News and Events

Voices of Freedom Returns to Kennedy Heights Arts Center for 2026

For the sixth consecutive year, Juneteenth Cincinnati and Kennedy Heights Arts Center are proud to present Voices of Freedom, a visual and performing arts series that centers Black history, expression, and healing through a contemporary lens. The 2026 series will take place from January 31 through April 11, 2026, at the Kennedy Heights Arts Center Lindner Annex, located at 6620 Montgomery Road.

Supported in part by a Circle Grant from ArtsWave, Voices of Freedom continues to uplift regional artists and performers whose work reflects the depth, complexity, and resilience of Black communities.

“We are so excited to collaborate with Juneteenth Cincinnati and diverse artists in the region on this celebration of Black arts and expression,” shared KHAC Executive Director Ellen Muse. 

We’re All Healing: Tending to the Wounds We Were Taught to Hide

At the heart of the 2026 series is We’re All Healing: Tending to the Wounds We Were Taught to Hide, a multidisciplinary exhibition curated by Zuri Ali. Featuring new work by ten regional artists, the exhibition offers an honest and necessary conversation about mental health within Black and marginalized communities. 

Through visual storytelling, the exhibition examines the ways pain is often minimized, hidden, or left unnamed, while inviting vulnerability as an act of resistance. In a world that often demands resilience without rest, We’re All Healing creates space for transparency, softness, and collective growth.

“We’re All Healing is not simply about what hurts. It is about what happens after the silence breaks,” says curator Zuri Ali. “The journey is not meant to be linear, but it must begin.” 

Exhibiting artists include: Jamaal Durr, Tobi Ewing, Trudy Gaba, Erin Smith Glenn, Ciara LeRoy, Gift Mayambi, Romain Mayambi, James Pate, Dave Scott, and Kimberly Wilfong Sigman. 

The public is invited to a free Opening Reception on Saturday, January 31, from 6–8 pm, with light refreshments and music.

Live Performances: Music, Movement, and Ancestral Memory

In addition to the exhibition, Voices of Freedom includes two powerful evenings of live performance curated by Alexander Stallings, each beginning at 7:30 pm (doors open at 7:00 pm). 

Dig and Be Dug in Return

Saturday, February 21, 2026 | 7:30 pm

Inspired by the closing lines of Langston Hughes’ Motto, this performance is an ode to Black expression, community, and collective healing. Rooted in Jazz, Soul, and R&B, the evening honors the ways we gather, create, and care for one another while reclaiming joy.

Featured artists: The Josh Strange Quartet, Camille Jones, DJ Rah D, and Daniel Noel. 

Get your tickets here

Becoming Ancestors

Saturday, March 21, 2026 | 7:30 pm

A high-frequency love letter to ancestors past and future, Becoming Ancestors channels rhythm, movement, and intention. African drums, Hip-Hop, House, and electronic sounds converge to meet the needs of the present moment, whether revolutionary, meditative, or somewhere in between.

Featured artists: Muwosi, No.Clue, Grandace, and Gyata African Drum and Dance.

Get your tickets here

Plan Your Visit

All performances take place at the Kennedy Heights Arts Center Lindner Annex, 6620 Montgomery Road. Tickets are pay what you can and required for entry.

For tickets and additional information, visit kennedyarts.org