Making Waves Blog

At this time of giving thanks, we are grateful for each and every one of the tens of thousands of people who value and support the arts in our community. You make an impact on the arts, and a new Arts Vibrancy study from SMU shows just how much an impact the arts have made in Cincinnati.

Whether you feel like you’ve won or lost something today, there is an invitation in front of each one of us: to keep doing the work of building a more vibrant economy and connected community for all. At ArtsWave, we pledge to keep doing that with, and through, the arts.

ArtsWave had the pleasure of attending the “BCA 10” awards ceremony in New York City last week and paying tribute to one of 2016’s honorees, Cincinnati’s own Procter & Gamble. And, share how your company shows support by taking the BCA Survey of Business Support for the Arts.

ArtsWave wants all kids to benefit from arts education, and we know from our research that more than 90 percent of Greater Cincinnati parents agree. Join in us in reminding decision-makers of the importance of arts education by sharing your #BecauseOfArtsEd story on Twitter or Facebook.

I was delighted to see Cincinnati arts organizations jump on the Pokémon GO bandwagon last week and encourage players to come inside to visit Pokéstops and collect characters. Pyramid Hill and the Cincinnati Art Museum were two enterprising cultural destinations that embraced the game. In the case of Pyramid Hill, they were rewarded with an 18 percent increase in visitors!

The Cincinnati Opera, with "Fellow Travelers," is just the latest of our region’s amazing arts assets to shine the national spotlight on our region.

Art, artists, and the act of engaging in the arts can build understanding between people who are fundamentally speaking different languages. And if that is true, then the work of artists and arts organizations has never been more important, and increasing opportunities for all people to engage in the arts has never been more critical.

If it’s the last week of April, it means we're wrapping up of the annual Community Campaign here at ArtsWave. We are $50,000 short of our goal of $12,450,000. So close, and yet so far! You can help us close the gap. Read more to find out how your small gift will make a big impact in Greater Cincinnati.

Entrepreneurship and ingenuity were on display during the first-ever Tidal Art x Tech Challenge.

Not only does investing in the arts enliven our communities and bridge cultural divides (never more important in our world than it is today), but gifts to the arts are also ensuring the dreams and imaginations of the future.