Calendar

Artist in Residence at the Public Library: Micah Mickles

Join us every Wednesday at the downtown public Library from 4-6PM and Saturday at the CAC from 1-3PM for our Artist-in-Residence program where artist Micah Mickles will practice their art alongside the general public, educating and inspiring along the way! The residency is called "What's Worth Keeping." The public library workshop will...

Drawing in the Galleries

For the month of June participants will be focusing on non-conventional drawing materials . These classes are free and are open to participants 16+. These classes run from 5:30pm-7pm every Thursday. During each session attendees will have 10-15 minutes to have a group discussion about their work after a 2...

2026 Truth & Inspiration Showcase

ArtsWave presents the 2026 Truth & Inspiration Showcase, the public culmination of this year's Inspire Artist Grants, bringing together 24 local artists and new creative work in one free, community-centered experience at Contemporary Arts Center. The showcase and exhibition feature work across film, music, poetry, performance, visual art, fashion, installation and...

Artist in Residence at the CAC: Micah Mickles

Join us every Wednesday at the downtown public Library from 4-6PM and Saturday at the CAC from 1-3PM for our Artist-in-Residence program where artist Micah Mickles will practice their art alongside the general public, educating and inspiring along the way! The residency is called "What's Worth Keeping." The public library workshop will...

Market Bleu

Market Bleu is Cincinnati's foremost quarterly night market that showcases elevated handmade products, fine and performance art from across our region and beyond. This event is currently held at the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC), located in downtown Cincinnati, OH Time: 6PM-10PM Location: Contemporary Arts Center 44 E 6th St Cincinnati, OH 45202

Artist in Residence at the Public Library: Micah Mickles

Join us every Wednesday at the downtown public Library from 4-6PM and Saturday at the CAC from 1-3PM for our Artist-in-Residence program where artist Micah Mickles will practice their art alongside the general public, educating and inspiring along the way! The residency is called "What's Worth Keeping." The public library workshop will...

Thursday Art Play: Ice Cream Party!

Join us Thursday mornings for creative playtime at the CAC. This family program uses hands-on art making activities and yoga to excite and educate our youngest visitors. Lets celebrate National Ice Cream Day (a few days late) by creating ice cream sculptures, making some ice cream paintings, playing with our ice...

Young Adult Lab: Needle Felting

Join us every Thursday in the CAC Creativity Center for Young Adult Lab, a free drop-in art making program for young adults! This week, we'll be creating fiber art with felting. Artists and educators will be on hand for assistance! Young Adult Lab is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library...

Drawing in the Galleries

For the month of June participants will be focusing on non-conventional drawing materials. These classes are free and are open to participants 16+. These classes run from 5:30pm-7pm every Thursday. During each session attendees will have 10-15 minutes to have a group discussion about their work after a 2 hour...

Docent Mixer

Curious about being a docent? Join us for an evening with some CAC docents to learn about our docent class starting this fall. Enjoy lite bites and meet fellow art educators. Whether you're ready to volunteer or just exploring the opportunity, we'd love to meet you! Learn more about the docent...

Open Mic Night

Step into a night of creativity with word artists and poets, Jamie Lee Morris and Brandon Issac, as they lead an open mic inspired by our latest exhibitions. Explore our gallery, draw inspiration from the art, craft your own poem during the first hour’s workshop, then take the stage to share...

Closed for Private Event

CAC Closed for Private Event

Day Dream - All White Party ft Larenz Tate

Overview Cincinnati, we're running it back!!! Midwest, get ready! A List Curations presents THE ultimate Day Party Experience during Cincinnati Music Festival weekend — hosted by the legendary Larenz Tate and sponsored by Bevel , The Cochran Firm, Moet Hennessy and Tito's Handmade Vodka. Three levels of good energy, curated vibes, and top-tier...

Artist in Residence at the Public Library: Micah Mickles

Join us every Wednesday at the downtown public Library from 4-6PM and Saturday at the CAC from 1-3PM for our Artist-in-Residence program where artist Micah Mickles will practice their art alongside the general public, educating and inspiring along the way! The residency is called "What's Worth Keeping." The public library workshop will...

Thursday Art Play: Little Ghosts with Michael Stillion

Join us Thursday mornings for creative playtime at the CAC. This family program uses hands-on art making activities and yoga to excite and educate our youngest visitors. Artist Michael Stillion will stop to talk about his work and the little ceramic ghosts that are hidden throughout his exhibition. Work with...

Young Adult Lab: DIY Patches

Join us every Thursday in the CAC Creativity Center for Young Adult Lab, a free drop-in art making program for young adults! This week, we'll be using fabric, felt, and embroidery to make our own unique patches. These can be added to jackets, bags, or any other fabric item you want...

Drawing in the Galleries

For the month of June participants will be focusing on non-conventional drawing materials. These classes are free and are open to participants 16+. These classes run from 5:30pm-7pm every Thursday. During each session attendees will have 10-15 minutes to have a group discussion about their work after a 2 hour...

CAC@21c Tour

Two tours, one hour! Join a CAC docent for a half-hour guided tour of the galleries at the neighboring 21c Museum Hotel, followed by a half-hour tour of the Contemporary Arts Center exhibitions. Event takes place on the final Friday of each month. Tours are free and open to the...

Ghost Making Workshop with Michael Stillion

Join CAC and artist Michael Stillion for a hands-on clay workshop inspired by Stillion’s ceramic ghosts. Small renderings of ghosts make up a significant part of Stillion’s work, many of which are hidden throughout the gallery floor of his current exhibition. This special evening with the artist invites participants to...

Artist in Residence at the CAC: Micah Mickles

Join us every Wednesday at the downtown public Library from 4-6PM and Saturday at the CAC from 1-3PM for our Artist-in-Residence program where artist Micah Mickles will practice their art alongside the general public, educating and inspiring along the way! The residency is called "What's Worth Keeping." The public library workshop will...

ProjectArt Presents: The Heart of it All

This exhibition brings together three ProjectArt artists whose work centers on storytelling, lived experience, and connection through a wide range of materials and approaches.

Michael Stillion: And then it was flowers

Michael Stillion’s work explores the human condition through emotionally charged, visually layered compositions. In 'And then it was flowers' Stillion presents recent paintings, works on paper, ceramic sculptures, and an animation, all which depict vessels with human-like features.

Gee Horton: Chapter 4, In Another Lifetime

This narrative-driven exhibition features Gee Horton’s loosely autobiographical account of the struggles of Freeman Little, a 37-year-old Black man living with Guent Bu Wa, a rare hereditary sleep disorder that causes vivid, prophetic dreams.

2026 Truth & Inspiration Showcase

Original artwork of 24 artists commissioned through ArtsWave’s Inspire Artist Grant program.

Sarah Rodriguez: Homespun

Artist Sarah Rodriguez’s work is an archive of tangible memories. Analyzing concepts of kinship and womanhood through discarded objects. Once reclaimed, objects are adorned and preserved, reflecting the intricacies of our lives, suspended between times of joy and sorrow.

SOFTlab: Gravity's Rainbow

This installation, suspended from the ceiling of the CAC’s Dr. Stanley & Mickey Kaplan Hall Lobby, takes something invisible