The Clifton Cultural Arts Center (CCAC) is a Cincinnati community arts center for all ages, artistic abilities, cultures, and socioeconomic statuses. Since 2008, this vital center has been an aspiring regional destination for classes, concerts, events, and arts exhibits fueled by a shared passion and singular belief that the collective experience of creative and artistic expression brings together diverse communities.
Since its inception, CCAC has served over 40,000 people, directed 300 arts and cultural classes, provided 80 scholarships, and hosted 10-12 art exhibitions. CACC is embarking on a new chapter: the organization is moving to a new location near the intersection of Ludlow and Clifton avenues in Clifton. When it’s completed in 2023, it will be the first purpose-built community arts center in the city of Cincinnati--- right in the heart of Clifton---featuring 18,000 square feet of classroom, gallery and performance space. Learn more through CACC’s Spring 2022 project update as the organization hosts a groundbreaking this week for its new permanent home.
CCAC has big plans for Uptown this summer. They recently announced the Uptown Arts Alive summer programming schedule, a new program that runs six days a week starting June 1st to August 16th and includes 66 free concerts and performances across six locations across Uptown.
“The Uptown Arts Alive summer program is a fantastic way to experience different neighborhoods of Uptown all through the summer,” said Uptown Consortium, Inc. (UCI) Director of Community Development, Brooke Rapp. “This is a great opportunity for visitors and residents to get outside and connect again to one another.”
According to Rapp, Uptown Arts Alive includes the popular programming, Wednesdays in the Woods, now in its 14th year that includes musical performances at the bandstand at Burnet Woods.
UCI spoke with Leslie Mooney, Executive Director of CCAC to learn more about Uptown Arts Alive summer programming so you can join in the fun.
What is Uptown Arts Alive?
Uptown Arts Alive is a series of creative placemaking activities – 66 unique events total – happening in each of the 5 neighborhoods of Uptown from June through August. CCAC will host bands, musicians, actors and performing arts groups six days of the week (Tuesday – Sunday) at outdoor venues including Hirsch Recreation Center, Inwood Park, Short Vine Square, Clifton Plaza, U-Square and Burnet Woods. All performances are free and open to the public and will cover a wide variety of genres like jazz, salsa, puppet performances, piano, dance, live DJ’s, etc. to enliven our neighborhoods and bring people together through art!
How did you come up with this idea?
Coming out of the pandemic, CCAC recognized the importance of a) providing opportunities for people to connect again to one another through the power of arts and cultural events, b) sponsoring paid “gigs” for performing artists and musicians that had been without the ability to perform for live crowds for an extended period due to venue closures and safety measures, and c) enlivening our neighborhood business districts and public spaces by bringing in foot traffic and crowds to patronize small businesses and dine at our great restaurants. Funding from the City of Cincinnati/ArtsWave and the Greater Cincinnati Foundation has helped us make this huge undertaking a reality.
Are Wednesdays in the Woods still happening, or is this part of the new programming?
Yes! Wednesdays in the Woods – now in its 14th year – will continue with 11 free performances of everything from bluegrass to jazz to big band and Americana – at the Burnet Woods bandstand. Every Wednesday evening from 7-9 pm, hundreds of folks gather to hear great music, patronize food and beverage trucks, participate in free kids’ artmaking and lawn games and just relax in a fantastic community setting with friends and neighbors!
What are the weekly performances, and where will they take place?
While we are packaging all 6 days together under the umbrella of “Uptown Arts Alive,” each series will have a slightly different flavor and feel – making it perfect for someone to experience a little bit of everything throughout the week. The week will kick off on Tuesdays with Rhythm on the Plaza on Ludlow Avenue featuring Latin and Caribbean bands from 7-9 pm; Wednesdays will be our long-running, family-friendly Wednesdays in the Woods performances at the historic Burnet Woods bandstand; Thursdays are a Happy Hour at U-Square, featuring some of Cincinnati’s most electrifying DJ’s with food and drink offerings by Keystone Bar & Grill from 4-6 pm; Fridays will bring jazz, stride and ragtime pianists to Live at Lunch! on Short Vine Square in Corryville, as well as other “busking” musicians along Short Vine Street from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm; Saturday mornings we will have jazz musicians at Inwood Park with a Jazz Brunch from 10 am – 12 pm at the newly renovated PNC Grow Up Great playground and picnic area; and, Sunday Showtime will be held every Sunday evening from 7-8:30 pm at the Hirsch Recreation Center playground/walking path in Avondale.
What are you hoping the program will provide to the residents and community at large?
Our hope is not just to brighten up our neighborhoods and provide no-cost entertainment options, although those are great outcomes too. We hope people will venture out to performances in neighborhoods besides their own and interact with people they wouldn’t otherwise interact with. Because, at the end of the day, our goal is always to bring people together through the shared experience of art.
Where can people get more information?
For more information about Uptown Arts Alive and full line-ups of the six different series, or to learn more about CCAC, visit our website here or call (513) 497-2860.
In early May of 2022, CCAC’s brand and website received a fresh look designed to be welcoming & vibrant. Follow along CCAC’s Facebook page for year-round creative programming ranging from creative writing, wellness, music & dances, cultures & languages and more.