When Arts Leaders Actually Care About The Arts, Communities Thrive

Key Takeaways from the 2026 Arts Impact Ohio Conference

Looking back at the conference hosted by the Ohio Arts Council, the biggest message I took away was that when arts leaders truly care about the arts, success follows, and communities thrive. This was apparent from the opening presentation to the workshops to the ArtAround activities and finally to the closing keynote.

The conference opened with a presentation from members of BLINK, a biennial celebration of public art and light that spans the urban core of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. The organizers saw a need for more accessible public art in the region, and they went for it – deciding to stop asking for permission and instead leaning in to build an experience for the people of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. They built a festival that brought together local artists, businesses, community members, and organizations around a shared vision of investing in the arts. They also realized that if you treat your collaborators as infrastructure, there will be an impact on the entire creative ecosystem. To paraphrase one presenter, “if your festival doesn’t look like your city, you don’t have a festival.” This is why BLINK is at the cutting edge of creating a festival that helps a city thrive.

There were various workshops offered throughout the 3-day conference, with seminars from arts leaders and arts advocates showing how passionate they are about the arts. Workshops that stood out included:

The Cincinnati Review’s User Centered Design for Arts Organizations, which took practices from the technology sector to evaluate and improve patron experiences with their magazine, website, and events.

The Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s Multiverse of Metrics, which showed how interdepartmental collaboration is key to audience engagement and organizational growth.

Designing Arts Programs for Connection – a co-presentation between LOOP Youngstown, Lit Youngstown, and Art on Park – which showed how even small arts organizations in cash-strapped cities can deliver high-quality arts experiences that foster strong connections and broaden community impact.

One unique aspect of the Arts Impact Ohio Conference was the opportunity to explore the host city’s arts scene. The ArtAround options for the 2026 conference did not disappoint, but sadly, I could choose only one. I decided on Places, Please! to look at two different theaters in downtown Cincinnati. The first stop was at the Aronoff Center for the Arts, a not-for-profit organization that oversees the programming and management of two performing arts venues and an art gallery, and offers community outreach programs. The Aronoff is a fantastic example of how, when an organization’s CEO sees performing arts groups as partners rather than dollar signs, everyone involved will achieve massive success. They also made the investment to use their space in multifaceted ways by showcasing visual arts and offering wellness programs. The next stop was the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, a resident ensemble theatre company that brings Shakespeare and the Classics to life. Fondly referred to as Cincy Shakes, their organization made the decision to invest in planning ahead (both with time and finances) to help them not only survive during the post-pandemic years but thrive. Both organizations realized that they can provide the community with spaces for performing arts groups and artists, connecting everyone to a variety of arts.

The closing keynote address was one of the most inspiring parts of the whole conference. The executive director from the Fitton Center for the Creative Arts, a non-profit community arts organization that serves the City of Hamilton and Butler County, presented on the transformative effects investing in the arts can have on a community. The City of Hamilton needed revitalization and decided to earmark funds for the arts to achieve it. City leaders turned to the local arts center to plan and lead these efforts, not only by providing financial support but also by allowing the Fitton Center to be creative in this strategic plan. As the executive director said, they were given the freedom to “dream big, but start small” by taking their time to plan the various arts investments. The collaborative mentality transformed Hamilton and impacted economic development. A win for both the arts and the community.

From urban cities to rural areas, large organizations to individual artists – at the 2026 Arts Impact Ohio Conference leaders and advocates are finding ways to help the arts thrive throughout the state. It can be easy to become complacent, “doing what you’ve always done,” but arts leaders who stay passionate and think outside of the box are helping their communities thrive.