Last week, through an evening reception and ceremony, members of the Greater Cincinnati arts community gathered to pay tribute to the late arts patron David C. Herriman. The ceremony was a dedication of David's Column, a sculpture in neon created by Matt Kotlarczyk and NeonWorks that now adorns the column in front of the building both ArtsWave and ArtWorks call home. This new work is a beacon, both literally and figuratively, of the arts and innovation that have blossomed in Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine neighborhood.

OTR has been a mainstay in local and national news recently. Stunning arts events like BLINK brought national attention to the neighborhood and its potential to serve as a destination for arts and innovation. The RE(NEW)ED Celebration for Music Hall & More gave communities throughout our region a chance to explore new and improved performing arts facilities, including Music Hall, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, Memorial Hall, Woodward Theater, the School for Creative and Performing Arts and more.

In the past few weeks, we've seen a continuous rising tide of arts and innovation in one of our region's top cultural hot spots. So far in 2017, 40 new businesses have opened in Over-the-Rhine, including the new Otto M. Budig Theater and a new art gallery located just around the corner from the ArtsWave office. The neighborhood shows no signs of slowing down. Hip-hop youth organization Elementz recently announced plans to create a state-of-the-art studio space near Findlay Market, 

In addition, we're seeing incredible energy from the Cincinnati start-up community and other business innovators. Empower Media Marketing, led by ArtsWave Board of Directors trustee Jim Price, moved to a new office building on 14th Street in October. Around the same time, StartupCincy hosted its inaugural TechStars Startup Week.

David’s Column was conceived as a shining marker of amazing arts. David Herriman would be proud of the light being cast by this beacon throughout our region.

If you’d like more information about how to leave a legacy gift to inspire Arts impact and innovation in the future please contact me at Alecia.Kintner@ArtsWave.org or Kate Kennedy at Kate.Kennedy@ArtsWave.org.