Agenda
Arts Impact Ohio consists of three days of professional development sessions, performances, networking, and more. Click on the buttons below to view a tentative agenda for each conference day (events and times are subject to change).
Learn more in our FAQ.
9:30 a.m.
Registration Opens
Check in, get caffeinated, and choose your ArtAround!
"Share a Spark" Table Open for Item Drop-Off
What inspires you? The best gatherings involve more than just receiving ideas from speakers and workshop leaders – every conference attendee has a lot to share. We're inviting conference attendees to bring something personally or professionally meaningful to give away: a book, a small art piece, a keepsake, or some other inspirational item. Something you've had for years, something you've purchased (modestly priced, please!), or even something you created yourself. Your item should spark inspiration, creativity, or warm memories in a fellow attendee.
10:30 a.m. - Noon
Welcome & Opening Plenary
Welcome Remarks
Donna Collins, Executive Director, Ohio Arts Council
OPENING PLENARY
Welcome to a Future City
What happens when an entire city becomes a platform for art? Since 2017, BLINK has transformed the nighttime streets of downtown Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky into one of the most ambitious public art experiences in the country, showcasing more than 80 artists representing 20 countries. Every two years, the four-day festival spans dozens of city blocks and draws millions of visitors from across the globe. But BLINK is more than visual spectacle. It’s a case study in what’s possible when artists, civic leaders, and communities align around a shared vision. In this opening plenary, the creative minds behind BLINK will share the story of the festival’s origins, evolution, and impact within Cincinnati’s creative ecosystem. They’ll also discuss the importance and value of bringing artists to the civic strategy and planning table, and how similar collaborations are possible in communities of all sizes. Don’t miss this illuminating presentation!
Co-Creator, BLINK; Managing Partner, AGAR
Vice President and Executive Director, BLINK
BLINK Artist
& Couture Fashion Designer
Noon - 1:00 p.m.
Lunch
Grab a plate and find your people. Whether you're catching up with old friends or making new ones, this time is yours!
1:15 - 2:45 p.m.
Peer Sessions
Join your colleagues for an open conversation focused on the opportunities you’re pursuing and the challenges you’re navigating. Sessions will be lightly facilitated by OAC staff, with plenty of room to connect as the conference kicks off. Come talk shop and connect with the folks who get it.
Artistic Leaders & Artists: Artistic directors and other leaders focused on the creative identity or curatorial voice of an arts organization, as well as individual artists working in the field.
Marketing/Communications & Community Engagement Leaders: Public relations and marketing/communications leaders, plus community engagement directors and others focused on relationship-building, collaboration, or outreach.
Education Leaders: Teaching artists, education directors, school or program administrators, and other leaders whose primary work or mission centers on arts education and learning.
Mid-Sized/Large Organization Administrators & Development Staff: Executive directors, development directors, and other administrative leaders from mid-size and large arts and cultural organizations.
Small Organization Administrators: Executive directors and other administrative leaders of smaller arts and cultural organizations.
3:15 - 4:15 p.m.
Concurrent Workshops: Session 1
1A. WYSO Youth Radio: Elevating Young Voices Through Sound and Story
Presenter(s): Will Davis
1B. Making the Journey Fun: User-Centered Design for Arts Organizations
Presenter(s): Lisa Ampleman and Bess Winter
1C. The Art of Money Management: A Practical Presentation for Arts Administrators
Presenter: Christina Perry-Dancy
1D. Developing a Public Art Collection Plan for Your Community
Presenter: Lindsay Jones
1E. Mission > Machine: Ethical AI for Arts Organizations
Presenter(s): Jeni Barton and Sam Landenwitsch
5:00 - 9:30 p.m.
Evening Reception & Keynote at the Cincinnati Art Museum
953 Eden Park Dr, Cincinnati (transportation provided)
Cap off the first full day of learning with a special evening at the Cincinnati Art Museum. Wander through the museum’s diverse collection of more than 73,000 works spanning 6,000 years, while enjoying live music by The Blue Lute Duo and mingling over heavy hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar. At 7:30 p.m., keynote presenter David Zinn takes the stage, followed by a dessert reception before shuttling back to the hotel.
EVENING KEYNOTE
Drawing Outside the Lines
Artist David Zinn has spent the past 20 years covering the city of Ann Arbor and far corners of the globe with more than a thousand creatures that have all washed away in the rain. Through visual examples and childhood stories, he will explain how his fear of blank canvases and a habit of doodling led to his career as the most widely shared sidewalk chalk artist on the internet. This examination will also address the value of anti-spectacle, the surprising advantages of self-destructing art, and how the difference between obstacles and opportunities is often a matter of perspective.
