Tour de Force
ArtsWave’s Guided BLINK Tours
Download at artswave.org/tours for a $10 donation.
BLINK is A LOT to see, but if you’re curious about the stories behind some of the murals, installations, and projects just listen.
ArtsWave, the nonprofit engine for the Cincinnati region’s arts and Illuminator of BLINK®, has developed a unique behind-the-scenes guided walking tour for the event.
“We are calling them digital tours rather than audio tours because they include video introductions from the artists, images, sketches, artist bios and more,” says Jeni Barton, ArtsWave’s executive-in-residence for creative technologies.
Using your own smartphone, and walking at your own pace, the walking tour features 10 stops on a 1.5-mile loop. Each stop offers an immersive experience, curated by the artist, including video introductions, along with an array of different materials per art piece, including tours of the artists' studios, in-progress sketches and photos, artwork installation videos and biographies.
“I hope people learn more about the people behind the artwork while doing the digital tour,” says Barton. “The festival features both local and international artists with such a variety of creative styles and methodologies. It is fascinating to see how this diverse group of people from around the world can create such a cohesive and unifying magical experience.”
The tour is available with a $10 donation to ArtsWave, and can be accessed at any time during BLINK. You will receive an email immediately after their purchase containing the confirmation and instructions.
“The coolest thing about the tour is getting to look at the creative process behind some of the installations at BLINK,” says Bartton. “Each video captures the artist's personality and creative style. You feel like you are meeting the artist while experiencing their work!”
All proceeds from the tours will local arts, festivals, performances, and more. Donors to the 2022 ArtsWave Campaign who qualified for the Team Cincinnati benefit do not need to purchase a tour and have access the tour compliments of ArtsWave.
“As the illuminating sponsor of BLINK, we wanted to create something that would inspire people to become arts donors,” says Barton. “Every year, through donations from the community, ArtsWave funds thousands of arts events, like BLINK. A $10 donation gives you a more engaging experience with the artwork while also helping fund the next great Cincinnati art event.”