair Affair, and Fangirl Down. She will be conversation with Paula Brehm-Heeger, the Library’s Eva Jane Romaine Coombe Director. 

You can also catch Silas House, the festival’s featured author. Born and based in Kentucky, Silas House is a New York Times bestselling author of seven novels, including Clay’s Quilt, A Parchment of Leaves, The Coal Tattoo, Eli the Good, Same Sun Here, Southernmost, and Lark Ascending. House also served as the Poet Laureate of Kentucky from 2023-2025. Hear him talk about his work in conversation with Yalie Kamara, former Cincinnati poet laureate. 

At the author panels, you’ll have the chance to listen to your favorite authors as they talk about their work, the creative process, and more in these fun and informative discussions.

Other featured authors at Books by The Banks include

• Derrick Barnes, Newbery Honor and Coretta Scott King Honor author of the critically acclaimed, multi-award-winning picture book Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut as well as the Ruby and the Booker Boys series

• Sharon Draper, two-time winner of the Coretta Scott King Award for books about the young and adolescent African-American experience

• Margaret Peterson Haddix, known best for the children's series Shadow Children and The Missing

• Nita Prose, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Maid

• Rob Sheffield, author and long time contributing editor at Rolling Stone

• Carole Boston Weatherford, New York Times bestselling author of more than 50 Newbery and Caldecott award-winning books for children and young adults 

You can meet all of the authors in the Author Pavilion. Each author will have their newest book for sale at the tables, and in some cases, past titles as well. Book sales sustain the festival and help us bring a fantastic author lineup to the Cincinnati region year after year. Buy for yourself — or get some holiday shopping finished. Attendees are allowed to bring their own books to the festival, but we strongly encourage you to browse the more than 150 titles for sale.

The Kids Corner features activities all day, including a workshop with author and illustrator Andy J. Pizza, and balloon fun with Cincinnati Circus, and an author workshop with Yukiko Ryburn and The Kokeshi Project, opens a new window team. The Teen Scene also has an exciting all-day lineup including a graphic novel demonstration with Shawn Pryor, crafts, and VIP author meet and greets.

Drawing Interest

Illustration by Erin Barker

Story Art: Works by Regional Book Illustrators
Pearlman and McClure Galleries
Art Academy of Cincinnati, 1212 Jackson St.

Gallery Hours:
Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
(Closed Nov. 23–25)

Gallery admission is free and open to the public

Art Academy of Cincinnati is pleased to present Story Art: Works by Regional Book Illustrators, a group exhibition featuring picture book illustrators from Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky in the Pearlman and McClure Galleries. The exhibitions runs Nov. 14 to Dec.12, 2025 with an opening reception on Friday, Nov. 14, 5–8 p.m.

This exhibition celebrates the breadth and variety of talented book illustrators in our region, featuring illustrations made with traditional painting, digitally produced art, photography, and sculptures, as well as a display of the printed books that the illustrations are from. There will also be examples of process material, such as sketches, studies and storyboards.

Every year, Cincinnati hosts the Books by the Banks festival, bringing hundreds of accomplished regional and national authors and illustrators to the Main branch of the Cincinnati Library. Story Art will open the same weekend as the festival, and will include many authors participating in Books by the Banks. This exhibition offers students of the Art Academy and the wider community the opportunity to view the artistry and process of bringing story books to life.

The exhibition is curated by Jeffrey Ebbeler, a New York Times best-selling illustrator. He has illustrated and occasionally written over 60 books for young readers. His published work includes picture books, middle grade and chapter books, and graphic novels. He teaches illustration at the Art Academy of Cincinnati, and is also an AAC alum.

The artists in the exhibition are Erin Barker, Keturah Bobo, Tim Bowers, Jane Dippold, Jeffrey Ebbeler, David FitzSimmons, Barry Gott, Jacob Grant, Fern Haught, Will Hillenbrand, Tara Calahan King, Terri Libenson, Loren Long, Tammy Lyon, Katie Mazeika, T.L. McBeth, Wes Molebash, Debbie Palen, C.F. Payne, Merrill Rainey, Rafael Rosado, Blyth Russo, Chris Sickles, Joe Sutphin, Christina Wald, Lindsay Ward, and Deann Wiley

Friendly Competition

The 2025 Summerfair poster designed by Amy Panfalone

Summerfair Poster Competition

Each year, artists are invited to submit design concepts for the annual Summerfair poster. The winning design will become the official visual icon for Summerfair.

Poster objectives:

• To inform the public about Summerfair; including mandatory information specified in the competition rules

• To convey that Summerfair is Cincinnati’s premier annual celebration of art and artists

• To provide a marketing tool that promotes the event

The deadline to enter Saturday, Jan. 9. For details on how to enter, visit www.summerfair.org/poster-competition.

Want to help create a local icon?

The Summerfair poster competition is now underway!

For more than 50 years, artists from around Greater Cincinnati have been invited to submit their designs for the commemorative Summerfair poster.

The winning design will be the official visual icon for Summerfair 2026. The chosen artist will receive $3,000, as well as widespread recognition through the Summerfair marketing campaign. The poster serves as the cornerstone of the advertising and public relations program each year and is always a collector’s item.

Summerfair is Cincinnati’s premier festival of fine arts and crafts featuring over 300 artists from around the country and Canada, exhibiting and selling their work. In addition, Summerfair features an acoustic stage for local entertainment, a youth arts area with hands-on art projects for kids, and a food court.

To be considered, the artist must be at least 18 years old and live within 75 miles radius of downtown Cincinnati. Any media (e.g. pastels, oils, gouache, full-color photos, prints, etc.) can be used, and designs must be suitable for adaptations and final art must be made available in digital, high res format.

Summerfair 2025 will be held at Coney Island, May 29 – 31.

Roaring Ahead

The Great Gatsby
Aronoff Center for the Arts
650 Walnut Street

Friday, Nov. 7, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 8, 2 and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 9, 1 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 14 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 15 at 2 and 7:30 p.m.

Tickets and info at cballet.org

Can’t repeat the past? Why, of course you can!

Especially when it’s a retelling of the Great American Novel, with a live jazz band, tap dancer, singer, actor, dog, and dancers from Cincinnati Ballet.

Cincinnati Ballet brings the North American premiere of Septime Webre’s The Great Gatsby to the Aronoff Center for the Arts for eight performances, Nov. 7–15. I

t’s Gatsby like you’ve never seen it before.

Internationally acclaimed choreographer and Hong Kong Ballet Artistic Director Septime Webre has created a full-length ballet, retelling the classic story of the 1925 novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

“The Great Gatsby is an unforgettable invitation into the Roaring Twenties, filled with glittering parties romance, and the irresistible energy of live jazz,” says The Katherine and Richard Rosenthal Cincinnati Ballet Artistic Director Cervilio Amador. “With dazzling choreography, spectacular projections, and a state-of-the-art LED wall, this production immerses audiences in a world that feels larger than life. At its heart, Gatsby’s story of hope, ambition, and longing will resonate long after the curtain falls.”

To bring Webre’s grand production to North America, various ballet companies joined forces to share the ambitious costs of shipping and assembling the set from Hong Kong. Kansas City Ballet will perform The Great Gatsby following the November premiere in Cincinnati.

This year also marks the 100th anniversary of the classic F. Scott Fitzgerald novel, The Great Gatsby, that inspired Webre’s full-length ballet version. Cincinnati Ballet will celebrate this anniversary in style, bringing along local singer Mandy Gaines, local actor and narrator Wesley Carman, two tap dancers, and live jazz band, Billy Novick's Blue Syncopators from Boston, to join company dancers on stage. 

The production also features an original score by Billy Novick and costumes by Tim Yip, best known for his work on the 2000 film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Art Direction.

Off to See the Wizard?

Photo: Mikki Schaffner

Photo: Mikki Schaffner

Photo: Mikki Schaffner

Photo: Mikki Schaffner

Photo: Mikki Schaffner

Photo: Mikki Schaffner

Photo: Mikki Schaffner

Photo: Mikki Schaffner

The Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition
Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati
Emery Theater, 1112 Walnut St.

Saturday, Oct. 18, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 19, 2 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 25, 2 and 5 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 26, 2 p.m.

Tickets start at $12. Get tickets at thechildrenstheatre.com.

After decades of anticipation, The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati (TCT) is bringing audiences “home” to the historic Emery Theater—fully restored and reimagined as the most technologically advanced proscenium-style theater in the nation. 

To celebrate this landmark moment, TCT launches its 2025–2026 MainStage Season with the one-hour “youth edition” of L. Frank Baum’s timeless classic, The Wizard of Oz.

This triumphant homecoming production will transport families over the rainbow as Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion follow the Yellow Brick Road in a dazzling theatrical event that blends tradition with innovation. Audiences tonight will be the very first to experience the rebirth of The Emery—where 100 years of history meets the future of live theatre.

“The Emery Theater is more than a stage—it’s a symbol of Cincinnati’s cultural heartbeat. To open these doors again with The Wizard of Oz, a story about finding your way home, is both poetic and powerful,” said Kim Kern, president and CEO of TCT. “We are thrilled to welcome families back to this extraordinary theater and begin a new chapter of wonder, imagination, and community.”

Directed by TCT’s Artistic Director Roderick Justice and choreographed by TCT’s Associate Artistic Director, Maddie Jones, The Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition promises a wickedly colorful adventure audiences will never forget. Ideal for ages 4+. This production runs approximately one hour without intermission.

Breaking Free

Sheida Soleimani, What A Revolutionary Must Know, 2022, Archival pigment print, 40 x 30 inches. Image courtesy of the artist, Harlan Levey Projects, Brussels & Edel Assanti, London.

Sheida Soleimani, Deliverance, 2024, Archival pigment print, 72 x 90 inches. Image courtesy of the artist, Harlan Levey Projects, Brussels & Edel Assanti, London.

Sheida Soleimani, Truce, 2024, Archivalpigment print, 18 x 24 inches. Image courtesy of the artist, Harlan Levey Projects, Brussels & Edel Assanti, London.

Sheida Soleimani, Safehouse, 2024, Archival pigment print, 40 x 30 inches. Image courtesy of the artist, Harlan Levey Projects, Brussels & Edel Assanti, London

Sheida Soleimani: What a Revolutionary Must Know
Contemporary Arts Center, 44 E. Sixth St.

Opens Friday, Oct. 17
Opening Reception: Friday, Oct. 24

For more information visit cincycac.org.

What a Revolutionary Must Know marks the first regional solo exhibition by Sheida Soleimani (b. 1990), an internationally acclaimed artist who grew up in Cincinnati and studied at the University of Cincinnati. Through photographs, sculptures, and a powerful video installation, Soleimani ghostwrites the lives of her parents—charting their escape from Iran following the rise of the current totalitarian regime in 1979.

“CAC has always been a space to champion bold and new ideas,” said Christina Vassallo, Alice & Harris Weston Executive Director. “We’re proud to open our 2025–2026 season with What a Revolutionary Must Know, a homecoming exhibition that offers powerful new ways to navigate the personal and the political.”

The exhibition features Soleimani’s Ghostwriter series, in which she “writes” her parents’ biographies through collaborative, staged photographs. The work reconstructs the couple’s harrowing journey from Iran to eventual reunification in the United States in the late 1980s. Through surreal and symbolic compositions—rooted in the aesthetics of Surrealism and Magical Realism—Soleimani blends history and memory into images that serve as monuments to survival, resistance, and healing.

Rather than retraumatizing, Soleimani’s photographs and video aim to repair. Her parents perform their memories inside life-size sets built by the artist—her mother’s solitary confinement cell recreated from a drawing she made years earlier; her father’s horse draped in rugs he once smuggled out of Iran. These deeply personal scenes become acts of reclaiming narrative and agency.

“Sheida Soleimani’s work reveals how global conflict leaves lasting marks on personal lives,” said Theresa Bembnister, CAC Curator. “What a Revolutionary Must Know is a timely reminder that the political is never separate from the personal—and through collaborative storytelling, Soleimani transforms memory into resistance.”

Soleimani is an Iranian-American artist, educator, and activist whose multidisciplinary practice excavates histories of violence connecting Iran, the United States, and the Greater Middle East. Working across photography, sculpture, collage, and film, she recontextualizes media-sourced imagery into striking visual narratives. Her recent bodies of work examine topics ranging from survivor testimony (To Oblivion) and oil politics (Medium of Exchange) to the ethics of reparations (Reparations Packages). With Ghostwriter, Soleimani turns her lens inward, offering a deeply personal reckoning with the intimate effects of geopolitical violence—stories often absent from mainstream Western news coverage.

Beyond her studio practice, Soleimani is also a licensed wildlife rehabilitator and founder of Congress of the Birds, a Providence, Rhode Island-based clinic that treats upwards of 1,000 injured and orphaned wild birds each year. This commitment to care is part of a lineage passed down from her mother, a political refugee from Iran who had trained as a nurse but, after resettling in the United States, could no longer practice medicine. Instead, she began volunteering with a local wildlife rehabilitation center, where Soleimani grew up surrounded by the work of healing wild creatures. Today, that ethos of care—whether for family, community, or the natural work—threads through her art practice as well, underscoring how tending to lives at risk can itself be a radical, revolutionary act.

The Art of It All

Long renowned as an arts center, Cincinnati has been home to artists, musicians, and authors throughout its history. With an opera, symphony, art museums, and theaters, no celebration of our local history would be complete without a robust and diverse arts lineup.

With musical performances that include classical, gospel, folk and indie, the America’s River Roots Festival also offers arts experiences that touch on the region’s rich legacy of artisan craft, story-telling, and even filmmaking.

The Good N' Rooted artisan market, kicking off Thursday, Oct. 9 at 11 a.m., features more than 40 local merchants selling handcrafted items, art, jewelry and more.. Organized by Rachel DesRochers, founder of Grateful Grahams and the Incubator Kitchen Collective, the market is a great way to experience all the Cincy Region has to offer and support your local communities and economy.

Good N’ Rooted is on the Purple People Bridge, connecting Cincinnati and Newport, open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the festival.

The River Talk series, which also kicks off on Thursday, offer a different take on culture and history through discussion and performances. Sponsored by Fifth Third Bank, these free programs are a lively and engaging way to take a deeper look at the city’s past.

Straight Outta the Underground
Thursday, Oct. 9 11 a.m.; Friday, Oct. 10, 1 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 11, 11 a.m.
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

Uncover the truth about America’s 200-year-old struggle with slavery when you play a part in this historic retelling. On this journey, you’ll follow Harriet Tubman, the most recognized conductor of the Underground Railroad. Nicknamed “Moses,” Harriet Tubman lived up to her name by gaining her own freedom, as well as traveling back and forth from North to South over 19 times and freeing over 300 enslaved people!

Scenes from Ellis Island: An Afternoon with Benjamin Verdery
Thursday, Oct. 9, 4:30 p.m.
Queen City Club

Famed Yale guitar composer and instructor Benjamin Verdery will perform with CCM guitar musicians his award-winning Scenes from Ellis Island suite. He will also be demonstrating the history of guitar through the musical styles of iconic musicians, Prince, Jimi Hendrix and Elvis and the impact these artists have had on contemporary music.

The Arts in the Queen City: An Afternoon with the Directors of the Opera, Symphony & Ballet
Friday, Oct. 10, 12 p.m.
The Mercantile Library

The CEOS of from Cincinnati Opera, Cincinnati Symphony and Cincinnati Ballet will join panel host Victoria Morgan to discuss the contemporary state of arts organizations and the realities facing them. Our panelists will also discuss the role the Performing Arts play in the richness of our city with an eye on both the historical and contemporaneous view of their impact.

The Cincinnati Food Shed: An Afternoon with R. Alan Wight
Friday, Oct. 10, 2:30 p.m.
The Mercantile Library

Noted academic R. Alan Wight will discuss his new project highlighting the unique role the Cincinnati Food Shed and the Ohio River Valley shaped our national and global food systems.

Experience the Power of Art and Legacy of Robert S. Duncanson
Saturday, Oct. 11, 1 p.m..
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

Join the Taft Museum of Art’s Duncanson Program as it takes center stage on Saturday, from 1–3 pm. As part of the program’s vibrant Fall Pop Up Event series, we’re proud to welcome two extraordinary former Duncanson Artists-in-Residence—Annie Ruth and Ajanae Dawkins—for an unforgettable afternoon of spoken word, poetry, and performance. Hosted by Duncanson Program Manager Kareem A. Simpson, this dynamic showcase celebrates the enduring power of creativity, community, and storytelling. Come be inspired as we uplift voices and honor the artistic spirit rooted in freedom and cultural legacy.

The Freedom Center will be free on Friday, Oct. 10 and Saturday, Oct. 11, interpreting 250 years of America's journey toward inclusive freedom through the lens of Southwest Ohio—honoring its founding as a free state in 1803 and celebrating the enduring contributions and excellence of marginalized communities today.

On Friday, Oct. 10 at 10 a.m., Freedom Center will be home to a poetry reading. Created in collaboration with the Ohio Poetry Association, Ohio: The Body Poetic is inspired by the 250th anniversary of America’s founding. with poems inspired by the river and freedom. The program includes a ready by Cincinnati Poet Laureate Dick Hague, along with more than 10 other poetts.
Poets are at the forefront of history and our voices have always been a powerful source of cultural awareness.

Installations at the Freedom Center include the Anderson Slave Pen, brought to life through docents, interpreters, and a discussion of source materials like letters and auction/probate records, experiential and sensory learning designed to engage visitors of all ages, and speakers, presentations, performances, and artistic expressions for the Harriet Tubman stage and Grand Hall.

Sounds From The River, an interactive educational concert and curriculum by Kathy Wade, will be performed on Saturday, Oct. 11, 1:30 pm. at Yeatman’s Cove. The program brings to life the music and stories born along America’s great waterways. Tracing the historical development and migration of music from the diverse populations that traveled along the Ohio River, Sounds From The River, will becoe part of a national curriculum that will share the river’s stories with students across the country. ‌

On Friday, the documentary “Kings of Them All” ​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍premieres on CETconnect and other PBS stations. This documentary by Yemi Oyediran, explores the influences and musical trailblazers who have quietly kept Cincinnati in the music scene for decades.​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍ ‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍ ​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍ ​‍ ‌‍​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‌​‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌​‍‌‍ ‌‍ ‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‍‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍ ​‍ ‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍ ‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​​‍ ‌‍‌‌‍ ‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌​ ‌‌​​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍ ‌‍‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​ ‌‌‍‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​‌‍​‌​‍‌​​‍​‌​​​‌​‍‌​‌‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‌‍‌​​‍‌​‌​‌‍‌‍​​​​​‍​‍‌‌‍​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‍​‍‌​‍​​​​​​​​​‌‍​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌​‍​​​​​‌​​​‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​ ‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌​​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​ ‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌​​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍ ‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌ ‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍‌‍​‌​‍‌​‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​​​‌‍‌​​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌ ‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍​‌‍​‌‍​​‍​‌‍​‌‍‌​‌‍​​​‍​‌‍‌‍​‌​​​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​ ‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​​ ‌‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​​‌​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‌​‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌​‍‌‍ ‌‍ ‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‍‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍ ​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​ ‌‌‍‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​‌‍​‌​‍‌​​‍​‌​​​‌​‍‌​‌‍‌‍​‌‍​‌‌‍‌​​‍‌​‌​‌‍‌‍​​​​​‍​‍‌‌‍​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‍​‍‌​‍​​​​​​​​​‌‍​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌​‍​​​​​‌​​​‍‌‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​ ‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌​​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​ ‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‍​‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌​​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍ ‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌ ‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍‌‍​‌​‍‌​‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​​​‌‍‌​​‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌ ‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍​‌‍​‌‍​​‍​‌‍​‌‍‌​‌‍​​​‍​‌‍‌‍​‌​​​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌​ ‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍‌ ‌

Once Around

Hyde Park Square Art Show

Sunday, Oct. 5, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Corner of Edwards Road and Erie Avenue
Free and open to the public.

More at www.facebook.com/hydeparksquareartshow.

One of Cincinnati’s oldest and most well-respected art shows returns with the Hyde Park Square Art Show.

“We are looking forward to being back on the Square again with so many returning and new artists,” says Janet Smith, a longtime organizer of the annual event. “Along with being a great place to buy art, which the artists love, it's also a great celebration of our local creative community.”

The Hyde Park Square Art Show features more than 200 artists from the Greater Cincinnati area and across the country, exhibiting and selling works in a wide variety of media, including painting, photography, glass, jewelry, wood, fiber/leather, and ceramics. The art show draws more than 3,000 attendees each year.

“Not only can you see incredible work by professional artists, but the Show is also a showcase for youth artists from area schools,” says Smith. “We also offer scholarships to college students as a way to continue to develop artists for the future.”

This year's scholarship winners are Rachel Paxitzis (Northern Kentucky University School of the Arts), Molly Rahtz (University of Cincinnati, College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning, and Hannah Wardlow. (Northern Kentucky University School of the Arts).

Launched in 1966, the Hyde Park Square Art Show has grown from the vision of two Hyde Park businessmen into a community-wide event that supports the arts and arts education throughout the year. It is the largest one-day art show in Greater Cincinnati. All work included in the Hyde Park Square Art Show is reviewed by a panel of judges, comprised of artists, art educators and gallery owners.

First Look

New art always calls for a celebration!

Join the celebration at CAC’s Creativity Center and Sara M. and Patricia A. Vance Education Center—The UnMuseum® on Saturday, Oct. 4, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. as local artists Sarah Rodriguez and Julia Orquera Bianco talk about the inspirations behind their works on exhibition during the Fall Family Festival “Opening Reception!”

Throughout the day, artists of all ages can

• Design a painted, hanging tapestry inspired by Julia Bianco’s garden banners.

• Experiment with botanical paints and seed paper with the artist Devan Horton.

• Create a DIY magnet with Indigo Hippo to take home or add to the new mural fridge on the sixth floor.

• Work with CAC’s new Artist in Residence, Bear Vogt, to create art from repurposed materials.

At 1 p.m. with Bianco and Rodriguez, along with CAC Teen Apprentices who assisted with the new community mural will hold a family-friendly artist talk.

Rodriquez’s community mural, “Family Function” represents a dream-like version of the artist’s grandma’s kitchen—a space shaped by family gatherings and the bustle of the day. Often investigating themes of identity, kinship, and belonging, the artist asks us to consider the functionality of our kitchens as a passageway to move from one space to another, and as a gathering space for family, friends, and love. Rodriquez worked on the mural with five Teen Apprentices throughout the summer.

Julia Bianco’s “PACHAS” is an installation comprised of four large-scale, textile banners, each depicting an animal and a plant. Rooted in the Andean cosmovision, the work explores the concept of the three interconnected pachas or worlds, each protected by a guardian animal: Uku Pacha, the underworld, guarded by the Snake, Kay Pacha, the world of humans and nature, guarded by the Jaguar, and Hanan Pacha, the celestial realm, guarded by the Condor.

The Family Festival celebration is free and open to the public. More at cincycac.org.

True Blue

Pocket Quilt, 1830, United States, hand-pieced cotton, 22 12 x 18 12 in. (57 x 47 cm). International Quilt Museum.

Delectable Mountains Quilt, about 1890–1910, probably United States, machine- and hand-pieced and hand-quilted cotton.

Feathered Star Quilt, about 1850–1870, possibly Northeastern Ohio, hand-pieced and hand-quilted cotton

Indigo and the Art of Quiltmaking
Oct 4 to Jan. 11, 2026
Taft Museum of Art, 316 Pike St.

General admission is free for Taft members, military, and youth (17 and under); $15 for adults; and $12 for seniors. Admission is free on Sundays and Mondays.

Find more on tickets, programs and events, at taftmuseum.org/Exhibitions/Indigo. 

Indigo and the Art of Quiltmaking brings 20 quilts from the International Quilt Museum to the Taft Museum of Art, showcasing a range of indigo dyeing techniques as well as the skill, design sensibility, and artistry of the women who made them.

For thousands of years, people around the world have treasured indigo-dyed textiles for their dreamy shades of blue—from pale sky to inky midnight—and resistance to fading. Indigo and the Art of Quiltmaking explores this rich global tapestry of historical and artistic significance through quilts created between the early 1800s to 2015, from America and beyond. Highlights include Whole Cloth Quilt with “Flying Geese” Border (possibly Hudson River Valley, New York, 1820–1840); String Squares Quilt (about 1925) by Rella Thompson (American, born about 1878); Patchwork Quilt (Nigeria, about 2010); and Mirage Quilt (2014)by Shizuko Kuroha (Japanese, 1938–2024), each reflecting the maker’s heritage and cross-cultural influences on indigo dyeing. 

“This exhibition highlights the intricate designs and incredible sewing skills of women textile artists through the lens of indigo, one of the oldest and most coveted dyes in the world. Museum visitors will learn about how quilts are made, different ways of dyeing cloth with indigo, and how indigo’s fascinating history continues today—clothing manufacturers still use it to give blue jeans their distinctive color,” says Taft Museum of Art Assistant Curator, Angela Fuller, who is curating the museum's presentation of the exhibition. 

The exhibition run includes several opportunities to learn from regional artists and quiltmakers through workshops, demonstrations, family days, and a “Stitch ‘n’ B*tch” night at the museum. Visitors can also enjoy curator tours led by assistant curator, Angela Fuller, on Oct. 15 and Dec. 17. The exhibition's Signature Talk on Oct. 23—Many Hands Make Light the Work: Indigo and Quilting in South Carolina—will feature Virginia Theerman, curator of historic textiles at the Charleston Museum. 

Indigo and the Art of Quiltmaking is organized by the International Quilt Museum, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, home to the largest public collection of quilts in the world. 

Window on the World

Travelers arriving at CVG Airport on World Tourism Day (Sept. 27) will enjoy a striking new visual experience in the space known as the Welcome Point. “Pearls Before Swine,” a mural by Curtis Goldstein and Matt Lynch, features photo fragments and digital imagery cut into the shapes of 26 iconic characters and places across the region.

In partnership with ArtsWave, and through the efforts of the Northern Kentucky Placemaking Program, CVG worked with artists Goldstein and Lynch to create an engaging installation at the recently renovated Welcome Point. The NKY Placemaking Program is a collaboration between ArtsWave and meetNKY that leverages the power of the arts to shape stronger, more vibrant communities across the region.

“We designed it in a way that you might have an immediate response to the visual presence, but then each time you pass by, you might notice something else,” Lynch said. “It’s designed to be more rewarding the more often you pass by it.”

People and places silhouetted in the mural include musician Bootsy Collins, actress Doris Day, the Tyler Davidson fountain, Cincinnatus, baseball legend Pete Rose and author and abolitionist Harriet Beecher Stowe. Interspersed throughout are glimpses of what Lynch calls “the grittiness we love Cincinnati for” - rust, sediment, peeling paint, vines growing on buildings.

“We wanted to represent the contrast between grit and glamour,” he said.

The airport’s sign shop printed all the images for the mural, in keeping with the mural’s emphasis on advertising-style graphics, Lynch said. 

Learn more about “Pearls Before Swine” here.

On the other side of the Welcome Point, facing “Pearls Before Swine,” are two mosaics that are part of the Work/Surface series, also created by Goldstein and Lynch. The mosaics are made from laser-cut Formica laminate, a famously durable material invented in Cincinnati. Each piece depicts industrial interiors in the Cincinnati region and the diversity of Cincinnati’s workforce. The series is inspired by Winold Reiss’s Industrial Murals, which were completed for Cincinnati’s Union Terminal in the early 1930s.

Learn more about the Work/Surface Series here.

“This mural is a great addition to our Welcome Point” said Larry Krauter, chief executive officer. “The art evokes a dynamic expression of our community that captures different perspectives of our sense of place each time it is viewed. This is brilliant because the mural literally refreshes itself for enjoyment by travelers as well as meeters/greeeters. We're so grateful to Curtis, Matt, and the ArtsWave team for this partnership.”

About the Northern Kentucky Creative Placemaking Initiative

The Northern Kentucky Creative Placemaking Initiative is a strategic partnership between ArtsWave and meetNKY to increase cultural vibrancy across Boone, Campbell, and Kenton counties. Through artist-led projects like murals, performances, and installations in public spaces, the initiative showcases the region’s creative identity, enhances the visitor experience, and supports economic growth. It advances ArtsWave’s mission to put build a vibrant economy and connected community throughout the Cincinnati region.

About ArtsWave

ArtsWave fuels the Cincinnati region’s arts, supporting 150+ organizations, projects and artists each year. Since 1927, it has been the primary way the region funds the arts, raising millions annually from tens of thousands of individuals, businesses and foundations to drive a more vibrant economy and connected community. Through the Blueprint for Collective Action, ArtsWave strategically makes investments that maximize the arts’ impact across the region. To learn more and give, visit artswave.org.

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Thanks; and Ever Thanks

This month, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company (CSC) was humbled to receive a $1,000,000 bequest from longtime friend, patron, and supporter Virginia “Jinny” Browning. This extraordinary gift – the largest bequest ever made to CSC – will strengthen CSC’s programming, operations, and endowment, helping ensure that the power of live classical theatre will inspire and connect generations to come.

“Our dear friend Jinny was incredibly generous to CSC in so many ways,” said Brian Isaac Phillips, CSC producing artistic director and CEO. “Her time, her expertise, and her passion helped make CSC a better place. I am humbled that she chose to remember CSC in this meaningful way. She will always be a part of who we are and what we do.”

Browning’s relationship with CSC began in 2012, when she saw Isaac Phillips perform in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. From that night on, she became not only a faithful audience member but also a dedicated donor. Her generosity touched nearly every part of CSC: she provided annual support for operations, invested in the campaign to build the Otto M. Budig Theater, and, most importantly, offered friendship, encouragement, and belief in the Company’s mission.

For many at CSC, Browning was more than a patron – she was family. In one memory, Sara Clark, CSC’s director of development, visited Browning at her home in Maysville, Ky. Together with a colleague, she performed the famous Romeo and Juliet balcony scene right in her living room.

“That’s the kind of supporter Jinny was,” Clark said. “She welcomed us into her home, celebrated the art we created, and made sure it would thrive long into the future. Her bequest is an act of love as much as generosity.”

Browning’s gift also shines a light on CSC’s growing Planned Giving program, which invites supporters to make a lasting difference by including CSC in their estate plans.

“We hope Jinny’s generosity encourages others to imagine the legacy they can leave,” Clark added. “Her gift ensures that CSC will continue bringing people together for Shakespeare and the classics for years to come.”

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Donors inspired by Browning’s example can learn more at cincyshakes.com/Legacy .

A Wine Art

Looking for an unforgettable date night?

Art of Wine

Thursday, Sept. 25, 5–7 p.m.

Tickets: $100/person; $175/couple.

Member exclusive discount: $90 per person or $150 per couple. Includes full access to wine flights, bites, and the curatorial experience. 

Reservations at cincycac.org.

Experience the Art of Wine at the Contemporary Arts Center on Thursday, Sept. 25, from 5 to 7 p.m. for a sensory journey guided by CAC’s curatorial team and their in-house sommelier.

The Art of Wine invites guests to explore thoughtfully curated wine flights, paired with thematic insights in a guided tour through the CAC’s galleries.

More than a wine tasting, this immersive experience is designed to deepen connections to both art and wine.

The evening includes

• Three expertly curated wine flights

• A guided group tour through current exhibitions

• Curatorial storytelling highlighting art, creativity, and its relationship to wine

• Small bites crafted to enhance the tasting experience

• Bottles available for pre-order

Limited seating is available for this intimate event, perfect for wine lovers and art enthusiasts eager to taste and see from a new perspective.

Show and Tell

“The OneNKY Center Gallery, Fueled by ArtsWave, illustrates the idea that arts and culture are fundamental to creating vibrant, connected communities,” said Alecia Kintner, president and CEO of ArtsWave. “This gallery is more than decoration, it’s a strategic investment that shows how the arts transform public spaces into meaningful experiences and how important the creative economy is to the future of the region.”

Grand Opening of the OneNKY Center
209 Greenup Street
Covington, KY 41011

Friday, Sept. 12

10:00 a.m.Registration
10:15 a.m.Program Begins
10:45 a.m.Tours of the Building
12:00 p.m.Event Concludes

ArtsWave, in partnership with Northern Kentucky Port Authority (NKY Port)  and meetNKY, opens the OneNKY Center Gallery on Friday, Sept. 12 inside the new OneNKY Center at 209 Greenup St. The gallery’s inaugural exhibition will showcase regional lens-based artists and serve as a cultural gateway for visitors to Northern Kentucky.

That purpose of the gallery is reflected in the design of the space itself. The gallery will feature up to 20 professionally framed photographs that capture the essence and vibrancy of Northern Kentucky public art. The gallery was built into the plans for the OneNKY Center from the start, underscoring the role of art in shaping how the public experiences this new regional hub and the region itself.

For this collaboration the NKY Port matched ArtsWave’s $10,000 investment and meetNKY will provide a permanent gallery rail system and lighting.

“When planning the OneNKY Center, we knew art wasn’t just a ‘nice to have’ but an essential part of creating a welcoming space,” said Christine Russell, executive director of the Northern Kentucky Port Authority and vice president of strategy at BE NKY Growth Partnership. “This gallery reflects the importance of integrating the arts into economic development and community building.

The inaugural exhibition features a curated selection of professionally framed photographs highlighting both traditional and modern public art in Boone, Kenton and Campbell Counties. The works were chosen through a collaborative process among ArtsWave and its OneNKY Center partners, designed to create a museum-quality gallery experience for both visitors and tenants of the building. Following the initial exhibition, the partners plan to launch an Artist-in-Residence Program in Spring 2026, further deepening the connection between the building and the regional arts community.

“The arts are a critical component of what makes Northern Kentucky a distinctive destination,” says Julie Kirkpatrick, president and CEO of meetNKY. “Creative placemaking initiatives like this showcase our authentic character and tell our story in engaging ways that can resonate with everyone in the region.”

The gallery is part of ArtsWave’s Northern Kentucky Creative Placemaking initiatives, which use strategic arts investments to strengthen cultural identity and economic vitality through a thriving creative economy.

The OneNKY Center is a 47,000-square-foot Class A office building at the foot of the historic Roebling Suspension Bridge. It houses 10 regional growth organizations: meetNKY, LifeSciKY, Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Northern Kentucky Bar Association, Thomas More University Division of External Affairs, BE NKY Growth Partnership, Horizon Community Foundation of Northern Kentucky, OneNKY Alliance, The Catalytic Fund and EducateNKY. ArtsWave’s director of creative placemaking will also operate out of the OneNKY Center, representing the organization’s first-ever satellite office.

Bold Moves

Rehearsal photos of "Kaplan New Works," courtesy Cincinnati Ballet.

The KAPLAN NEW WORKS Series
Jarson-Kaplan Theatre
Aronoff Center for the Arts
650 Walnut Street

Friday, Sept. 12, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 13, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 14 at 1 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 18 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 19 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 20, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Tickets available at cballet.org.

Get on your feet! The Cincinnati Ballet season starts this weekend.

“The Kaplan New Works,” features world premieres from four internationally sought-after choreographers—Yoshihisa Arai, Caroline Dahm, Andonis Foniadakis, and Andrea Giselle Schermoly.

The costumes from “Kaplan New Work” are being designed by local fashion designer Eliana Batsakis and Paris-based, Greek fashion designer Anastasios Sofroniou.

Cincinnati native Batsakis returns for a second year as the costume designer for “New Works” after taking on the role last season. Batsakis, founder of an eponymous fashion brand, has been recognized by the Council of Fashion Designers of America has been featured in Netflix’s “Next in Fashion,” “Vanity Fair” and earned a spot on “Forbes 30 Under 30 List” for Cincinnati.

Sofroniou is a fashion industry veteran who has worked with Foniadakis for more than a decade, has collaborated with companies such as Nike, Vogue US, and GQ UK, among many others.

WORLD PREMIERE | Yoshihisa Arai

Yoshihisa Arai is a choreographer and the Cincinnati Ballet-Second Company CB2 Director. Arai has created several acclaimed works for The Joffrey Ballet—Boléro, Élégie, and Afternoon Watch—and reimagined Appalachian Spring for the Joffrey Studio Company. In 2023, he directed and choreographed Cåraboo: A Chamber Opera. He has since collaborated on world premieres with artists such as Christopher Wheeldon, Alondra de la Parra, and the Colorado Ballet.

WORLD PREMIERE | Caroline Dahm

Caroline Dahm is a professional dancer and choreographer from Los Angeles, California. She has set original works on the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Kansas City Ballet, Musical Theater Heritage, Newport Contemporary Ballet, and Wylliams-Henry Contemporary Dance Company, among others.

WORLD PREMIERE | Andonis Foniadakis

Described as “one of the most important choreographers of the moment” by Die Deutsche Bühne, Greek-born Andonis Foniadakis is known for his eccentric, futuristic style. His choreography includes commissions for Martha Graham Dance Company, Sydney Dance Company, Cedar Lake, Philadelphia Ballet, Ballet du Rhin, Ballet Jazz de Montréal, Royal New Zealand Ballet, Bejart Ballet Lausanne, and many others.

WORLD PREMIERE | Andrea Giselle Schermoly

Andrea Giselle Schermoly, a South African-born choreographer, has created and staged works for numerous companies worldwide, including Royal New Zealand Ballet, West Australian Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theatre, Kansas City Ballet, BalletMet, Richmond Ballet, and Compañía Nacional de Danza, among others. Schermoly’s choreography spans stage and screen. She directed and choreographed the dance films Rite of Spring for Louisville Ballet, In Passing for The Ashley Bouder Project. choreographed for feature films, commercials, and music videos in Hollywood, including Beautiful Now, Bunheads, Get Lost, Justin Bieber/Poo Bear, and Deorro.

Freedom of Choice

You’ve done the parks, you’ve conquered the splash pads, and now you’re staring at a rainy forecast (or just need some glorious A/C). The idea of a museum sounds perfect—educational, cultural, and indoors! But taking a toddler to a museum can feel like a high-stakes gamble. Will they be mesmerized by art or will they try to climb a priceless sculpture?

As a fellow parent navigating the toddler years, I've done the legwork for you. Here’s the ultimate, toddler-tested guide to Cincinnati's museums, from “let them run wild” to “maybe wait a year.”

The Duke Energy Children's Museum

Location: Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal

Toddler-Friendliness Score: 5/5

This isn’t just a museum with a kids’ section; it's a toddler paradise. It’s loud, it’s chaotic, and it’s built for little hands to touch everything.

• Dedicated Toddler Zone: The “Little Sprouts Farm” is a gated area specifically for kids 4 and under. It has a soft infant garden, a small slide and plenty of things to climb on and explore without getting trampled by the big kids.

• Hands-On Heaven: From the water play tables, to the kid-sized Kroger and vet clinic, the entire museum is one giant “yes, you can touch that.”

• Run-Around Factor: Extremely high. This is the place to go to burn off that endless toddler energy. Rosie will spend half of our time dancing on the little stage!

• The Cost: Admission to the Children's Museum is required for adults and children over 3. A Museum Center membership can be a great value if you plan to go often.

The Verdict: If you’re looking for a place designed purely for kids to play, explore, and be loud, this is your top choice. It's the gold standard for a reason.

Cincinnati Art Museum

Location: Eden Park

Toddler-Friendliness Score: 4/5

An art museum might not scream “toddler-friendly,” but you'll be pleasantly surprised. It’s a fantastic option, especially because general admission is always free!

• The Magic Room: The Rosenthal Education Center (REC) on the first floor is a game-changer. It’s a dedicated, hands-on creative space for families that changes themes throughout the year. It's the perfect place to decompress after a quiet stroll through the galleries.

• Baby-Specific Programming: The museum offers “Public Baby Tours” for the 0-2 crowd, designed to stimulate their minds with high-contrast art and sensory experiences.

• Run-Around Factor: Low in the galleries, high in the REC. It’s a great place to practice “quiet feet“ and “gentle hands” before letting loose in the art-making space.

• The Cost: General admission is FREE for everyone. Parking is also free. You can’t beat that value.

The Verdict: For a low-cost, high-culture outing, the Art Museum is a fantastic choice. Start in the REC to get the wiggles out, then see how long you can last in the main galleries.

The Contemporary Arts Center (CAC)

Location: Downtown Cincinnati

Toddler-Friendliness Score: 3.5/5

Don't let the “contemporary art” title intimidate you. The CAC has a hidden gem that makes it a surprisingly great spot for little ones.

• The Creativity Center: Head straight to the 6th floor to the Creativity Center, also known as the UnMuseum®. It’s an entire floor dedicated to interactive, hands-on exhibits where kids are encouraged to play, build, and create.

• Toddler-Specific Programming: The CAC hosts “Thursday Art Play,” a drop-in program for kids 2-6 with art-making and even yoga. It’s a great structured activity.

• Run-Around Factor: High on the 6th floor, but the other galleries are traditional, quiet spaces.

• The Cost: Admission to the CAC is $12 for those over 18. The Thursday Art Play program is just $5 per child (members are free).

The Verdict: A fantastic option for parents who want to see some thought-provoking art themselves, with the reward of a super fun, interactive play space for the kids.

Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame & Museum

Location: Great American Ball Park

Toddler-Friendliness Score: 3/5

For the little slugger in training, the Reds Hall of Fame is a surprisingly fun outing, especially when you consider its biggest perk: location, location, location!

• Interactive Fun: While much of the museum is memorabilia behind glass, there are some great hands-on moments. Kids can sit in a real broadcast booth, see their name in lights on a giant scoreboard, and even make their own baseball card.

• The Ultimate Perk: The museum is attached to Great American Ball Park, which has multiple playgrounds! The TriHealth Family Zone on the View Level is a hidden gem with a playground and amazing river views. On game days, the First Star Fan Zone is buzzing with energy.

• Run-Around Factor: Low inside the museum, but infinite right outside at the adjacent park and playgrounds at Smale Riverfront Park.

• The Cost: Admission is required for adults, but kids 12 and under are FREE! This makes it a very affordable trip.

The Verdict: A fantastic choice, especially when paired with a walk along the river or a trip to the ballpark playgrounds. The free admission for kids makes it a budget-friendly way to introduce your little one to a Cincinnati institution.

The Taft Museum of Art

Location: Downtown Cincinnati

Toddler-Friendliness Score: 2/5

The Taft is a beautiful museum inside a historic home, which immediately makes it a bit tricky for a toddler on the move. However, it’s not without its charms for the younger crowd if you plan your visit right.

• Structured Fun: The Taft offers “Create & Play” on the third Wednesday of each month, a program specifically for ages 2 to 5 that includes a story, a gallery visit, and art-making.

• Hands-On Activities: During the specific family programs, yes. In the main galleries, it's a definite “no-touch” zone.

• Run-Around Factor: Very low. This is a place for quiet feet and inside voices. The beautiful garden outside is a great spot to run around before or after your visit.

• The Cost: Admission is required. Members are free, and they participate in the Museums for All program.

The Verdict: Skip a casual drop-in with a wild toddler. Instead, sign up for one of their excellent preschool programs to get the best, most toddler-friendly experience.

American Sign Museum

Location: Camp Washington

Toddler-Friendliness Score: 2/5

This place is a feast for the eyes! The flashing lights, bright colors, and buzzing sounds of vintage signs are incredibly stimulating and might just mesmerize your toddler. However, it’s a museum of things, not a place for play.

• Look, Don’t Touch: This is the museum's biggest challenge for the toddler crowd. The collection is fascinating but fragile, and it's not a hands-on experience. You'll spend a lot of time saying, “Wow, look with your eyes!”

• Run-Around Factor: Low to moderate. It's a large, open warehouse space, so there’s room to walk without feeling too confined, but it's not a place to let them run free.

• Stroller Friendliness: Very. The concrete floors and wide aisles make it easy to navigate with a stroller, which might be your best friend for containing a curious kiddo here.

• The Cost: Admission is required for adults, but children 12 and under are FREE, which is a huge plus.

The Verdict: A fantastic, visually stunning trip for older kids and adults. For toddlers, it’s a bit of a gamble. If you have a little one who is happy to be in the stroller and just take in the sights and sounds, it's a great and affordable outing. If you have a “must-touch-everything” explorer, you might want to save this one for when they're a little older.

The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

Location: Downtown Cincinnati

Toddler-Friendliness Score: 1/5

This is one of the most important and powerful museums in the country. Its content is profound, moving, and vital. However, it is not designed with a toddler's entertainment in mind.

• Know Your Toddler: This is a quiet, reflective space for reading and learning. The subject matter is serious and complex. A visit with a toddler is absolutely possible, but it’s best for a child who is content to ride in a stroller or be worn in a carrier.

• Hands-On Activities: Very few. This is a “look and listen” museum. There are some films and audio exhibits, but it's not an interactive playground. The monthly Fifth Third Community Days offer free admission for all and child-friendly program options.

• Run-Around Factor: Extremely low. The atmosphere is quiet and respectful, making it a tough environment for a toddler who needs to move.

• The Cost: Admission is required for adults, but children under 3 are FREE.

The Verdict: Visit this museum for you. It's an incredible experience for adults and older children. Bring the toddler along (especially since they're free!), but have realistic expectations. This is a perfect trip for a napping baby or a very calm toddler who is happy to be along for the ride in their stroller.

– Shae Huth