ArtsWave recently awarded a total of $45,000 to five LISC Place Matters neighborhoods—Avondale, Covington, Madisonville, Price Hill and Walnut Hills. Each neighborhood received $9,000 in grant money, which will help bring ArtsWave-supported arts activities and organizations to each neighborhood. For the next five weeks, Soapbox will feature the five neighborhoods and their plans for the grant money.
The Avondale Comprehensive Development Corporation is planning to use the ArtsWave grant money to address reducing violence in the community, cultural development and healthy eating through the arts. The grant money will also support the marketing efforts for the various events.
ACDC plans to host several art-related activities throughout the rest of 2014 and into 2015, including the
Kin Killin’ Kin art series, which is a series of 13 photographs that feature black-on-black crime created by Cincinnati native James Pate.
“This series brings awareness and education to a real issue in the community”, says Latoya Alexander, senior community engagement specialist at ACDC.
Other events include the
Cincinnati Black Theatre Company’s “Namibia Cultural Awareness;”
E Sin Mi d’Afrika, presented by
Bi-Okoto, which features African culture, language, geography and history through authentic songs and folk stories, as well as drumming and dances; traveling storytellers; workshop and acting classes through
Playhouse in the Park; and
Bach and the Boombox, which links classical and popular music.
The only finalized event is Bach in the Boombox, which will perform at the last Increase the Peace Gospel Series from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 14 at Lincoln Park. The faith-based event gives residents, community supporters and local churches a chance to rejoice, pray and connect with one another.
“We wanted to weave the arts and community awareness together, so many of the performances will be happening in conjunction with a larger event,” Alexander says.
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