As we prepare to kick off the 2019 ArtsWave Community Campaign, we are also announcing the lineup for 2019's ArtsWave Days, brought to you by Macy's. ArtsWave Days is our signature event series, open to the public and free of charge.

Macy’s has been sponsoring our Campaign event activities for more than a decade, with the goal of engaging the region while showcasing all that our region’s arts have to offer. Aside from Macy’s title sponsorship, Frisch’s Big Boy® is the series sponsor and Enquirer Media is the Official Print Media Sponsor.

There will be six events as part of ArtsWave Days this year, with more than 200 performances and activities. For a full schedule of all six ArtsWave Days, including detailed performance information and activities, please see ArtsWave.org/Days. Note that some events require advance registration, but all are free.

Here's what we have in store this year:

Destination: West Side
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Covedale Center for the Performing Arts
Frisch’s Big Boy on Glenway Ave.
Madcap Education Center

Step next door or take a trip across town. No matter the distance, you won’t want to miss what’s happening in Cincinnati's West Side. Begin your visit with a stop at the new Madcap Education Center in Westwood, where you’ll enjoy all things Rumpelstiltskin.

Your fairy tale begins when you enter the lobby and enjoy a dance class, where you’ll learn the moves of both Rumpelstiltskin and Crazy Lady. Afterwards, head to the SWATH Design Studio where you’ll spin the wheel. Whether you spin it into gold or some other colorful design, you’ll create your own craft to take home. Finally, head over to the TriHealth Performance Hall to see Madcap's production of "Rumpelstiltskin." Shows are at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Seating is limited, so sign up at ArtsWave.org/Days.

After Madcap, it’s time to head to West Price Hill to take in a historic wonder: the Covedale Center for the Performing Arts. You’ll be in for a treat with "Almost 'Almost Heaven,'" a complimentary Preview Highlights Performance of "Almost Heaven: Songs of John Denver" at the Covedale. Not only will Denver’s music take you home, but it’ll pave the way for a behind-the-scenes tour and talkback following each performance with hosts, director Tim Perrino and music director Greg Dastillung. Learn how a production like “Almost Heaven” happens and the history behind the theater and organization’s parent company, Cincinnati Landmark Productions. Showtimes are 10:15 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Seating is limited, so sign up now at ArtsWave.org/Days.

When you finish at the Covedale, head down the street to the Glenway Avenue Frisch’s Big Boy for an unforgettable opera experience. The Cincinnati Opera is bringing their 44-foot big rig, the Opera Express, for a brand new way of experiencing opera. Presented live by three professional singers, the program tells the story of how an opera comes together using well-known melodies.

Freedom Celebration
​10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

What better way to celebrate Black History Month, the 55th anniversary of Freedom Summer and the arts than to experience them all together? Our partner, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, is offering free admission all day.

While at the Freedom Center, you’ll experience a variety of arts that tell the story of the struggle for civil rights. It will begin as you enter and experience lobby performances by Elementz and various ensembles from the School for Creative and Performing Arts.

In the Grand Hall, you’ll see MYCincinnati present works from composers of the African Diaspora. Cincinnati Black Theatre Company will perform monologues from “For Colored Girls.” Sharon McCollum of Shanay Productions will recreate an urban radio show, similar to WCIN during the 1969 civil rights era. City Gospel Mission’s Princesses Ballet will portray freedom through dance. The Children’s Theatre will explore Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., through "Martin’s Dream,” an unforgettable one-man show.

Arts on the Hill
11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cincinnati Art Museum
4 p.m.
Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park

In honor of the 2019 ArtsWave Community Campaign, the Cincinnati Art Museum is kicking off the opening weekend of its “Paris 1900” exhibition with one day only free admission for the community. As always, the museum will offer free general admission too.

From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., enjoy “Bonjour & More,” with various performances in the Great Hall. Flying Cloud Academy of Vintage Dance will perform and teach dances that were popular in Paris at the turn of the century. Allegro Ensemble will serenade us with French compositions. Queen City Opera will put on a teaser for their upcoming production of Weber’s “The Magic Bullets (Der Freischutz),” which tells the story of a community obsessed with guns. Set after Europe’s 30 Years War in 1648, the production is juxtaposed to current day realities. Cincinnati Baila Academy will showcase the significance of Mexican Independence and the history and evolution of dance.

At 4 p.m., head next door to Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, where the theater is offering an exclusive, no-cost Preview Performance of August Wilson’s “Two Trains Running” in recognition of the 2019 ArtsWave Community Campaign. In this masterpiece, history unfolds around everyday lives against the backdrop of the civil rights movement. As part of Wilson’s trailblazing American Century Cycle, “Two Trains Running” paints a compassionate and unforgettable portrait of ordinary people in the midst of transformation. Tickets must be reserved in advance at ArtsWave.org/Days and you will need to pick them up on March 2 before 3 p.m. Please note that August Wilson’s “Two Trains Running” is suitable for adults and teenage audiences.

Hands-On Arts
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Your neighborhood, your arts. Wherever you are, at ten different locations from Downtown to Oxford, Northern Kentucky to Hamilton, the arts are calling you to get involved. Drawing, painting, sculpting: take your pick!

• The Barn (Mariemont): Elliott Jordan "70/70 Retrospective" exhibition, art scavenger hunt, manga drawing and shadow puppet class.
• Behringer-Crawford Museum: Free admission throughout the day; scavenger hunt, theater, dance and music crafts, with a noon performance of "Bach's Kids," where you learn how Bach's 20 kids helped him write over 1,000 pieces of music. Enjoy song, dance, counting and music along the way.
• Clifton Cultural Arts Center: Multiple music, dance, visual arts and wellness classes.
• Contemporary Arts Center: Free admission and hands-on crafts with an 11 a.m. performance from the Cultural Centre of India.
• Fairfield Community Arts Center: Face painting, ReFit, decorating and 1 p.m. musical performance by Zak Morgan, transporting you to “Zakland!”
• Fitton Center for the Performing Arts: Mosaic flag making, pottery molding, sports weaving, etching press, dancing, plus a 1 p.m. performance by Wild Carrot.
• Kennedy Heights Arts Center: Balinese dance workshop, wearable outfit creation, world percussion, group art installation and fiber art.
• Oxford Community Arts Center: Partnering with the Oxford Audubon Society to put on “Bird Festival,” which includes an arts exhibition made by kids from across Talawanda and Preble County schools, Middletown and Hamilton. Includes musical performance by a naturalist as well as crafts.
• UC Clermont: Beadwork, face painting, creation station crafts, plus ROKCincy presents "Little Red Riding Hood" at 10 a.m.
• Wyoming Fine Arts Center: Group music-making and instrument petting zoo, hip hop dance class, arts creation project and a Cincinnati Civic Orchestra rehearsal with you in the middle.

Open Houses
Noon to 4 p.m.
Music Hall
4-8 p.m.
Taft Museum of Art

Join ArtsWave for a community-wide Open House of two transformative and historic Cincinnati icons that are homes to the arts: Music Hall and the Taft Museum of Art. Both will be open and completely free in celebration of the Community Campaign.

Special thanks to the Cincinnati Arts Association for opening Music Hall to the community. Your visit to Music Hall includes behind-the-scenes happenings, starting with guided tours with the Society for the Preservation of Music Hall; please sign up at ArtsWave.org/Days to reserve your space. Bring your phone and headphones so you can fully enjoy your tour.

You’ll enjoy rehearsals and performances from all five resident arts organizations — the Cincinnati Symphony & Pops Orchestras, Cincinnati Opera, the May Festival and Cincinnati Ballet — plus an array of others. You’ll be able to try out an instrument with coaching from a professional musician.

After Music Hall, head to the Taft Museum, also open free of charge this day to celebrate the Campaign. Your admission also covers two free exhibitions: “Travels with Turner” and “Winslow Homer to Georgia O’Keeffe: American Paintings form the Phillips Collection.”

While there, you can enjoy guided house tours. Please sign up to reserve your space at ArtsWave.org/Days and bring your phone and headphones so you can fully enjoy your tour.

There will be food trucks in the parking lot for you to grab a bite, and you’ll be able to enjoy performances under the branches of Twisted and in the backyard garden. Groups include Pones, Melodic Connections, Cincinnati Youth Choir, Bacchanal Steel Band, Lauren Eylise and TRIIIBE. Drinks will be available in the backyard garden.

Soul of the Arts
4-5:30 p.m. and 6-8:30 p.m.
School for Creative and Performing Arts

Nothing says soul to the region like our amazing arts. Let’s live soul music and everything that forms it — jazz, R&B, gospel and doo-wop — through six amazing performances packed in two unique concerts, offering a fitting end to ArtsWave’s 2019 Community Campaign event series.

The 4 p.m. concert, held at Corbett Theater at the School for Creative and Performing Arts, includes: Revolution Dance Theatre, Cincinnati Super Choir and Kentucky Symphony Orchestra.

The 6 p.m. concert includes performances by MUSE, Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra and Dayton Contemporary Dance Company.

Reserve your seat for these complimentary concerts at ArtsWave.org/Days.

Find out what makes Greater Cincinnati’s arts so amazing! Join us for ArtsWave Days, brought to you by Macy’s.

Get the full schedule and reserve your spot at ArtsWave.org/Days.