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Art Programs for Youth
Expand your creativity in one of our innovative art programs for youth ages 5 – 18!
Registration for 8-week Fall term begins at 10:00 am on August 1st, 2026, and ends at 5:00 pm the evening before the first day of class.
SLIDING SCALE: Kennedy Heights Arts Center strives to make arts accessible to everyone. Sliding scale fees available for those in financial need. Click here for more information.
CANCELLATION POLICY: Tuition is non-refundable, but can be transferred to another course if the student withdraws at least five days prior to the beginning of the program.
Young at Art: Fine Art Fundamentals (ages 5-8)
- Saturdays, September 19, 2026 10:30 am - November 7, 2026 12:00 pm
Instructors: Terry Oestreicher Ages 5-8: Saturdays, 10:30-12:00 pm Dates: Sept. 19-Nov. 7 Tuition; $140.00 or sliding scale In this 8-week visual art series, young artists will dive into the elements of art through a dynamic, hands-on studio experience! Each week introduces a..
Young at Art: Fine Art Fundamentals (ages 9-12)
- Saturdays, September 19, 2026 12:15 pm - November 7, 2026 1:45 pm
Instructors: Terry Oestreicher Ages 9-12: Saturdays, 12:15-1:45 pm Dates: Sept. 19-Nov. 7 Tuition; $140.00 or sliding scale In this 8-week visual art series, young artists will dive into the elements of art through a dynamic, hands-on studio experience! Each week introduces a..
Teen Artists for Change
- Saturdays, September 19, 2026 2:00 pm - November 7, 2026 4:00 pm
Ages 13-18 Instructor: Brandon Parker Saturdays, 2:00-4:00pm Dates: Sept. 19- Nov. 7 Tuition: FREE! Registration required What story deserves to be told? In this session of Teen Artists for Change, teens will work together to choose a community issue or local organization..
Summer Arts Camps 2026
Unleash your creativity and imagination this summer at Kennedy Heights Arts Center! We offer a variety of one-week camps for youth ages 5-13 exploring visual arts, music, creative writing, photography, acting, animation, and design.
Cancellation Policy: Cancellation of a camp registration is refunded for credit only. This credit can be use for any KHAC programming within 12 months.
Call for Summer Art Camp Volunteers!
High school students can earn community service hours, gain leadership experience, and have fun as volunteers in our Summer Art Camps. Application deadline is March 31. More Details
No events are currently available for registration, please check back later.
Adult and Teen Classes
Nurture your creativity, develop skills, reconnect with community, and learn from professional artists!
Registration for 8-week Fall term begins at 10:00 am on August 1st, 2026, and ends at 5:00 pm the evening before the first day of class. s.
SLIDING SCALE: Kennedy Heights Arts Center strives to make arts accessible to everyone. Sliding scale fees available for those in financial need. Click here for more information.
CANCELLATION POLICY: Tuition is non-refundable, but can be transferred to another course if the student withdraws at least five days prior to the beginning of the program.
Community Engagement Workshop with Batres Gilvin
- September 5, 2026 1:00 pm
Ages 14 – Adult Saturday, September 5 from 1-3pm KHAC Lindner Annex Event Space Tuition: FREE, registration is required. If you register, please commit to attending as space is very limited. Description: Join artist collaborative BATRES GILVIN in creating a collaborative installation..
Clay Hand-Building
- Mondays, September 14, 2026 6:30 am - November 2, 2026 8:30 pm
Instructor: Lynne Gibb Mondays, 6:30 pm -8:30 pm Dates: Sept. 14-Nov. 2nd Tuition: $210 or sliding scale *material fee included Adult Clay Hand-building, is for beginners through advanced clay artists. Beginners will learn the three basic building techniques, pinch, slab, and coil..
The Art of Oil: Painting Landscapes and Nature
- Tuesdays, September 15, 2026 1:00 pm - November 3, 2026 3:00 pm
Instructor: Brandon Hawkins Tuesday, 1:00 pm -3:00 pm Dates: Sept. 15-Nov. 3rd Tuition: $210 or sliding scale *material fee included Join acclaimed artist Brandon Hawkins for a welcoming 8-week course in landscape painting. In each two-hour session, you will learn step-by-step how..
Fragments of Light: The Art of Glass Mosaics
- Tuesday, September 15, 2026 6:00 pm - November 3, 2026 8:00 pm
Instructor: Billie Cunningham Tuesdays, 6:00 pm-8:00pm Dates: Sept 15-Nov. 3rd Tuition: $210 or sliding scale *material fee included Immerse yourself in the ancient and intricate art of glass mosaics. Arrange small pieces of sheet glass to create an image, pattern, or abstract..
Open Studio
- Wednesdays, September 16, 2026 10:00 am - November 4, 2026 1:00 pm
Facilitator: Lynne Gibb Wednesdays, 10:00 am-1:00 pm Dates: Sept. 16-Nov. 4 Tuition: FREE! Registration required Meet with fellow artists of all skill levels to inspire each other! Basic art supplies and tools are provided, but you are encouraged to bring what you..
Beginning Drawing
- Wednesdays, September 16, 2026 6:00 pm - November 4, 2026 8:00 pm
Instructor: Paul Loehle Wednesdays, 6:00-8:00 Dates: Sept. 16-Nov. 4 Tuition: $180 or sliding scale *material fee included This is a course covering the fundamentals of drawing – from measuring and proportion, to perspective, to shading and detail. Beginning students will get a..
Collage & Create: Handmade Journals
- Thursdays, September 17, 2026 1:00 pm - November 5, 2026 3:00 pm
Instructor: Jenny Caffery Thursdays, 1:00 pm-3:00 pm Dates: Sept. 17- Nov. 5 Tuition: $180 or sliding scale *material fee included Transform everyday materials into a stunning, one-of-a-kind keepsake! In this hands-on workshop, you will explore creative collage and paper alteration techniques to..
Watercolor Discovery & Development
- Thursdays, September 17, 2026 6:30 pm - November 5, 2026 8:30 pm
Instructor: Beth Goldstein Thursdays, 6:30 pm-8:30 pm Dates: Sept. 17-Nov. 12 (No class Oct 8th in observance of BLINK opening night) Tuition: $210 or sliding scale *material fee included For anyone who has wanted to try watercolor painting but has barely, or..
Teen Artists for Change
- Saturdays, September 19, 2026 2:00 pm - November 7, 2026 4:00 pm
Ages 13-18 Instructor: Brandon Parker Saturdays, 2:00-4:00pm Dates: Sept. 19- Nov. 7 Tuition: FREE! Registration required What story deserves to be told? In this session of Teen Artists for Change, teens will work together to choose a community issue or local organization..
2026 Artist in Residence: Jamie-Lee Morris
Jamie-Lee Morris is a Cincinnati-based poet, writer, and spoken word artist whose work is deeply rooted in themes of identity, resilience, and transformation. Jamie-Lee brings a strong cultural perspective and a commitment to amplifying voices through the literary arts. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from The Ohio State University and has a wealth of experience in youth development and community engagement in nonprofit organizations, which informs her ability to guide participants in using creative writing as a tool for self-discovery and healing.
Jamie-Lee has performed her original poetry at numerous venues across Greater Cincinnati, including the Cincinnati Art Museum, Nostalgia Wine & Jazz Lounge, and other cultural spaces. Her performances are known for their authenticity, emotional resonance, and ability to inspire audiences to connect with their own stories. In 2023, she was selected as a Vibrancy Fellow at Kennedy Heights Arts Center, where she successfully led community writing workshops exploring identity and belonging. She also served as Artist-in-Residence at the Contemporary Arts Center, designing and facilitating creative writing programs for diverse participants. In 2024, she co-founded the Maroon Collective Artist Wellness House in Walnut Hills, a co-living and co-working space for artists that provides wellness programming for surrounding communities.
Kennedy Heights Arts Center has chosen Jamie-Lee as our 2026 Artist in Residence because of her artistry, teaching experience, and commitment to community impact. She has a proven ability to create safe, inclusive environments that encourage vulnerability and authentic self-expression, making her an ideal facilitator for both youth and adults.
This residency builds on Jamie-Lee’s prior collaborations with Kennedy Heights Arts Center. We believe Jamie-Lee’s artistry and leadership will inspire participants to embrace creative risk-taking, strengthen their voices, and recognize the power of storytelling as a vehicle for personal growth and community connection.
Learn more and register to participate in her Writing to Exhale: Healing the Unspoken workshop series featuring poetry and spoken word.
Free to participate, but registration is required. Space is limited.
No events are currently available for registration, please check back later.
Outreach Programs
We believe that the arts are for everyone. Kennedy Heights Arts Center provides a range of outreach programs that bring the arts out into the community. The goal of these programs is to provide access to high-quality arts education for everyone regardless of economic circumstance.
Our experienced team of arts educators offer ongoing classes as well as one-time programs in schools, libraries, community centers, group homes and other community settings. Some locations have included:
- Pleasant Ridge Montessori
- Silverton Elementary
- Woodford Academy
- Academy of World Languages
- Talbert House
- Cincinnati Public Libraries
For more information about bringing a Kennedy Heights Arts Center outreach program to your organization, please contact our Director of Education.
No events are currently available for registration, please check back later.
Cincinnati Jazz Academy
Since 2018, Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) and Kennedy Heights Arts Center (KHAC) have partnered to provide the Cincinnati Jazz Academy, a free after-school program inspiring students to develop their creative abilities through learning and performing the dynamic music of jazz.
The Cincinnati Jazz Academy is a nationally recognized after school music program for Cincinnati Public School students in 4th-12th grade. All Jazz Academy rehearsals take place at the Kennedy Heights Arts Center Lindner Annex located at 6620 Montgomery Road. Most groups rehearse once a week from 4:30-6:00 pm. The program was founded Dr. Isidore Rudnick, a nationally recognized music educator, jazz trombonist, conductor and composer.
The academy is led by Artistic Director Ralph DiSylvestro and Program manager Brandon Graves.
All students admitted to the Jazz Academy program receive a full tuition scholarship in the amount of $1,500. Each student is eligible to receive free transportation from their school to the Kennedy Heights Arts Center and after school snacks. A weekly private lesson will be provided, as well as weekly ensemble rehearsals. Students needing an instrument will be checked out an instrument for the entire school year.
Jazz Academy ensembles perform several concerts per year in the community, concluding with the CPS International Jazz Festival at the Aronoff Center for the Arts.
In addition to the ensembles, we offer smaller advanced combo groups at the elementary, junior high and high school levels. The combos are reserved for Cincinnati Jazz Academy students who demonstrate high levels of commitment and dedication to playing jazz to allow them to advance their music training further, study with master guest artists, and have additional performance opportunities.
To gain admission to the Jazz Academy program, students must: (1) be nominated by their CPS school music teacher or the Jazz Academy director; (2) demonstrate both an excellent CPS attendance record and discipline record; and (3) submit a completed and parent/guardian signed registration form. Parents/guardians will receive notification of their child’s acceptance into the jazz academy via e-mail or phone call.
To inquire about how your child might join the Cincinnati Jazz Academy, or for more information, please contact Artistic Director Ralph DiSylvestro at ralphdisylvestro@kennedyarts.org.
More information can be found at cincinnatijazzacademy.org.
The Cincinnati Jazz Academy is a partnership between Kennedy Heights Arts Center and Cincinnati Public Schools with support from Activities Beyond the Classroom, Manuel D. and Rhoda Mayerson Foundation Artistic Excellence Fund, Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund of the Greenacres Foundation, Albert Harris, and private donors.
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