Creating Community
Summerfair Cincinnati annouced the 2024 recipients of the Small Arts Awards. The awards are designed to help smaller organizations expand their programming and increase opportunities for arts experiences in the community. See this year's winners!
2024 Summerfair Cincinnati Small Arts Organization Award Winners
4 Way Quartet
4-wayquartet.com
Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra
summermusik.org
Dearborn Highlands Arts Council Inc.
www.dearbornhighlandsarts.org
The Drama Workshop
thedramaworkshop.org
Loveland Stage Company
lovelandstagecompany.org
Kennedy Heights Arts Center
kennedyarts.org
Kentucky Symphony Orchestra
kyso.org
Each year, Summerfair Cincinnati grants Small Arts Organization Awards to regional small and mid-sized arts organizations. These awards are designed to increase arts experiences for everyone – regardless of age, ability, income, or location – throughout the community.
The program provides up to $5,000 to an organization, which can be used in the creation of new programs, the expansion of current programs, or help with production or presentation expenses.
This year’s awards were presented to 4 Way Quartet ($4,600), Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra ($5,000), Dearborn Highlands Arts Council Inc. ($2,400), The Drama Workshop ($5,000), Kennedy Heights Arts Center ($5,000), Kentucky Symphony Orchestra ($3,000), and Loveland Stage Company ($5,000). In total, Summerfair gave $30,000 to local small arts organizations.
The 4-Way Quartet is a community-based ensemble, whose members share a deep commitment to teaching and social action.
Committed to sharing the joy of making music with underserved children in our city, 4-Way provides free lessons and small ensemble experiences through the 4-Way String Project, now in its seventh year.
Each Tuesday afternoon after school, students have private lessons on violin, viola, or cello, and play in small ensembles, learning to be leaders, cooperate, and to work as part of a team. During the year, they have several chances to perform – individually, alongside their teachers, and in their chamber groups.
Through their Summermusik program, the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra creates intimate, transformative experiences that connect the musically curious. Summermusik is an independent ensemble of 32 professional musicians that is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024 and is widely recognized as one of the leading performing arts organizations in the Greater Cincinnati region.
Founded as a volunteer organization in 1974 by Paul Nadler, the artistic goal of the CCO is to perform music that is not generally heard when attending concerts presented by a large symphony orchestra, and thereby offer a unique musical experience to the listener.
Dearborn Highlands Arts Council offers a broad range of programs and is committed to presenting quality programming and assisting local artists to perform, exhibit and educate.
Programs include OPEN Gallery/Marketplace with bi-monthly exhibits, Arts Alive! Art Fair & Gift Bazaar in November and December, Library Classics Series with regional artists, and arts education programs that reinforce education curriculum.
The current exhibition, Youth Art, is open through April 19. This annual exhibit emphasize the value of art education for all children and encourages support for quality art programs. Students share and highlight their talent and creativity, with prizes awarded.
The Drama Workshop is one of the longest running theater groups in the Cincinnati area. Since 1958 the group has produced at least three shows a year. Everything from classics like The Glass Menagerie, comedies like The Odd Couple, and contemporary dramas like Pride’s Crossing.
In May, don’t miss Dear World, a Jerry Herman musical based on the novel The Mad Woman of Chaillot by Jean Giraudoux. With beautiful songs, it focuses on the Countesses Aurelia, who deviously schemes to stop businessmen from drilling for oil in the Parisian neighborhood of Chaillot. The forces of idealism, love and poetry win over those of greed, materialism and science.
Housed in the former home of Lewis Kennedy, built in 1875, The Kennedy Heights Arts Center is an example of community action at its finest. When developers threatened to demolish the historic mansion, a group of local residents organized to save it. Today, the KHAC includes a 10,300-square-foot satellite facility with a multi-purpose performance and event venue, digital media lab and artist studios.
With a mission to enhance the life of the surrounding community through arts and cultural experiences that embrace diversity, foster creativity and build community, the KHAC offers a wide range of arts and cultural programs.
On Saturday you can see I Dream of Me, a multi-generational, family friendly performance supported by the United Way of Greater Cincinnati from Revolution Dance Theatre in partnership with David Choate Productions. This musical-meets-ballet uses the power of representation to inspire kids and dreamers of all ages to see themselves in a new story.
Saturday is also the opening reception for the 16th Annual Student Art Show. Each year, KHAC celebrates its talented students with an exhibition featuring original artwork in all media created by the youth and adult students enrolled in KHAC classes.
The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, formed in 1992, has demonstrated a unique ability to make the concert experience relevant and entertaining to audiences while maintaining high performance standards and integrity.
Created to make classical music attractive, accessible and affordable to people in the region, their next performance at St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption pays homage to the king of instruments – the organ.
Long Live the King, at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 21, features organist Brenda Portman performing works by Reed, Barber and Saint-Säens. The KSO performs throughout Northern Kentucky with three series of concerts: Summer Series in Devou Park (July– September), Free Education/Outreach concerts (October – March), and an affordably priced Subscription Series (five programs held October–May).
Each KSO program contains both familiar and unique repertoire presented in a thematic context that is compelling and entertaining. Through the years, KSO concerts have offered many surprises including silent films, dancers, comedians, zoo animals, alternative, rock and complete operas and musicals, country bands, a limbo contest, aerobic classes, poetry readings, Civil War battle re-enactments and more.
The Loveland Stage Company is dedicated to serving the community by providing quality theater and performing arts experiences.
Their next production is The Red Velvet Cake War, directed by Mark Culp, from May 3–19. This Southern-fried comedy finds the three Verdeen cousins—Gaynelle, Peaches, and Jimmie Wyvette—in the midst of a chaotic, and hilarious, family reunion.
Summerfair Cincinnati is dedicated to supporting young artists, individual artists, and community-based arts organizations all year long through awards, scholarships, and exhibitions. This year’s Summerfair arts fair will be held Mat 31 to June 2 at Coney Island. Find tickets and more information at www.summerfair.org.
The Jig Is Up
Take a step beyond the beers and find ways to trace and celebrate Irish heritage throughout the year.
The bars are packed on St. Paddy’s Day, and sure, cheers-ing new and old friends with green beer is always a good time. But if there are other ways to celebrate your – or anyone’s– Irish heritage in the community.
While St. Patrick’s Day is arguably their busiest time of the year, the McGing Irish Dancers offer performances and classes year round.
The McGing School of Irish Dance has offered classes since 1977. From humble beginnings, the dance company has grown to become a household name, recognized around the Greater Cincinnati area and beyond.
Of course, troupes from McGing will be performing around the city this weekend. On Saturday, they have stops at the St. Patrick’s Parade, the Madeira Branch of Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, and Newport’s Luck of the Levee. St. Patrick’s Day, on Sunday, finds the dancers at CVG, the Cyclones Game, and bars throughout the region. (We told you they were busy!)
Registration is now open for their Summer Try It Out Camps!, along with classes for the Fall. They are also gearing up the 40th Annual Cincinnati Feis on Nov. 12. This competition brings together the best Irish dancers and teams from around the city.
But if Irish dance isn’t for you, The Irish Heritage Center (3905 Eastern Ave.) will help you explore more about the culture, traditions and story of the Irish and Irish Americans. Over St. Patrick’s Day Weekend, the IHC is offering two days of culture and camaraderie.
Irish Heritage Center of Greater Cincinnati
3905 Eastern Avenue
For a full schedule of St. Patrick’s celebration events visit www.cincyirish.org
On Saturday and Sunday, the IHC will have music and dance (McGing at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday and 1:30 p.m. on Sunday!) in the concert hall, a children’s festival, lectures on Irish history, and even St. Patrick strolling the halls. You’ll also find traditional Irish food, including Guinness stew, corned beef sandwiches, homemade scones, and soda bread.
But all year long, IHC has Pub Music Night on Thursdays, with musicians performing and, on occasion, Irish karaoke. The IHC is also home to the Irish American Theater Company, which presents works plays written by Irish authors or plays that are set in Ireland.
For those interested in exploring their Irish roots, IHC has a partnership with the “Genealogy Detective” to offer one-on-one consultations for research about your family history by special appointment.
You can make a deeper dive into your family history at the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library. The Main Branch (800 Vine St.) houses one of the nation’s largest and oldest genealogy collections. Highlights include the U.S. federal census data, passenger lists, city directories, military histories, maps, church and cemetery records, and slave and freedmen records.
The Genealogy and Local History Department staff offers specialized reference assistance and presents monthly tours, co-sponsors programs with the Hamilton County Genealogical Society, and can help develop programs for classes and family group.
Genealogy clubs meet at local branches to help everyone, from beginners to experts, discover their family history, share tips, and learn research strategies in an informal setting.
If you’re curious about just how Irish you are, St. Patrick’s Day is a great day to learn more about – and revel in – your history.
Front and Center
The new Clifton Cultural Arts Center celebrates its grand opening with free programming, featuring performances, demos, and more on Saturday, March 9.
Photo: Shae Huth
Ahead of the Clifton Cultural Arts Center’s grand opening this Saturday, March 9, we chatted with Leslie Mooney, executive director this thriving regional arts center.
See the schedule below!
What are you most excited for people to experience in the new space?
While I’m thrilled to move all of our classes, exhibits and programs back under one roof, I’m actually most excited for some of the brand new or refreshed programming that roll out throughout 2024.
We’ll have some new “date night” features like Crafts & Cocktails and Rooftop Sessions, as well as drop-in hours in our Make Shop which features 3D printers, kilns and art supplies. And, later this year we’ll bring back an old favorite, Second Sunday Family Showtime, which will feature performing arts organizations from throughout the region in an accessible, family-friendly theater environment.
How have you felt the support of the community?
Our “community” – broadly defined not only by geography, but by arts and culturally-minded people from all over has made this dream a reality. The fact that a small arts organization was able to pull off a capital project of this size is testament to the incredibly generous community in this region. From government sources to individuals to groups like Summerfair Cincinnati, it has taken a huge and diverse village to make this happen!
What role will the new CCAC space play in the neighborhood?
CCAC will continue to be an incubator for both artists and arts enthusiasts, growing audiences and preparing the next generations of creative minds in our community. We are also very proud to be another anchor in the Clifton Business District, contributing to the economic vitality of the Uptown neighborhoods and beyond!
What's your favorite part of the building?
I have so many! But, on the top of the list is the second floor art gallery and balcony that looks out onto Clifton Avenue. This area looks down on to our first floor Nourse Gallery and was specifically designed to accommodate large sculptural pieces in future shows. It’s already become a hive of activity as parents wait for children to finish up in their afterschool classes or adults mingle and chat before or after their tap and salsa rehearsals.
Photos: Shae Huth
Grand opening Schedule
Saturday, March 9
|
START |
END |
ACTIVITY |
| 10 am | 10:40 am | Art+Tales |
| 10 am | 10:40 am | Pokémon Cartooning |
| 10 am | 11:30 am | Glass Community Mosaic |
| 10 am | 12 pm | New Horizons Orchestra Performance |
| 10 am | 10:30 am | Zumba |
| 10 am | 10:45 am | Meet the Puppets with Madcap Puppets |
| 10 am | 2 pm | Hand Building with Clay |
| 10:10 am | 10:40 am | Traditional Yang Style & Sun Style Tai Chi |
| 10:40 am | 11:10 am | Flow Workout |
| 10:50 am | 11:30 am | 3D Paper Collage |
| 10:50 am | 11:30 am | Needle Felting |
| 11 am | 11:45 am | Highly Improvable Games and Performance |
| 11:20 am | 11:50 am | Tap Dance Rhythms for All Ages |
| 11:40 am | 12:20 pm | Puppet Making |
| 11:40 am | 12:20 pm | Design and Cut a Printing Plate |
| 12 pm | 12:30 pm | Pilates |
| 12 pm | 2:00 pm | 3D Pen Art |
| 12 pm | 12:45 pm | Swing Dance Foundations |
| 12:30 pm | 1:10 pm | Family Embroidery |
| 12:30 pm | 1:10 pm | Tablet Weaving |
| 12:40 pm | 1:10 pm | Nia Technique |
| 1 pm | 2 pm | Jake Speed & The Freddies |
| 1:15 pm | 1:50 pm | Salsa |
| 1 pm | 2 pm | “On Becoming an Author” |
| 1:20 pm | 2 pm | Stamped and Stiched Bookmarks |
Find out more about CCAC at cliftonculturalarts.org.
Leading Light
The Freedom Center unveiled the 11-foot statue, The Beacon of Hope in honor of the release of the Harriet Tubman commemorative coin.
On Monday, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center unveiled a new statue dedicated to Harriet Tubman Theater.
Along with honoring Tubman’s legacy with the Underground Railroad, the event also celebrates the U.S. Mint’s 2024 release of the Harriet Tubman commemorative coin. Coins are now available in three denominations from the U.S. Mint and in the Freedom Store at museum. Surcharges from the sale of each coin will be equally split between the Freedom Center and The Harriet Tubman Home, supporting the mission of the organizations as they continue Tubman’s legacy.
The statue,The Beacon of Hope, is 11 feet tall and was created by Wofford Sculpture Studio in 2023. The artwork depicts the transformation of Tubman from her difficult origins to a symbol of freedom and an American icon.
On March 6, Karen V. Hill, president & CEO of The Harriet Tubman Home in Auburn, NY, will discuss the lesser-known history of freedom icon Harriet Tubmanh a combination of storytelling and mythbusting, Ms. Hill connects Tubman’s life to key issues that still resonate today. Following the discussion, she will take part in a meet-and-greet hosted by the Freedom Center Ambassadors.
The statue will remain on display at the Freedom Center through April.
On the Town
It's impossible to imagine Cincinnati without Music Hall, Cincy Shakes, BLINK, and a thousand other arts programs.
Maybe you plan to have a little me time on this Leap Day. If your plans includes visiting a museum, listening to music, or taking in a performance, the arts will be at the center of what you’re doing.
“Art makes life better,” says retired P&G executive Lisa Sauer. She is the co-chair of 2024 ArtsWave Campaign along with Jon Moeller, P&G’s chairman, president and CEO.
Each year, community gifts to ArtsWave fund 150+ organizations and artists, creating thousands of performances, exhibitions, arts experiences and lasting memories.
“It makes the place we live in...more beautiful and more interesting, more challenging,” Sauer says.
Not only do the arts make our region a more fulfilling and inspiring place, the local arts community also create an impact that ripples out from the stages and galleries. They fuel the economy. They create platforms for voices to be heard. They inspire the next generation to act. They connect all of us. Stronger arts means a stronger region.
Moeller, the ArtsWave campaign co-chair agrees, and sees how the economic impact of the arts is also good for business at P&G and other local companies.
“We have an objective of recruiting, developing and retaining the best talent in the world... and that's very difficult to do without a vibrant community,” Moeller says. C
A recent report shows that Cincy's arts had a $1.6 billion economic impact from 2019 to 2022. The same report showed that for every $1 invested through the ArtsWave Campaign, the arts organizations, projects and artists it supports generate nearly $43 in economic value for Greater Cincinnati.
“It actually didn't surprise me,” Moeller says of the report, noting how many people BLINK®, illuminated by ArtsWave, brought to the region from all over the world. “That's just one of many very impactful art happenings that exist in our city.”
Enjoying the arts – and supporting the arts – go hand-in-hand in Cincinnati.
"When you put a number against it...You think, '‘Oh my gosh, they are a significant part of the economy,’” notes Sauer.
The 2024 ArtsWave Community Campaign runs through May 23. Donate at artswave.org/give.
Header image: Whitney Wendy Dixon / Pixxel Designs
The Next Big Adventure
Adventure Crew presents the No Man's Land Film Festival on Feb. 29, featuring the stories of women and gender non-conforming athletes.
No Man’s Land Film Festival
Thursday, Feb. 29, 6 p.m. (Film at 7 p.m.)
MadTree Brewing
3301 Madison Road
Tickets: $22, include film viewing and movie snacks. A cash bar will be available.
Get tickets and information
Experience the great outdoors – and get energized for Women's History Month – at the The No Man's Land Film Festival!
Adventure Crew and the Red River Gorge Climbers’ Coalition (RRGCC) have teamed up to bring the premier all-women adventure film festival to Cincinnati. The films will focus on a range of outdoor themes, from climbing to winter sports to conservation for a fun, inspiring evening.
“Adventure Crew and RRGCC are so excited to bring this awesome film festival to Cincinnati!,” says Shauna Steigerwald of Adventure Crew. “We believe the outdoors are for everyone, so it's important to showcase women as well as members of the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities participating in outdoor sports and conservation.”
Based in Denver, Colorado, the film festival has reached audiences in nearly every U.S. state and abroad. “No Man’s Land” celebrates the full breadth of women and gender-nonconforming athletes, creatives, storytellers and adventurers. Its mission is to un-define feminine in adventure, sport and film. Through human collaboration and action-oriented solutions, “No Man’s Land” continues to implement and inspire change in the outdoor, sport, and film industries.
“Inclusivity is key,” says Steigerwald. “So the No Man's Land' Film Festival is open to everyone. Some films do include light profanity or adult themes (transgender issues, disordered eating), so parents should use their discretion depending on their kids' ages and experiences.”
All proceeds from the event will be split between the two presenting nonprofits: Adventure Crew, whose mission is to connect city teens to nature and each other through engaging outdoor adventures; and RRGCC, which is dedicated to securing and protecting open, public access to rock climbing in the Red River Gorge area of Kentucky and promoting conservation of the environment on the lands where they climb.
Hanging Around
Summerfair's Emerging Artist exhibition, featuring work by regional college students opens Friday at the Clifton Cultural Arts Center.
Summerfair Cincinnati’s annual Emerging Artists exhibition, featuring works by local art students, opens this Friday at the Clifton Cultural Arts Center (CCAC).
Summefair Emerging Artists Exhibition
Clifton Cultural Arts Center
2728 Short Vine St.
Opens Friday, Feb. 9 with a reception and awards ceremony from 6–8 p.m.
Exhibition continues through Feb. 23.For more information visit cliftonculturalarts.org.
“I love meeting the students,” says Jayne Utter, Summerfair’s managing director. “They are the best from their school and it’s easy to see why. The art they present is so creative and so well done.”
The Emerging Artists exhibition is an important part of Summerfair’s mission to support young artists in the region through awards, scholarships, and exhibitions. These young artists represent the next generation of artists to emerge on the local art scene. They are nominated by their professors, juried by Summerfair, and are given the opportunity to exhibit their work among their peers.
This year’s Summerfair Emerging Artists exhibition features work by students from the following schools:
Art Academy of Cincinnati:
Tommy Ballard, Rory Torstensson, Samara White
Miami University:
Claire Farrow, Hannah Litt, Lana Traum, Sam Weible
Mount St. Joseph University:
Alex Albrecht, Karlee Banfeld, Emma Garner
Northern Kentucky University:
Grady Gartland, Anna Ndoye, Hannah Wentzel
Thomas More College:
Juliette Duke
University of Cincinnati | DAPP:
Esra Kanisicak, Fiona Schade, Kara Yeomans
Xavier University:
Bree Gayman, Molly Gressele, Nick Namyar
“There isn’t a class to teach students how to be a part of an exhibition,” says Jayne Utter, Summerfair’s managing director. “We help these young artists learn how to communicate with directors, prepare their works, and attend an opening reception. Getting out into the world is so important at this stage of their careers.”
CCAC is a thriving, collaborative, regional arts center for children, families, adults, and seniors. Later this year, the CCCA will open the first purpose-built community arts center in the city, featuring 18,000 square feet of classroom, gallery, and performance space as well as a green rooftop terrace.
“CCAC is an incubator of art and artists, and we provide a low-barrier entry point to excellent art opportunities,” says Leslie Mooney, CCAC’s executive director. “It’s a natural fit for Summerfair’s Emerging Artists exhibition to take place here. Supporting young artists who will grow and continue to provide fantastic art in our region is key to CCAC’s work as an inclusive community arts center.”
The artists in this year’s exhibition represent seven area schools and feature works in a variety of media.
“I love the Emerging Artists exhibition because the work is incredibly diverse and also fantastically creative,” says Mooney. “Over the years, there have been some beautiful pieces, some that pushed boundaries, many that provoked thought and emotion. It’s everything you’d want in a student art show.”
On Location
Same great art fair, at the same great location, as Summerfair announces it will stay at Coney Island this year.
Local art lovers got good news last week, as Summerfair announced it would be staying at Coney Island.
When the closure of Coney Island was announced in December, many worried if the beloved art fair would need to find a new home.
But Summerfair Cincinnati and Music & Event Management Inc. (MEMI) have agreed to a partnership that will keep the largest annual art fair in Greater Cincinnati at Coney Island.
The first Summerfair in 1968 was held in Mt. Adams, to celebrate the new Playhouse in the Park's Robert S. Marx Theater. In 1977, the art fair first moved to Coney Island. After a few years along the riverfront in downtown Cincinnati, Summerfair returned to Coney Island in 1985.
Summerfair Cincinnati will be held May 31–June 2.
For more information, visit Summerfair.org.
Work of Art
Cincinnati has rightly been proud of its incredible arts scene. But a recent study by ArtsWave and Cincinnati Regional Chamber proves the arts are more than a feel-good story. From 2019-2023 the city's arts and culture sector had a total economic impact of $1.6 Billion.
Chances are you’ve been to an opera, attended a gallery opening, and gone to a concert. But did you know those events – and your support – contribute almost $2 billion to the regional economy?
“Intuitively our team knew that the impact was large,” says Brandon Rudd, director of the Center for Research & Data, “But after doing this study, we now know for sure that ArtsWave and a vibrant arts sector are vital to the Cincinnati region’s economy.”
This week, ArtsWave and the Cincinnati Regional Chamber unveiled an all-new study on the arts’ impact in Greater Cincinnati from 2019-2023. Authored by the Cincinnati Regional Chamber’s Center for Research and Data, the report found that over that four-year span, Cincy’s arts and culture sector had a total economic impact of $1.6 Billion.
Recent national studies validate this. The Cincinnati region ranked 11th among the 20 most arts-vibrant large communities in the country, while only being the 28th most populous metro area. In addition, the region’s arts sector has a 1.48 industry location quotient, meaning it has 48% more jobs in the industry than would be expected for a region of its size.
The strength and vibrancy of Cincinnati’s arts reflect nearly a century of community support through ArtsWave, something unique to our region.
“Support from the annual ArtsWave Community Campaign provides a strong foundation from which the arts can benefit our communities in myriad social and educational ways,” says Alecia Kintner, ArtsWave president and CEO. “With this report, we also affirm the significant economic impact that the Cincinnati region’s arts organizations make through their direct expenditures, ancillary revenue created by that spending, employment, and taxes generated.”
Chamber President & CEO Brendon Cull describes the report as a clarion call.
“Arts and culture in the Cincinnati region can drive our growth in the future,” he says. “Our region’s arts and culture industry has proven to be a catalyst for innovation and growth, propelling Cincinnati onto the national stage as a hub where culture and commerce converge.”
Among other analyses, the study looked at the economic impact of the ten largest organizations led by or predominantly for Black, Brown, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC). While the total economic impact of these organizations was about $15 million in 2022, the underlying context is one of outsized growth. Over the four years included in the study, these BIPOC organizations’ total impact grew by 26%, compared to 19% for all arts organizations, and the number of jobs created or supported grew by approximately 53% during that same period – much higher than the 7.4% growth for all arts organizations. With time and investment, more of these organizations could become household names for generations of Cincinnatians to come.
Although these are all encouraging numbers, the report also makes clear that the ArtsWave Community Campaign needs to grow faster and reverse a downward trend in the number of donors to deliver the same value to the community over the next century. The report projects that over the next four years, the total amount raised in inflation-adjusted, 2023 dollars will actually decrease. Maintaining a robust arts campaign is vitally important so that grants outpace inflation and stimulate further growth and innovation in the ecosystem, resulting in an ever-greater impact.
The public is invited to join nearly a century of community support for the arts as tens of thousands across the Cincinnati region come together for the 2024 ArtsWave Community Campaign, which kicks off on February 6. This year, citizen-funded grants will be invested in 150+ organizations and artists that drive economic vibrancy and social connectivity.
For more information about the report and its findings, please contact ArtsWave or the Cincinnati Regional Chamber.
Take the Lead
Amy Thompson, CEO of Cincinnati Youth Collaborative, tells us how to make difference in our community – and the lives of local youths – by being a mentor.
You can make a huge impact in our local community in just one hour a week.
Cincinnati Youth Collaborative volunteers provide encouragement and guidance to students that help them overcome obstacles and succeed.
Right now, there’s an urgent need for mentors in our region. Amy Thompson, the CEO of CYC, tells us more about you can help and a new initiative they’ve just launched, Cincy Mentors.
A collaborative of local organizations working together to showcase the importance and impact of mentoring in Greater Cincinnati, Cincy Mentors works to match youth with mentors to help them advance in their education and quality of life, offering advice based on their own personal and professional experiences.
Interested in learning more about mentoring? Visit www.cycyouth.org/how-to-help/volunteer-opportunities!
Warmest Regards
Enjoy the cold weather indoors at the Contemporary Arts Center's Winter Festival this Saturday, Jan. 13, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., as the CAC's Creativity Center will be transformed into a Winter Fairyland for this free event.
Winter Fairyland
Contemporary Arts Center, 44 E. Sixth St.
Saturday, Jan. 13, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Want to have a snowball fight but don’t want to get all bundled up? Head to the Contemporary Arts Center for its annual Winter Family Festival!
This free event in the CAC’s Creativity Center includes art and science-themed projects for children of all ages.
“The Family Festival is a great way to experience the Creativity Center because the entire space is activated with exciting and playful projects designed for the whole family to enjoy,” says Elizabeth Hardin-Klink, creative learning director at the CAC. “There's something for visitors of all ages that explore winter themes using art making, science, storytelling, and collaborative play.”
Families can also take part in a variety of winter art and science projects. Activities during the festival include decorating your own winter fairy wings, designing a wizard or gnome hat, creating a tiny fairyland with clay, miniatures and natural materials, and experimenting with ice and salt for colorful snow prints.
“There'll be large-scale snow fort building and a cozy hot chocolate station – because whipped cream makes everything better!” says Hardin-Klink.
Throughout the day, families will find fun activities to enjoy together like the aforementioned indoor snowball fight, plus a fairyland-themed story time with the artist April Mann, and the opportunity to receive a hand-drawn winter tattoo from artist Lindsay Nehls.
“I'm most excited about visitors designing their own fairies, wizards and mini fairylands with local artists April Mann and Cody Goodin. It's always a treat to meet with artists and learn about their practice. It's exciting to what magical creations our visitors will design,” says Hardin-Klink. “That being said, the indoor snowball fight is always great fun!”
Remembering Dr. King
Martin Luther King Jr’s legacy will be remembered in Cincinnati on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024 in much the same way Dr. King fought against racial segregation and injustice with marches, speeches and acts of service.
Martin Luther King, Jr’s legacy will be remembered in Cincinnati in much the same way Dr. King fought against racial segregation and injustice: with marches, speeches and acts of service.
The Cincinnati Museum Center begins the celebration on Saturday, Jan. 13, with Black Empowerment Day from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. The event highlights Black excellence with art, performances, speakers and vendors. The programming is included with the price of admission to the CMC.
On Monday, Jan. 15, ,The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center hosts the King Legacy Celebration at 8 a.m. The public is invited to celebrate King’s legacy with music, reflection, and a call to action. This year’s keynote speaker is Dr. Adren Wilson, vice president of youth opportunity programs and executive director for My Brother’s Keeper Alliance in the Obama Foundation.
After the breakfast, an interdenominational prayer will kick off the MLK Day Freedom March at 10:30 a.m. Marchers head to Washington Park for speeches and a musical performance. The celebration continues in Music Hall with music and three community leaders, Bishop Ennis F. Tait, Rickell Howard Smith, and Retired Judge Fanon A. Rucker, where each will address one of three theme words: Love, Power, and Justice.
For those who want to stay at the Freedom Center, programming continues throughout the day, thanks to Fifth Third Community Day. The Freedom Center is offering free admission, story times, musical performances, self-guided tours, art activities and more.
The annual MLK Day Blood Drive also takes place at the Freedom Center, hosted by Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. Walkups are welcome, but registration is suggested at hoxworth.org/mlk.
If service is what you’re looking for, the second annual MLK Day Community Clean-Up in Roselawn begins at the Great Parks Nature Center at the Summit from 10 a.m.–noon. After the cleanup, volunteers will meet back at The Summit Center for an open house to celebrate the hard work.
Later in the evening, Memorial Hall is host to Martin Luther King, Jr. – The Man, The Cause “In and Out of Time” from 7–9 p.m. Tickets are under $8 and take patrons on the musical journey of Dr. King’s causes.
Look to the Future
Still working on those resolution? See how you can help the community this year by donating tickets and experiences to Most Valuable Kids.
Those New Year’s resolutions to exercise more, eat healthy, or get more sleep, are noble but there are other ways to create a better version of yourself. One big way is by giving back to or volunteering with a local non-profit organization.
Making a difference: one ticket at a time.
That’s been the goal of Most Valuable Kids since its inception in 2005. The Cincinnati nonprofit takes tickets, experiences and opportunities and turns them into life-changing rewards for deserving kids and their families.
“Sometimes it just is a fun field trip; but, many times, it is much more,” said Sherri Friedman, CEO of MVK. “As we say, it is more than a ticket.”
Friedman and her husband Tedd started Cincinnati’s chapter of MVK in October of 2005 after a college friend created Most Valuable Kids in Washington, D.C. The Friedmans leaned into their love of sports and cultural events and their web of Cincinnati contacts, and started building. They credit the community and board members and early supporters like Johnny Bench and Tom Jackson, Jack Louiso and the Cincinnati Bengals, who helped open doors for their success.
But their focus has always been the kids.
“It started – and remains – a labor of love to the kids in our community,” Friedman said.
2023 MVK celebration at Great American Ball Park.
Photos by Shae Huth
MVK works with more than 85 child-focused charities, and the majority of Cincinnati sports and cultural venues to turn donated tickets into opportunities. MVK opens the doors to these experiences, providing students not just access to the game, show or event - but the opportunity to see and do something outside their neighborhood - and their comfort zone. Event extras such as snack packs, food vouchers, team swag and on-field opportunities and/or player and coach meet-and-greets are sometimes included, making each experience a day to remember.
Most Valuable Kids
4623 Wesley Avenue, Suite F
MVK is always looking for in-kind and financial donations.
For more information, visit www.mostvaluablekids.org/cincinnati.
It’s what each ticket represents that drives Friedman and MVK. A day at the ballet that might spark interest in the arts. A night at the ballpark that creates a childhood memory. And those memories in some cases, are indelible.
“We were just tagged in a post by a mentor who attended his mentee’s recent wedding,” Friedman said. “He was recalling all of the memories they had created together over the years, from Reds to Bengals games and other outings, many which were provided by MVK. We loved seeing them together as their photo still adorns a wall in our office. We feel incredibly honored to have played a small part of their story.”
That’s not the first time MVK has heard about the impact its mission has had on the community. One ticket recipient said that the opportunity he received from MVK in middle school made him feel like he was “worth something” and “was important.” Several years later, he graduated as valedictorian of his class. He credits his participation in the Boys and Girls Club and the experiences he received from MVK as difference makers in his life.
Over the years, MVK has provided more than 226,600 opportunities, valued at almost $5 million dollars, to deserving kids and their families, social workers, mentors and more.
Now, the mission has grown to more than events and experiences, but education, too. Most Valuable Kids has recently formed a partnership with the Mayerson JCC, which provides hands-on science and art programs to MVK partner agencies. Additionally, MVK now operates its own female empowerment program called Girls with Pearls, covering important topics like financial literacy, reproductive health, conflict resolution and setting goals for the future.
“No doubt the most rewarding part of my job is hearing from our partners how much the experience has meant to the kids and families they serve,” said Friedman. “There are so many people with limited resources who wouldn’t have the opportunity to experience the magic of a live sports or cultural event without MVK and our incredible donors.”
2023 Favorite Arts Experience
The arts are central to our vibrancy and point of pride for the city. This year we delighted in brave and bold programs at museums and on stages.
Cincinnati was ranked 11th out of the top 20 most arts-vibrant large regions in the United States in the latest edition of the SMU DataArts report.
And for good reason.
In galleries, on stages, and even in the great outdoors, Cincinnati has remarkable choices all across the arts. See what our esteemed panel chose for their favorite things!
I went to several cool things this year, but hear me out on this one: I gifted my mother with the Cincinnati Zoo’s behind-the-scenes VIP penguin encounter for her birthday.
The kids and I joined for the experience, which exceeded all expectations, and was capped off with a rockhopper penguin creating personalized canvas art just for my mom. She even got to pick out the paint colors! This experience checked all the boxes: very cool (and chilly), animal theatrics, lots of laughter, and we walked away with art!
– Sarah Celenza
Tina Turner, the Musical at Broadway in Cincinnati.
– Megan Coffey
The Cincinnati Bookstore Crawl. Cincinnati is lucky to have so many independent bookstores, and even luckier that they're so collaborative and worked together to create this fun weekend of bookstore-hopping. Such a fantastic celebration of Cincinnati's literary scene!
– Hillary Copsey
Gabriel Iglesias at the Funny Bone comedy club.
– Tim David
MJ the Musical with Broadway in Cincinati at the Aronoff Center
– Bridget England
Hadestown, Broadway in Cincinati at the Aronoff Center.
– Christian Gill
Although I’m biased, Disney's Moana JR. at The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati was truly special. Theatrical storytelling through blacklight puppetry was a one-of-a-kind experience and one of our best productions.
– Krista Katona Pille
The Cincinnati Symphony’s performance of Hamlet by Thomas. I think it was one of Music Director Louis Langrée’s finest achievement in his tenure.
– Evans Mirageas
Solidarity Now! 1968 Poor People's Campaign at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.
– Jenifer Moore
Broadway in Cincinnati never disappoints. Anastasia and Hadestown were the highlights for me.
– Kathrine Nero
Sporting Fashion: Outdoor Girls 1800 to 1960 exhibit at Taft Museum.
– Mindy Rosen
Madame Butterfly is a complicated opera – from the problematic storyline to the over-done Asian stereotypes, it can be tricky to stage and difficult to watch, but the music is glorious.
Cincinnati Opera restaged Madame Butterfly with an Asian cast and production team, reframing it with anime-inspired costumes and sets. The second act opening aria “One Beautiful Day,” moved me – and plenty of others – to tears. And a standing ovation.
The show’s ending put a new twist on the tragic ending, giving Butterfly the power and agency she so richly deserves.
– Tricia Suit
Shout out to Rico Grant for Black and Brown Faces Verified at the Cincinnati Art Museum.
– Amy Thompson
Silly question! Summerfair 2023!
But I also escaped to NYC and saw the Broadway production of & Juliet. It was awesome! Can't wait until it comes to town, I'll see it again!
– Jayne Utter
“Only a Hippopotamus...”
Everyone’s favorite hippo makes her musical debut, as Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati presents Fiona: The Musical now through Dec. 29.
Fiona: The Musical
Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati
1127 Vine St,
Through Dec. 29
Performances: Wednesday–Saturday, 7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m.
For the full schedule and ticket information visit www.ensemblecincinnati.org.
To paraphrase Oprah, “You get a hippopotamus and you get a hippopotamus and you get a hippopotamus…” for Christmas.
This year, the magic of a 1950s novelty song comes to life, as everyone’s favorite hippo makes her musical debut in the annual holiday musical from Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati (ETC).
Fiona: The Musical, written by Cincinnati native Zina Camblin and ETC composer David Kisor, is a touching story that reminds us of the power of perseverance, compassion, and never giving up!
Photos by Ryan Kurtz
“Fiona’s story had a very rocky beginning and was a stressful time that, thanks to a great animal care team, had a happy ending,” says Cincinnati Zoo Director Thane Maynard. “It was hard for me to imagine how that could be captured in a musical, but I'm confident that the creative team at ETC will make it fun.”
When Fiona is born two months early at only 29 pounds, the odds are stacked against her. But when a determined team of zookeepers and doctors refuses to give up on the little hippo that could, the beautiful friendships that form might be just the thing to give Fiona the strength she needs.
“Her story, her battle, her strength; it’s irresistible,” says D. Lynn Meyers, ETC’s producing artistic director. “It’s an amazing story about never giving up. Fiona: The Musical is about something that seemed impossible and instead became reality. This production helps us celebrate Ensemble’s own underdog story and unlikely journey of survival. It’s not only a love letter to the zoo, but also a celebration of extraordinary possibility.”
Turn of the Scrooge
The updated yet traditional A Christmas Carol begins Friday at Playhouse in the Park. Blake Robison offers a sneak peek!
A Christmas Carol
Preview performances Nov. 24 and 25, 7 p.m. and Nov. 26, 2 p.m.
Opening night is Nov. 30, 7 p.m.
Regular performances Tuesday–Fridays, 7 p.m., Saturday, 2 and 7 p.m. and Sunday, 2 p.m. A weekday matinee will be offered on Dec. 20, 22 and 26 at 2 p.m.
No performances on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
Tickets begin at $35, Child and teen tickets begin at $33.50. Prices vary depending on performance. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.cincyplay.com or call the Playhouse Box Office at 513-421-3888 (toll-free in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana at 800-582-3208).
Limited pairs and excellent single seats are available for some performances that show “limited availability.” Single seats are often very near one another. Please call the Box Office at 513-421-3888 for assistance.
A beloved Cincinnati tradition, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, returns to Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park with a new adaptation specifically for Moe and Jack’s Place — The Rouse Theatre.
In this new adaptation by Blake Robison, the Osborn Family Producing Artistic Director at the Playhouse, additional scenes from Dickens’ classic novella, A Christmas Caro have been included.
The all new production also includes theatrical staging made possible with the technology in the new theatre that was not possible in the old facility.
Andrew May, who audiences will remember as Hercule Poirot from last season’s Murder on the Orient Express, plays Ebeneezer Scrooge in the new production.
All Together Now
Summerfair Select, an exhibition of works by 12 outstanding local artists, opens at The Weston Gallery on Saturday, Nov. 18.
Summerfair Select, an exhibition of works by 12 outstanding local artists, opens at The Weston Gallery, 650 Walnut St., on Saturday, Nov. 18. The opening reception is 6 to 8 p.m., with the exhibition continuing through Jan. 7, 2024.
The 12 artists featured in the exhibition are all recipients of Summerfair Cincinnati’s Aid to Individual Artists Awards. Summerfair’s longest running award program, the AIA Awards are presented each year to artists living within a 40-mile radius of Cincinnati.
The AIA Award was the area’s first program designed to distribute funds to individual artists. The application process is extensive and winners are selected by outside experts in a blind screening process. The $5,000 award can be used for anything from funding research, assisting in the creation of new works or purchasing supplies and material for production. To provide further support for its AIA recipients and to demonstrate the impact the grant has on their artistic development, Summerfair mounts a triennial exhibition for the twelve most recent award winners in partnership with The Weston Gallery.
The 2023 Summerfair Select exhibition is dedicated to the memory of Linda Whitehead-Truss Deatrick (1947-2022),
Summerfair’s first executive director from 1981–1987, she established the Aid to Individual Artists Award program. With proceeds from admission and refreshment sales from Summerfair’s annual June presentation of arts and crafts at Coney Island, Deatrick developed the grant program for individual artists and other programs throughout the year. Because of her tireless work, Summerfair became a major supporter of small and mid-sized arts in the Greater Cincinnati area. Her legacy and impact on the arts in Cincinnati continue to inspire the community and its artists.
Body of Work
This Friday, the first U.S. solo museum exhibition by British multi-media artist Tai Shani opens at the Contemporary Arts Center.
If You Go
7 p.m. – CAC Member Reception
Become a member
8 p.m. – Public Opening
The reception will feature a cash bar, light bites, and the opportunity to come together in community.
The public opening is free and open to the public, however, registration is requested .
About the Artist
Tai Shani (b. 1976, London; lives and works in London) is an interdisciplinary artist and writer who employs performance, installation, photography, and film. She draws from pop culture references, psychedelic aesthetics, science fiction, and Gothic sensibilities, which are used to create mystical narratives that are rooted in feminism, anti-fascism, and capitalist critique. Largely self-taught, she shifts seamlessly between genres, media, and periods to uncover marginalized histories and craft research- based works as tools for imagining post-patriarchal futures.
Shani’s work has been the subject of special projects and performances at venues including the Barbican, London; ICA, London (both 2010); Loop, Barcelona (2011); Schirn Kunsthalle, Frankfurt (2015); Tate Modern, London; Serpentine Galleries, London (both 2016); Glasgow International; The Tetley, Leeds (both 2018); Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, Turin; Grazer Kunstverein, Graz; Turner Contemporary, Margate, UK (all 2019); and Manchester International Festival (2021), among others.
Shani is a joint winner of the 2019 Turner Prize alongside Lawrence Abu Hamdan, Helen Cammock, and Oscar Murillo. She currently teaches at the Royal College of Art, London.
Tai Shani: My Bodily Remains will be on view at the CAC from Nov. 3, 2023,until April 14, 2024.
“Tai Shani’s work contends with the critical issues of our times, which is exactly the kind of work the Contemporary Arts Center champions and aims to catalyze,” says Christina Vassallo, the CAC’s executive director. “We’re honored to be able to provide a platform for Tai’s first U.S. museum presentation and showcase her thought-provoking artwork to the region and our community,”
Shani’s first U.S. solo museum exhibition, My Bodily Remains, opens Friday at the CAC. The exhibition brings together all facets of Shani’s expansive practice, including the U.S. premiere of a newly commissioned feature-length film from which the exhibition draws its title: My Bodily Remains, Your Bodily Remains, and all the Bodily Remains that Ever Were and Ever Will Be (2023).
In the film, a character named the “Reader of the Book of Love” recounts historical quotations by different revolutionary groups who were proponents of direct action as they describe the relationship between protest, eroticism, and pleasure. These include American labor movement activist Lucy Parsons, the Civil Rights Movement leader Angela Davis, and German anti-imperialist journalist and radical communist Ulrike Meinhof, among others. The film’s expansive narrative is enhanced by interludes of digital animation and a mesmeric score composed by Maxwell Sterling and Richard Fearless (Death in Vegas). Produced during a residency at Southbank Centre, London with a Gamelan orchestra, the soundtrack consists of repetitive drone-like waves of sound that elicit a visceral response by extending beyond the film viewing area and filling the entire second-floor galleries.
Shani works with painting, sculpture, installation, performance, and film to explore the politics of emancipation from a feminist perspective. A prolific writer, Shani draws on sources including punk rock, cult cinema, Greek mythology, feminist theory, and science fiction to craft otherworldly environments and experiences. The new feature-length film uses the vernacular of video games and sci-fi cinema to explore leftist resistance movements through the past 150 years. A critique of the recent global rise of authoritarianism and fascist politics, it follows four protagonists as they grapple with fundamental life questions about love, grief, and societal change.
The exhibition also includes an accompanying installation occupying nearly 30 feet across and resembling an inverted Medieval ceiling featuring sculptures and objects that echo the environments and references woven throughout the film. Suspended above it and on the adjacent wall will be fragmented architectural forms—columns, an altar, and circular discs—that further emphasize Shani’s interest in conjuring immersive dream-like environments. The exhibition also features a suite of nine watercolors, a painted triptych, and an earlier film, The Neon Hieroglyph (2021), demonstrating Shani’s multi-disciplinary practice and investigating the transformative potential of psychedelics. Drawing on queer and feminist theory and political ideologies of collectivism, the works together ponder love as a device for healing and resistance.
Setting the Scene
With ArtsWave's "More Arts More Kids," 2,500 Cincinnati Public School students made a trip to see "SpongeBob The Musical: Youth Edition."
Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? Thanks to a new initiative from ArtsWave, 2,500 more children know the answer to that question.
ArtsWave's “More Arts More Kids” program kicked off this week, providing the opportunity for 2,500 Cincinnati Public School (CPS) third graders to see daytime performances of The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati's (TCT) production of “SpongeBob The Musical: Youth Edition” at the Taft Theatre.
“More Arts More Kids,” sponsored by Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, is designed to provide every student in grades 1-6 with an annual arts field trip. This year’s pilot program with CPS includes the third-grade trips to TCT, a visual art field trip to the Cincinnati Art Museum for all fourth graders, funded by Florence Koetters; and a Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Young People's Concert at Music Hall for a portion of the district’s first graders. Over the following school years, additional grades will be introduced to the arts at venues across the region, with a total of 50,000 kids going on trips over the course of the pilot program.
Such exposure and connection help students develop social-emotional skills such as tolerance and empathy. Additionally, students who attend multiple arts field trips demonstrate higher levels of school engagement, increased conscientiousness and perform better on their end-of-grade standardized tests.
The “More Arts, More Kids” program also addresses ArtsWave’s Blueprint for Collective Action goal of Fueling Creativity and Learning in All Kids Through the Arts. ArtsWave regularly invests in arts education to promote the development of 21st-century skills by ensuring that all children in the region, particularly those who may be underserved, have equitable access to meaningful arts experiences.
Dressed to Thrill
Sporting Fashion: Outdoor Girls 1800 to 1960, opening Oct. 14 at the Taft Museum of Art, explores the evolution of women’s sporting and leisure attire.
Sporting Fashion: Outdoor Girls 1800 to 1960 Taft Museum of Art, 316 Pike St.
Opens Oct. 14, continues through Jan. 14, 2024
Featured Programs & Events
Family Funday | Sporting Fashion
Sunday, Oct. 15
10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Explore the Taft’s newest exhibition, Sporting Fashion, with the whole family! Discover the vibrant history of women’s athletic fashion with a day at the museum full of fun, musical performances, art-making, and more to inspire your young creators!
Workshop & Tour | Sew Valley
Thursday, Oct. 19, 11 a.m.–12 p.m.
Sew Valley, 1010 Hulbert Ave., 45214
Join Sew Valley designers for a tour and demonstration of both modern and historic women’s sporting fashion assembly techniques and patterns. This special opportunity includes a chance to learn and practice with Sew Valley CEO Shailah Maynard and Director of Operations Madeleine Misleh.
Signature Talk | Bringing the Girls Together
Thursday, Nov. 9, 6–7 p.m.
Team up with Kevin Jones, Curator of the FIDM Museum/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, on a sprint to the exhibition finish line, as he takes you on treks far and wide in search of the rare objects displayed in Sporting Fashion. Peek into the curatorial locker room as the mannequins prepare to gallop, leap, and punch their way out of the award-winning catalog. Wear your trainers and tracksuits and join the fitness fun with these Outdoor Girls.
For more information, visit taftmuseum.org/Exhibitions/Sport.
Explore more than 100 years of fashion, feminism, and female athletes at the Taft Museum of Art.
Sporting Fashion: Outdoor Girls 1800 to 1960, a traveling exhibition organized by the American Federation of Arts and the FIDM Museum at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, Los Angeles, opens on Saturday, Oct. 14.
The exhibition is the first to explore the evolution of women’s sporting attire in Western fashion over this 160-year period. The exhibition includes over 60 fully accessorized ensembles comprised of more than 400 objects selected from the exceptional collections of the FIDM Museum.
“We are thrilled to present Sporting Fashion in Cincinnati,” says the Taft Museum of Art’s associate curator Ann Glasscock, who is curating the museum’s installation of the show. “The exhibition not only includes an array of stylish, innovative, and truly stunning attire, but it also gives us the opportunity to explore the lives of women—as both athletes and spectators—and how they helped break down the barriers that had isolated them from the then male-dominated sporting world.”
The clothing and accessories in the exhibition range in date from the turn of the nineteenth century to the mid-20th century when the basic forms of women’s sportswear we know today were codified. Covering women’s athletic pursuits from spectating to participating, Sporting Fashion offers valuable insight into the social customs, innovative technologies, and shifting notions of style and functionality behind women’s sporting attire. The exhibition includes garments and accessories from long-established sportswear companies such as Champion, Pendleton, Spalding, and Stetson, in addition to key fashion brands such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Balenciaga, Patou, Pucci, and Chanel.
The subtitle, Outdoor Girls, is inspired by the printed script on a 1940s wool scarf that depicts women engaged in thirteen different sports, such as golf, horseback riding, ice-skating, and tennis. The exhibition will include ensembles worn for more than forty other outdoor activities from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, each carefully assembled based upon extensive primary-source research. Garments made for activities ranging from traveling to calisthenics, and from motorcycling to promenading will be featured.
The exhibition has an accompanying publication with a foreword by Serena Williams, offering a contemporary and personal perspective on the role of fashion in sport that opens the illustrated 344-page catalog. The book provides both a stunning visual record of the garments on display and serves as an important point of reference for further research into women’s sporting attire. The catalog features an introductory essay and detailed entries on each ensemble in the exhibition, co-written by curators Kevin L. Jones and Christina M. Johnson. It is one of the very few authoritative publications on the diverse aspects of women’s sport history and the development and evolution of their athletic attire.
Organized into seven themes, Sporting Fashion will explore how clothing met the needs of new pursuits for women, while at the same time preserving their socially approved, restricted mobility. Garments for swimming and tanning will illustrate how innovative designers and manufacturers responded to the increasing acceptance of exposed skin at beaches and pools; winter sports ensembles will show how apparel for pastimes such as skiing and ice-skating protected female participants from the elements; and clothing and accessories for cycling, motoring, and flying—often adapted from men’s athletic gear—will reveal how women navigated open roads and skies.
Those themes are
Stepping Outdoors
Demonstrates how women who dressed for leisurely outdoor pursuits in the early 1800s were required to maintain proprieties considered socially necessary for their time.
Further Afield
Showcases the attire of women with a sense of adventure who eagerly took up mountaineering, hunting, and traveling.
Subzero Style
Surveys numerous activities that took place on snowy slopes and frozen rinks.
Taking the Reins
Represents traditions of riding and wrangling horses.
A Team Effort
Shows the advent and evolution of warm-weather ball sports and considers the development of regulation uniforms on courts and fields, and in gymnasia.
Wheels and Wings
Traces women’s ventures into the previously male-dominated realm of mechanized sports as they enjoyed increased freedom of travel via road and sky.
Making Waves
Explores how designers both reacted to and encouraged the growing acceptance of exposed skin at public beaches and pools.
As dialogues regarding women’s equality in athletics continue, Sporting Fashion enriches the conversation, illustrating the dynamic ways that women engaged in sport during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. However, the contents of this exhibition do not represent the lives of all women. The garments and accessories on view come primarily from western Europe and North America. They often belonged to the affluent, who had greater access to leisure and sport activities. Nevertheless, these rare pieces illustrate the active lives of women—some known, others anonymous—who wore ensembles such as these to challenge the status quo, for the betterment of themselves, and as examples of achievement for ensuing generations.
Additionally, a hands-on experience developed in partnership with the University of Cincinnati will offer visitors the opportunity to touch and feel their way through the evolution of sportswear technology.
Sporting Fashion is on a national tour across the United States through 2024 with final presentations at the Taft and the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens in Jacksonville, Florida (Feb. 24–May 19, 2024) before returning home to the FIDM Museum in Los Angeles, California.
General admission to Sporting Fasnion is free for Taft members, military, and youth (18 and under); $12 for adults; and $10 for seniors. Non-members save $2 by purchasing tickets online. Sundays are free!