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.”

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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.

Snow Much Fun

The weather might be unseasonably warm, but you can expect plenty of snow at the Contemporary Arts Center this Saturday.

The Winter Family Festival, on Jan. 10, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., will offer snow-themed art projects and science experiments for the whole family/

Guest artist Lindsay Nehls will create hand-drawn temporary tattoos of frosty winter creatures, and a hot chocolate warm up station with marshmallows and whip cream. Attendees can also make a tiny snow globe using recycled materials with the CAC's Artist in Residence, Bear Vogt.

Science also takes center stage, with ice and snow experiments at the science sensory exploration station. Plus you can make homemade hand warmer and learn how an everyday chemical reaction can keep your fingers toasty, since it will inevitably get cold again!

Guests can take part in an epic indoor snowball battle and build a giant snow fort, then warm up at a hot chocolate station, because marshmallows and whip cream make everything better. 

The best way to beat the winter blues is with creative art making and snowy stories! This program is free with CAC admission. Children 18 and under are free.

Family Festival is made possible by the Charles H. Dater Foundation, the Robert & Adele Schiff Family Foundation, the Eleanora C. U. Alms Trust, Fifth Third Bank, and the Louise Taft Semple Foundation.

Cincy 6: Onstage and Beyond

Once again, Cincinnati stages were bursting with gripping performances, thrilling music, and a continued demonstration of the amazing arts in our region. From revivals to world premieres, it was another banner year to enjoy the arts.

If you want to feel something – be deeply moved – there’s no better place to find that than at Cincinnati Opera. While all the performances this year were spectacular, Karah Son – returning to Music Hall after her triumphant “Madame Butterfly” – was breathtaking in “Tosca.”

She took us on a journey! Her singing was beautiful and I felt every bit of her conflict and murderous rage from the audience. Seriously, she coudl sing the phone book and I’d be rived. Brava!

–Tricia Suit

“Simply the Best: The Music of Tina Turner” performed with the Cincinnati Pops at Music Hall

– Jackie Reau

It’s not only professional theatre companies and musicians who create magic on stage!

I have to say the Walnut Hills Choir has been about the most consistent performance I've been able to get too, but I love watching my kids on that stage, their choir program is so well done, an absolute treat hearing them!

– Rachel DesRochers

I'm continually blown away by the talent of the Walnut Hills Choir program. Professors Nims and Albright put together incredibly ambitious arrangements of music for even the most seasoned vocalists, let alone for children ages 12-18! Always a delight to hear the voices of hundreds of students come together in song.  

– Leslie Mooney

The opening of the reimagined Emery Theater marked a defining moment for The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati, and for me personally. Seeing this incredible space restored and buzzing with families has been pure joy!

– Krista Katona Pille

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati new and improved home at The Emery Theater, complete with state-of-the-art digital and stage enhancements that make for an incredible theater viewing experience. 

–Linsey Kraeling 

“The Great Gatsby” at Cincinnati Ballet, The Wizard of Oz at Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati at the beautiful new theater…Wow,  “Lable*Less,” and “& Juliet.”

– Michelle Jones

“King of Them All” living on PBS Passport has been both surreal and deeply meaningful. I’ll admit there’s some obsession involved, refreshing and rewatching more than is probably healthy, but seeing a Cincinnati story take up space nationally has been incredibly rewarding.

I’ve also loved spending time with my jazz family, especially hanging at the Lounge jam sessions. Those rooms remind me why live performance still matters, because it’s honest, generous, and rooted in real human exchange. It’s why Cincinnati continues to punch above its weight creatively.

– Yemi Oyediran

I thought it was so cool to watch an early screening of “Superman” at The Cincinnati Museum Center since part of the movie was filmed there. I love that Cincinnati is a city that advocates have cinema filmed here.

– Melissa Lewis

Colson Whitehead at the Mercantile Library's Niehoff Lecture was perfect. 

– John Faherty

“The Great Gatsby” by Cincinnati Ballet

– Debbie Brant

“Summerfair Select” at the Weston Art Gallery.

Onstage and in our museums and galleries – I’m a huge fan of all our city has to offer, from our ballet, theater, opera, museums and galleries. How can I possible choose just one? Well, I did love being on stage for Rocky Horror Show at the Carnegie Arts Center! That was one amazing production! And loved seeing Cincinnatian Sheida Soleimani’s solo show at the Contemporary Arts Center.

Oh, and the “Summerfair Select” show at the Weston Gallery! (It’s still up and on display through Jan. 11!). And surprise, shameless plug of joy! I have an installation in the show!

– Pam Kravetz

You can see the best of the best at the “Summerfair Select” at the Weston Art Gallery now through Jan. 11. It's so wonderful to see how Summerfair's mission helps local arts become all they can be and more.

–Jayne Utter

Locally, “Next to Normal” at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati was maybe the best production I’ve seen in 2025, followed closely by “& Juliet” (Broadway in Cincinnati).

– Andrew Maloney

“Next to Normal” which resonated so deeply with our sold out audiences and personally allowed me to work on a piece from my past that spoke to my present life. The result was performances so honest that you felt it, became part of the story.

– D. Lynn Meyers

“Next to Normal” – an excellent production at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati.

– Holly Brians Ragusa

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.