Program areas at Kennedy Heights Arts Center
Kennedy Heights Arts Center (KHAC) provided a wide range of arts education programs for youth and adults on our campus. Through classes, workshops, summer camps, and artist residencies, students learned from and worked alongside professional artists in a variety of artforms such as drawing and painting, ceramics, fiber arts, design, music, dance and creative writing. In addition KHAC partnered with two public elementary schools to fuel creativity and learning through arts integration, fine art field studies, after-school programs, and teacher professional development training. In partnership with Cincinnati Public Schools, KHAC provided an after-school Jazz Academy offering free transportation, instruments, private and ensemble instruction, and performance opportunities for 140 students in grades 4-12. Through the facilitation of Tellus Zine, an online publication of art and writing by teens, for teens; and Teen Artists for Change, students in grades 7-12 were empowered to use their creative skills to make a difference in their community.
Kennedy Heights Arts Center partnered with Juneteenth Cincinnati on the 3rd Annual Voices of Freedom, a free visual and performing arts series celebrating Black arts and culture. In addition, KHAC presented a number of other free community events for area residents, including Play in the Park, a series of weekly summer arts and music events in Kennedy Heights Park; jazz concerts; spoken word open mic; and Winterfest celebration.
In 2023, Kennedy Heights Arts Center presented 9 art exhibitions in its Kennedy and Lindner Galleries. Highlights included: Ebb and Flow, ceramic artworks by local artists that explore the cycle of life and death; Color Breathing, meditative paintings and installations inspired by nature by Lyric Morris-Latchaw and Casey Dressell; All That Jazz, in partnership with the Cincinnati Jazz Hall of Fame; and Wish You Were Here, a juried photography exhibit of artists' most loved vacation image and the story behind them, nominated for best gallery exhibiition of the year by Cincinnati City Beat. In partnership with Juneteenth Cincinnati, KHAC presented When Liberation Comes featuring ten commissioned new works by Black artists exploring the promises and realities of freedom in our country.
Kennedy Heights Arts Center supports an artist collective which fosters artistic growth and creative collaboration for local artists who are committed to building community. Activities included: monthly artist salons, a members' art exhibition, and participation in community events.