Moments of Truth
Truth & Inspiration Artist Showcase
Saturday, July 18, 2026, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Welcome remarks at 10 a.m.
Contemporary Arts Center, 44 E. Sixth St.
Free and open to the public, including museum admission
More at artswave.org/truth.
ArtsWave, the region’s engine for the arts, will open the sixth annual Truth & Inspiration Artist Showcase on Saturday, July 18, at the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC), 44 E. Sixth St. The event is free and open to the public. For one day, the community can experience the opening of the visual art exhibition, watch live performances and film screenings, and meet the artists behind the work. Thanks to ArtsWave’s partnership with the CAC, guests can also explore the entire museum at no cost.
The showcase is the public culmination of ArtsWave’s Inspire Artist Grants, a program now in its sixth year that awarded $204,700 this cycle to 24 artists creating new work exploring themes of truth and inspiration. Since 2020, ArtsWave has invested more than $1 million in local artists through the program, funding projects across film, music, poetry, performance, visual art, fashion and installation. Local artist and mentor Michael Thompson returns as curator, working with the cohort throughout the year to bring their projects to the public.
“This cohort represents the breadth of artists in our region and brings together emerging and national talent under a single roof,” said Thompson. “We have creatives working in film, performance, music, fine art and socially-based practices. This variety makes the showcase unique and gives our community access to the individuals who are helping to shape the story and culture of our city.”
This year’s showcase also marks the first-ever awarding of the tt stern-enzi Memorial Grant, a new honor supporting emerging artists of color working in film. The inaugural award will be presented Friday evening at a private artists reception, with tt stern-enzi’s widow on hand to help present it.
The visual art exhibition will remain on view at the CAC for two months following the opening, but July 18 is the only day to experience the showcase in full. Programming runs from 10 a.m. and includes spoken word, dance, film screenings and live music, with artists on hand throughout the day to talk about their work and the stories behind it.
“The arts are how a community understands itself,” said Alecia Kintner, ArtsWave President and CEO. “On July 18, twenty four artists are giving Cincinnati a chance to see itself more clearly and it’s free and open to everyone. Elevating this work to the whole community is core to how ArtsWave and our partners are building a more vibrant and connected region.”
The Truth and Inspiration Showcase is made possible through partnerships with the City of Cincinnati, Duke Energy and the Greater Cincinnati Foundation.
Media are invited to attend, interview participating artists and capture the showcase live. A full schedule of performances and screenings is available on the ArtsWave App and at artswave.org/truth.