4 More: Marcus Margerum

As part of our year-end issue, we are revisiting some of our favorite Cincinnati People from 2022.

We checked in with Marcus Margerum, interim director of the Contemporary Arts Center.

What’s been the biggest surprise to you in 2022?

The biggest surprise in 2022 was what it takes to complete a renovation like our Creativity Center, and its impact. We knew it was going to be a big endeavor, but experiencing the process of architects, contractors, artists, educators, board members, community members, government leaders and more coming together to bring this project to fruition was staggering, and then to see the way the community responded to its grand re-Opening was encouraging and awe-inspiring.

What’s changed since we last spoke?

In the 2021-2022 season we engaged more 280 artists, had more than 11,000 program participants, and welcomed nearly 30,000 total guests. As we continue in the 2022-2023 season, we celebrated our ongoing strong partnership with FotoFocus as well as the opening of our Creativity Center, which is bringing in families and increasing opportunities for programming and events—including creating a new rental space.

What have you learned about our community this year?

We have learned that there is still a way to go to fully recover from the pandemic and reinvigorate Downtown Cincinnati. We’ve learned that the community appreciates having a space that they can explore freely, that having multiple floors with ever-changing offerings is a powerful asset to a city like Cincinnati that highly values its vibrant arts scene.

What are you looking forward to in 2023?

2023 is going to be a milestone year for us. In March, we will welcome our new Executive Director, Christina Vassallo. And in May we will kick off the celebration of the 20th anniversary of our iconic building, the first U.S. Museum designed by a woman—Zaha Hadid. This celebration will extend through 2023 to include our gala in August and a retrospective exhibition opening in September that looks at Zaha Hadid’s career through the lens of inspiration, influence, and achievement.

See our interview with Marcus from earlier this year.