ArtsWave Tidal: Arts x Tech is back for its second year with added resources to make this year’s event better than ever. 

ArtsWave Tidal, which will be held April 21-23 at Over-the-Rhine’s Union Hall, 1313 Vine St., is presented by Fifth Third Bank, in partnership with Cintrifuse. In addition to Cintrifuse, The Brandery, Startup Weekend, and CincyTech are also supporting the endeavor.  

This free, weekend event is ArtsWave's groundbreaking collaboration between the arts, startup, and innovation communities. During these two days, ArtsWave brings together strategists, developers, artists, marketers, and many more to solve roughly a half-dozen of the biggest challenges within Cincinnati’s art sector.

The challenges are created from suggestions solicited by arts organizations throughout the region. This year, the conference has added a new element to the program – a $5,000 cash prize – so that the winning idea created can be implemented once the conference is over. 

Arts challenges will be addressed over the weekend, starting Friday night, when local arts leaders will pitch problems to be solved and attendees will self-sort into teams that work through issues Saturday and Sunday. Solutions are presented Sunday before a panel of expert judges, and prizes will be awarded Sunday afternoon. An FC Cincinnati game, with ArtsWave featured as its community partner, is planned for Saturday night, along with a variety of other activities, all framed to encourage a mindset focused on brainstorming and problem solving.  

“I’ve built my career in Cincinnati in start-ups and I have always had an interest in and love for the arts,” said Chris Ostoich, founder of the event concept, Co-Founder of tech startup LISNR, and ArtsWave Board Member. “I want to see more entrepreneurs and creatives engaged in the arts, and I know that if you want to get those people involved, you have to engage their minds and talents.”  

Fifth Third Bank’s sponsorship of ArtsWave Tidal stems from its own innovative history, including the fact that more than 40 years ago, the company introduced the first shared ATM network in the U.S. Fifth Third continues to be one of Greater Cincinnati’s largest employers of technology professionals, as well as a leading supporter of the arts and ArtsWave. “We are proud to sponsor ArtsWave Tidal: Arts x Tech, because it aligns with our corporate interest in encouraging creativity, and providing the latest technology in banking," said Teresa Tanner, Fifth Third Bank executive vice president and chief administrative officer. “Fifth Third also has a long commitment to the arts in Greater Cincinnati.”  

As the nonprofit planner, promoter and fundraiser for 100+ regional arts organization, ArtsWave is advancing a more vibrant economy and connected community through the arts. In addition to ArtsWave Tidal, ArtsWave produces the annual Macy’s Sampler, a free weekend of arts experiences in more than 25 locations across the region; CincySings, the nationally-acclaimed workplace singing event focused on employee engagement; ArtsWave Presents, a series of community engagement events throughout the region; and Toast to the Arts, a variety of wine, beer, and cocktail promotions held at 40+ local establishments. In addition, ArtsWave has created a variety of online resources, such as CincyArtsGuide.com, a regional calendar of arts events and an online job board accessible at TheArtsWave.org/jobs. ArtsWave’s funding is used to connect and engage people with the arts and to support the arts sector itself through impact-based grants. The 2017 Community Campaign, which is dependent on donations made by approximately 40,000 Cincinnatians, runs through April 27 and has a goal of $12.6 million dollars.  

“Our long-standing arts sector combined with the growing tech-entrepreneurial sector puts Cincinnati on the map – drawing top talent, new jobs, and tourists to our region. ArtsWave is excited to bring these two parts of our region's economy together,” said ArtsWave President and CEO Alecia Kintner.   

For more information about ArtsWave Tidal or to register to participate, please visit https://tidalartsxtech.splashthat.com. 

About Fifth Third Bank:
Fifth Third Bancorp is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. As of Dec. 31, 2016, the Company had $142 billion in assets and operates 1,191 full-service Banking Centers, including 94 Bank Mart® locations, most open seven days a week, inside select grocery stores and 2,495 ATMs in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, Tennessee, West Virginia, Georgia and North Carolina. Fifth Third operates four main businesses: Commercial Banking, Branch Banking, Consumer Lending, and Wealth & Asset Management. As of Dec. 31, 2016, Fifth Third also had a 17.9 percent interest in Vantiv Holding, LLC. Fifth Third is among the largest money managers in the Midwest and, as of Dec. 31, 2016, had $315 billion in assets under care, of which it managed $27 billion for individuals, corporations and not-for-profit organizations. Investor information and press releases can be viewed at www.53.com. Fifth Third’s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ® Global Select Market under the symbol “FITB.” Fifth Third Bank was established in 1858. Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender