Throughout the month of February, we are highlighting local voices within the Black community about their artistic journey and expression, and how they view art as activism. Hear from four individuals across a variety of disciplines who are in some way connected to the Cincinnati Arts Association: a singer/songwriter who teaches her love of music to children across the city (CAA teaching artist); a visual artist using her platform to share personal and moving experiences (exhibiting artist, Weston Art Gallery); the founder of Revolution Dance Theatre, Cincinnati's only all-Black ballet company (Aronoff Center resident company); and a life-long arts advocate working to restore the Regal Theater in Cincy's West End as a space for Black creatives (CAA Trustee).

In April, we began a dialogue with community members surrounding accessibility. We partnered with our friends at Cincinnati Ballet to create a full run down of what to expect at a Sensory Friendly Ballet performance. We also celebrate National d/Deaf History Month in conversation with a Professor of ASL and Deaf Studies at UC as well as an interpreter to talk about the impact of interpretive performances.

We’re celebrating AAPI all May long, speaking with members of the Asian American Pacific Islander community. Hear from three individuals across a variety of disciplines: a recent University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music graduate learning that representation matters; a teacher and visual artist using her platform to share personal and moving experiences (exhibiting artist, Weston Art Gallery); and a traveling dancer and Artistic Director of Cultural Center of India who uses her talents in traditional Indian dance to inspire and bring harmony to audiences.

In June, we celebrated Pride Month with a little Drag 101. We kiki’d with local drag queens Anna Mosity, Anna Mae Cere, Brockleah Spears, and Princess PettyCure to talk about Drag History, Drag as an Artform, and Drag in Cincinnati.

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, we had the privilege to sit down with local Cincinnati artist and recipient of the Artswave Black and Brown Artist Grant, Sarah Rodriguez. In our interview, Sarah discusses her artistic process, growing up in mostly white spaces, and the power of “communicating through making.”

We had the privilege of speaking with Briana Mazzolini-Blanchard the Executive Director of the Urban Native Collective in celebration of National Native American Heritage Month and the success of their Indigenous People’s Day of Convergence celebration back in October. Briana discusses the importance of artistic expression in Tribal communities, resistance, and the need to make the invisible, visible. We also dive into the incredible work that the Urban Native Collective is doing in Ohio and its surrounding regions.