Cincinnati Music Festival Creates Outdoor Museum – Spectrum News 1

CINCINNATI, Ohio — An art museum in the park probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the Cincinnati Music Festival. But this is how Cincinnati is highlighting the concert this year.

“We wanted to make sure that the art pieces embodied the essence of what the festival means, not just for the city, but just for the culture,” said Gee Horton, the Cincinnati Music Festival Outdoor Museum project lead.

Over a dozen vibrant and colorful art pieces are now displayed across Washington Park — all of which were created by fifteen Black artists from across Ohio.

“It provides such a great opportunity to examine art through the lens of Black and Brown artists, especially in these times of COVID and racial issues we’re having in the nation,” said Andre Dubois, ArtsWave engagement and events coordinator. Hopefully, it provides an opportunity to begin the dialogue and start understanding each other better.”

The theme for this two-week project was community, unity, music, and celebration. It was made possible through the help of sponsors like Procter and Gamble and ArtsWave.

“Not a lot of time to pull it together,” said Horton. “But when you think about it, I think it turned out beautiful considering the time crunch and just the capacity for the artists to stop what they’re doing and make it happen.”

Horton says he hopes this project will extend and reach other Cincinnati neighborhoods.

“A lot of individuals are just staying in their homes, they’re staying within their neighborhoods,” he said. “But how can this work travel? How can this work travel to where they are? And also just help spread the reach of not just the artwork, but what Cincinnati Music Festival means for our city.”

The outdoor museum will run from now until September 7.