As a gallery and community arts center, Camp Washington's Wave Pool can be difficult to describe. Director of exhibitions & artist support initiatives Maria Seda-Reeder takes a crack at it, saying, "We do lots of weird things that involve engaging with community members and asking artists what kinds of new ways we can look at the world around us."

Wave Pool is a community-driven, artist-led, community-engaged space. It's a haven for art that envisions a more joyous and equitable future. That vision comes to life through initiatives like the Welcome Project. A collaboration with Heartfelt Tidbits, a nonprofit that supports refugees and recent immigrants, the Welcome Project offers a maker space and showcases the talents of vendor artists from these communities. It also features recipe sharing and community meals where the entire community of Camp Washington is welcome. An open-door policy means that anyone is welcome to share their work and explore others' creations.

Wave Pool also has a curatorial residency program, tailored for social practice-oriented artists. The residency offers a playground to experiment and innovate without the pressure to focus on commercially viable work. Instead, it's all about the art of risk-taking and exploration.

This approach to art is what sets Wave Pool apart. They invite artists into experimental spaces, encouraging them to push boundaries and engage deeply with the community. Thanks to steady funding from organizations like ArtsWave, they can provide artists with the resources needed to take bold steps in their careers, ensuring they're paid a living wage while they embark on daring artistic ventures.

Wave Pool is more than a gallery space; it's a creative ecosystem where artists and community members coalesce, experiment and grow together. That ecosystem is only possible because we live in a region that values support for the arts.

Your support of ArtsWave helps arts organizations like Wave Pool to thrive. Give today to keep the Cincinnati region vibrant.