As the first grant-funded, local public program series of its kind to focus on contemporary art, Art:21 - A Cincinnati Five-Way is a partnership between the Cincinnati Art Museum, the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, the Art Library at College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning at the University of Cincinnati, the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati and the Contemporary Arts Center. The local program series will take place on select dates January through May and is open to the general public.

Art:21 - A Cincinnati Five-Way will introduce local audiences to five themes featured in the previously broadcast national series, Art:21 - Art in the Twenty-First Century through a screening event at each of the collaborating venues. Themes include consumption and power, spirituality, memory and time, place, and stories. Following each screening event, local educators, scholars and artists will lead discussion forums and presentations, which CETConnect will later broadcast online.

Viewed by audiences around the country, Art:21 - Art in the Twenty-First Century is the only broadcast series for national public television to focus exclusively on contemporary visual art and artists in the United States. A biennial event for television, the series includes four one-hour episodes featuring various artists each season with a focus on five themes inspired by societal trends and issues. The profiled artists represent the breadth of artistic practice across the country and reveal the depth of multicultural talent. The series airs nationwide on PBS and is distributed internationally as well.

Program Series Schedule
Saturday, Jan. 20, 10 a.m. at College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning
at the University of Cincinnati
Challenging Stereotypes – Art as a Social Statement
Screening of "Consumption and Power" featuring the art of Michael Ray Charles. Followed by discussion including Tarrance Corbin, associate professor of fine arts at School of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning at the University of Cincinnati and Angelene Jamison-Hall, professor of African American Studies, University of Cincinnati. Geared towards teens, the program will also include an art activity facilitated by art education graduate students.
Cost: Free.
Reservations: Required. Call (513) 556-1319.

March 19, 6:30 p.m. at the Contemporary Arts Center
Border Crossing in Contemporary Art
Screening of “Spirituality” featuring the art of Shahzia Sikander. Followed by a presentation and discussion by educator Diane Fishbein focused on the mixing of cultural iconography in art.
Cost: Free.
Reservations: (513) 345-8420.

March 28, 7 p.m. at the Cincinnati Art Museum
Arenas: A Conversation with Anthony Luensman
Screening of “Place” followed by a discussion with artist Anthony Luensman focused on the considerations he made before creating the sight-specific exhibition, Arenas. Conversation led by Mark Harris, director of the school of art at the School of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning at the University of Cincinnati
Cost: $10 general public; $5 Art Museum members; college students w/ID are free.
Reservations: Call (721-ARTS).

April 7, 2 p.m. at the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County
Graphic Storytelling
Screening of “Stories” followed by a conversation with graphic novelist David Mack focused on the ways he uses art to tell stories. Conversation led by Steve Ramos, art and film writer.
Cost: Free.
Reservations: Call (513) 369-6955.

May 14, 4 p.m. at the Dayton, Kentucky Branch YMCA of Greater Cincinnati
Exploring Memory and Time Through Traditional African Art
Screening of “Memory and Time” followed by performance and conversation with Bi-Okoto Drum and Dance Theatre focused on the ideas of memory and time in the context of African art and culture.
Cost: Free.
Reservations: Call (859) 291-0490.

Art:21 – A Cincinnati Five-Way is made possible with the support of the Corporation for Public Programming. Art:21 - A Cincinnati Five-Way is a partnership between the Cincinnati Art Museum, the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, the Art Library at College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning at the University of Cincinnati, the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati and the Contemporary Arts Center. For more information, visit www.art21.org.