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Arts OF, BY and FOR ALL
- 22 November 2021
- Posted By Ellen Muse
If there is one lesson the global pandemic experience reminded us of, it’s that we’re all in this together.
The past two years forced us into unwanted isolation, yet our shared challenges revealed a sense of community. The distance inspired us to create new ways to stay connected, to reach out and care for our neighbors.
The pandemic also revealed the harsh realities of inequality and incited a global movement for social justice that is painfully long overdue.
Since its founding, Kennedy Heights Arts Center has been dedicated to bringing people together and building community through arts engagement — and this mission has never felt more relevant. While we are proud of our work, we are also aware of how we’ve fallen short of this vision.To be meaningful FOR our diverse community, we must become more representative OF and co-created BY our community.
Our team continues to innovate new ways to inspire, connect and uplift us, while developing transformative initiatives to become more inclusive and equitable for our diverse community.
You can help.Your support is key in carrying out this important work. Please help put equity in action and make the arts accessible to everyone with your donation to Kennedy Heights Arts Center.
Putting equity in action
– Emerging Black Artist Fellowship, a 12-month residency for local, early career Black creatives, enriching both the artist and the community
– Arts Educator Mentorship providing paid opportunities for artists who have not been formally trained to share their unique art practices and gain teaching experience
– Collaborations with BIPOC artists that elevate diverse voicesMaking the arts accessible to everyone
– Free arts and cultural experiences serving more than 6,000 youth and adults annually–on our campus, in parks and public spaces, on neighborhood streets, and in schools, libraries, treatment centers, nursing homes, and more
Expanding horizons for students
– Woodford Arts & Culture Academy, integrating the arts to fuel student success in a public K-6 school in which 99% are eligible for free and reduced lunch
– Youth Jazz Cincinnati, a free after-school program offering exceptional music education and performance opportunities for students in grades 4-8 in partnership with Cincinnati Public Schools
– Teen Artists for Change, empowering students to use their creative skills to make a difference in the world around them