OK, we've all gotten the memo -  these are dire economic times, and 2009 was a resoundingly challenging year. It feels like every week I hear from a friend or colleague, here or from afar, who has been laid off (or is worried about being laid off), and all of us, especially those of us in the nonprofit sector, are holding our breath to some extent. And yet, I find myself feeling surprisingly hopeful. Have I lost my mind? Perhaps. But as I look back on 2009, CCAC’s first full year of operations, I'm both hopeful and grateful. Grateful for the incredibly generous support of the community, grateful for our fantastic partner organizations, and profoundly grateful for the almost 10,000 folks from around the region who came to CCAC to appreciate an exhibit, take a class, or enjoy an event.

And in 2010, we have some amazing things ahead. In February and March, we'll host Positively Ninety, an exhibit about active nonagenarians that promises to inspire, and a sculptural installation we can't wait to reveal by Peter Haberkorn and Matt Kotlarczyk. And here's a special surprise for anyone who has read this far - on March 8th at 10 a.m., we will officially break ground on our first phase of renovations to add an elevator and fire protection system to make our building fully accessible, and allow us to use the gorgeous auditorium on the top floor for the first time. Please stop by to celebrate with us!

In April, we’ll be hosting a show called Short Straw, curated by our Public Ally, Erin Deters, about what it means to be a young person in this economy. And to combine with fresh voices and insights, we are thrilled to be hosting the Crafty Supermarket on April 17th - if you missed Cincinnati’s only indie craft fair when it debuted at the Northside Tavern in November, you won’t want to miss this! They'll be expanding at CCAC with some of our region's top talent (plus great food and music).

In May we’ll say farewell to our amazing outdoor sculptures, and welcome an installation of painted river rock by artist Nigel Chalkley, and then in late May and early June, we’ll host the thesis show from the Master of Fine Arts program from UC's School of Art, DAAP, featuring 15 different artists taking over spaces throughout the building with site-specific installations of their work. And in June and July, you can join us every Wednesday at 7 p.m. for our second year of Wednesdays on the Green, featuring free performances every week. Bring a blanket and spend your summer Wednesdays with us - some of my favorite memories of 2009 are of our front lawn filled with almost 300 people, dancing, laughing, picnicking, singing and enjoying one another.

In the fall, we'll inaugurate the fantastic auditorium on the top floor of the school, and welcome back the community for the first time. This will truly be the realization of a dream that volunteers and community members have worked tirelessly for more than six years to bring to life. And despite the economic crisis, despite naysayers, despite twists and bumps along the way, we can finally say it is really, really happening. How could we possibly not be over-the-moon grateful and excited about that? Stay tuned for some exciting announcements about what will be happening in the auditorium beginning this fall, as we continue to answer the eternal question of what's next with enthusiasm, hope, and gratitude. And if you have ideas about what you’d like to be next, drop me an email - as anyone around CCAC can tell you, I’m a total sucker for big, ambitious dreams.

You may have noticed that there is a movement afoot around the Queen City. Neighborhood and regional arts centers are springing up, from Kennedy Heights to Madisonville, and from Mariemont to Evanston. Across the city, and around the region, communities are pulling together to create arts centers to serve and invigorate the surrounding communities, and to bring art and arts experiences to folks in accessible, meaningful ways. CCAC is proud to be anchored in the Uptown communities and to be a part of this exciting trend.

And I think this trend is really exciting for Cincinnati, especially as the city seeks to position itself as an innovative leader that will attract and retain talent and be a great place to live, work and play. But I do get asked by a lot of folks, what’s up with all the neighborhood and regional arts centers? So I think it’s worth articulating the top three things that these centers do for Cincinnati and our region.

First, they are unique. As Cincinnati aims to set itself apart from other cities, it's interesting to note that Seattle neighborhoods aren't developing parallel centers. Many cities would count themselves lucky to be home to just one or two centers -  our area is lucky to have many more. And each center creates a nexus of energy, community connection, and economic development for the community where it is located, which supports everyone’s goal of keeping Cincinnati's treasured neighborhoods vibrant.

Second, arts centers strengthen established arts institutions in our city, by building audiences for arts experiences, and providing venues and vehicles for folks to connect with arts and arts institutions in new ways. At CCAC, we've been proud to host programming by the Cincinnati Art Museum, the Art Academy, Playhouse in the Park, CCM, and Cincinnati Shakespeare, as well as a whole range of individual artists. We all win when there are new, accessible ways for the community to connect with the great art and great organizations.

Finally, arts centers meet important needs in our community. While it's true that we have a rich heritage of established arts organizations, we actually are behind the curve in organizations like arts centers. In the Cultural Vitality in Communities study conducted by The Urban Institute and published in November 2006, Cincinnati ranked near the bottom, at 46th of 50 metropolitan areas studied in the category of arts establishments. This indicator measures the impact of establishments or venues that foster a wide range of cultural participation - active/passive, amateur/professional, and formal/informal. Neighborhood and regional arts centers will serve as exactly this type of arts establishment, fostering broad participation in the arts, building audiences for other arts organizations, and helping to fill the gap in arts establishments where Cincinnati ranked so poorly.

And while it's true that we have an amazing diversity of great arts organizations, we're also behind the curve in connecting kids to arts opportunities. In the report, Youth Speak: How Young People in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky View Life in their Community, the local Asset Builders Alliance revealed the results of a November, 2007 survey of 6,300 seventh and eleventh graders in our region. Dramatically, only 18% of youth report participating in "Creative Activities," less than half the amount that reported participation in any other asset, while nearly half (46%) report two hours every school day alone at home. This demonstrates the striking need for constructive creative opportunities that are accessible to a wide range of kids, which is precisely the type of opportunities that neighborhood and regional arts centers excel in providing.

As a relative newcomer to the region, I think Cincinnati is so lucky to have this movement of new neighborhood and regional arts centers gaining momentum here. And I think this movement will be a critical part of establishing Cincinnati as a place folks are excited to live, work, and even (yes!) relocate.

Almost two years ago, I moved from Seattle to Cincinnati.

As I've met folks in my new home, my favorite reaction to my choice to move here has been a jaw-dropped, top-of-the-voice "Whhhhyyyyyyy???" Though I won't tell you who put it exactly that way, and though everyone I've met isn't as expressive, I’ve gotten a lot of raised eyebrows and puzzled looks. Everyone seems to ask why I would possibly choose Cincinnati over Seattle.

The reasons any of us choose a community are a complicated calculus of family, friends, work and other intangibles. Granted I have spent most of my professional career in cities (DC and Seattle) that have more transplants than locals, but I think this reaction says a lot about our city. I think Cincinnati under-appreciates the many fantastic things that are here.

Why wouldn't someone choose to call Cincinnati home? We have a world-class arts community, with an incredibly rich heritage of established arts institutions, and new energy. I’m proud to be part of a growing movement of neighborhood arts centers that are enlivening neighborhoods, and bringing this energy to every part of the city. We have amazing architecture, intriguing neighborhoods, and the quirky elements that make any city interesting and worth exploring. And need I add that the cost of a house here wouldn’t get you a closet in Seattle or DC?

Cincinnati has so many things worth exploring - from the vibrant theater community, to our many working artists, to a new wave of green building. There are independent record stores - plural! - and fantastic bakeries. I’ve even found great coffee (and coming from Seattle, that’s saying a lot - hooray for Jan at Cluxton Alley Rosters!) We've got thriving farmers markets, and I can get a mean BBQ tempeh sandwich at Melt - who says Seattle has the corner on cool? And having 52 distinct neighborhoods means all of us can find a spot that feels like home.

Perhaps I'm a total idealist (I do work for a nonprofit, after all), but I'd love to see Cincinnati become a place where when someone moves here, no one asks "why?!" I'd love to see Cincinnati become a place where instead of why, folks think "why not?"