That's Entertainment

Local arts institutions boost tourism, culture throughout Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati

THE 2022 ARTS VIBRANCY INDEX RANKED THE Cincinnati metropolitan area as the 12th most arts-vibrant location out of 900+ communities across the United States. The index, compiled annually by the National Center for Arts Research at Southern Methodist University, ranks communities based on the level of supply, demand and government support. Cincinnati is only one of four Midwest cities in the top 20; the ranking is an improvement upon its 2020 finish, where it came in 20th overall.

But what makes Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati so great for performing arts? It’s more than just talent (although that goes a long way). To find the answer, we asked the leaders at some of our region’s top-performing arts institutions for their insights.

Q: How do the arts and your institution help make Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati a tourist destination?

Tyler Gabbard, Director of Theatre, The Carnegie: At The Carnegie, 65% of our visitors are from outside a Northern Kentucky zip code. When people are here, they’re spending money and not just with us. Studies show that culture tourists on average spend an additional $32 in the city per ticket. A family of four might spend $150 on things like parking, dining, hotels and babysitting, the economic impact is inarguable and makes our region an attractive place to be both culturally and economically … Covington truly embraces the arts and the value they bring.

Laurie Risch, Executive Director, Behringer-Crawford Museum: There are multiple experiences and differences between all the venues. (They also allow) our organizations’ missions that enable us to offer our community a wide, wide variety.

At Behringer-Crawford, we have a 12-week summer music concert series and it's focused on Kentucky heritage music. You have jazz, blues, country, folk, and bluegrass, all that makes up our heritage, but it's brought forward with today's musicians. If you enjoy the outdoors, it makes for a very nice evening to be here in the park listening to music.

Scott Altman, President and CEO, Cincinnati Ballet: Cincinnati Ballet is one of the key organizations that makes up the constellation of fine-performing cultural arts institutions in the Greater Cincinnati area. All of the arts organizations are part of the region and its commitment to the classical performing arts. We have a very vibrant arts and culture sector, not to mention the destinations such as the Cincinnati Museum Center (at Union Terminal), the Cincinnati Art Museum, (the) Contemporary Arts Center. The Cincinnati Ballet is certainly one of the premiere ballet companies in the country.

J.R. Cassidy, Music/Executive Director, Kentucky Symphony Orchestra: The Greater Cincinnati region has a stable of fine performing arts organizations and museums. The KSO each year creates programming that is unique to the region and sometimes the nation. Collaborating with national and international artists over three decades has brought people from other states and countries to see groups or films with the orchestra. The KSO’s thematic programming and efforts to make the concert experience attractive, accessible and affordable, have differentiated its offerings from other orchestras in the Tri-state and beyond.

Blake Robison, Producing Artistic Director, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park: I'm not sure if everyone realizes the extent of the national reputation that Greater Cincinnati has out in the world for a city our size. We have a tremendously diverse and high-level art scene, not only in theater, but in music and dance and all the various other cultural groups.

People like to say that Cincinnati punches above its weight class in terms of the arts. That’s a way to say you might expect to see institutions like we have in a city like Chicago, or LA or San Francisco. But for the Midwest, we are far, far ahead of many. I certainly am very aware of people traveling from out of town, coming down from Chicago to see plays and musicals … We give them more to do, we give them reasons to stick around for the entire weekend.

Q: How do our region’s performing arts institutions work together to enhance its culture?

Risch: We're all a piece of the pie, working together to create a vibrant Greater Cincinnati region. At Behringer-Crawford, our mission is to be able to share and tell the story of Northern Kentucky's history and culture and arts.

If someone comes into town and wants to learn about our region, come here. All of our institutions are family-friendly, fun and not static.

Tourism is extremely important to our region, but we also want to satisfying those who live here as well.

Gabbard: There is such a diversity of work happening here and the arts, both on this side of the river and in Cincinnati. There are the big players like the Cincinnati Ballet, the symphonies, the Cincinnati Opera and the Playhouse in the Park, but the arts are happening at all levels for different audiences all year around … There’s so much young talent here that feeds all these arts organizations in the city that it makes for a very vital, vibrant scene.

Robison: I've worked in many cities – New York City, Washington, D.C., etc. This is the first place I've been where the arts community is collaborative and unified and aligned strategically about how to serve the community and how to draw tourists and businesses and young professionals to the area on a regular basis.

In other cities, a theater like ours would feel competitive with the others in town, but that is not the case here. Everyone gets along, everyone communicates, and we work in tandem.

The presence of ArtsWave, which is the largest unified Arts Fund in the country, makes a huge difference. They bring us together on a regular basis and help us message our value to the community. Whether you're a frequent arts goer or someone who goes to something once or twice a year, there's going to be something for you in our region.

Cassidy: Our region’s arts are, for the most part, centered within the I-275 beltway, so many art opportunities are close by with easy access commuting and parking-wise. There is also a range of arts experiences – theater, concerts, museums, cathedrals, and unique architecture – for tourists to enjoy and explore.

Altman: The commitment and core sense of how important the arts and culture are to the people of Northern Kentucky and the Greater Cincinnati region is very heightened and exceptional. For a midsize city like ourselves, we certainly exemplify the arts and culture at a height of integrity and quality and offerings on par with the major cities of the United States and around the world.