A Westside resident, Lissa Urriquia Gapultos is on the staff at Cincinnati Opera and the board of Know Theatre of Cincinnati. A strong supporter of the local arts scene, in this week's Soapblogs she shares how Cincinnati's Fringe Festival (going on this week) is a game changer when it comes to how a city can be perceived not just locally, but internationally.
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Making More Than Art
Posted By: Lissa Urriquia Gapultos
6/9/2010
We are fortunate that Cincinnati is blessed with significant corporations, reputable universities, excellent hospitals, and major league sports. Often, the arts are the forgotten step child, despite being an important part of any community. Luckily, local arts organizations are resourceful and creative enough to weather good times or bad; they strive and thrive.
Case in point #1: Know Theatre of Cincinnati. Having a long affiliation with Know Theatre as a former staff member and current board member, I look back at its early days, recalling extremely modest audiences, lack of resources which affected artistic quality, resulting in negative reviews thus shaping a similar image of the theatre. As the years went on, mistakes made, lessons learned, Know Theatre slowly garnered a cult-like following and a specific production in 2003 finally put them on Cincinnati's radar. Now after 13 years, this company produces five full productions, an education program that tours throughout the U.S. and the annual Cincinnati Fringe Festival.
Case in point #2: Cincinnati Opera, where I am currently employed. With humble beginnings at the Cincinnati Zoo, it is now celebrating its 90th anniversary, making it the second oldest opera company in the U.S. This company works diligently in diminishing opera stereotypes and creating accessibility for new audiences. Free programs and educational opportunities for novice or inexperienced opera-goers have resulted in a significant increase in audience members 45 years of age and younger. Presenting contemporary works has also helped Cincinnati Opera in evolving its image.
These two very different organizations both bring out-of-town artists to Cincinnati. Conversations I've had with artists, whether they're on the Fringe circuit or of the international opera world, indicate they really like Cincinnati. They find our city beautiful. Our welcoming ways, the feel of community and inclusion - this truly makes a difference. I'd like to think that when they leave here, they go home or to another city, sharing their positive Cincinnati experience with others. If only all Cincinnatians had the ability to see the good of this city. But for now, we'll allow the local arts organizations and visiting artists to lead the way in presenting a personable and hospitable image of Cincinnati.