Free Ways to Experience the Arts
2012 Macy's Arts Sampler — Join people from all over the region for the Macy's Arts Sampler. Three Saturdays throughout the annual community campaign, creative things will be happening all over the place -- music, dance, storytelling, theatre, painting, and much more. Come share these experiences with family, friends, and neighbors.
Download the smartphone app for a comprehensive schedule and plan your adventure!
Contemporary Arts Center — FREE admission Monday evenings 5—9 p.m.; 44 a monthly “open house” series where the CAC showcases local talent for public enjoyment FREE in the Kaplan Hall Lobby; FREE school tours.
Taft Museum of Art — FREE admission on Wednesdays; FREE parking with admission; always FREE for children under 18; FREE concerts throughout the year including the Fall Jazz Series, Chamber Music Series and the end of summer Hot Music-Cold Treats.
Local Galleries — FREE invitation to spend hours exploring The Pendleton Art Center and numerous Main Street Galleries during Final Fridays and Second Look Saturdays, 6 p.m. -10 p.m. the last Friday of each month and 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. that Saturday.
Premiere Pianos Second-Sunday Concert Series — features FREE performances by local and regional pianists at 3 p.m. on the second Sunday of every month in their West Chester Showroom.
Kennedy Heights Arts Center — FREE admission to exhibitions, receptions and community festivals.
Cincinnati Art Museum — general admission and special exhibitions are FREE everyday; FREE gallery talks, various tours for individuals and families; FREE admission to Artworld, an interactive discovery area for families featuring hands-on activities 11 a.m. to 5 p.m Saturdays and Sundays.
Cincinnati Ballet — FREEa fun and informal occasion to explore behind-the-scenes and share drinks with friends and artists.
May Festival Chorus — FREE open-to-the-public community concerts in various neighborhood venues throughout the year with the May Festival Youth Chorus. FREE choral workshops open to the public throughout the year.
Cincinnati Opera — Cincinnati Opera presents FREE lectures providing overviews and insight into each opera one hour prior to each performance.
Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park — FREE Meet the Artists programs that allow audiences to interact with cast members following selected performances; The Playhouse Perspectives series is a FREE lecture featuring acclaimed theatre artists and experts prior to one performance of each Marx Theatre production (ticket to show not required for Perspectives series).
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra — FREE buffet dinner for all concert patrons before every Thursday-evening concert at Music Hall; FREE pre-concert “Classical Conversations” at concerts Friday - Sunday; FREE admission to community concerts.
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra — Come out and listen the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra perform FREE regional concerts during the summer months; children 12 and under receive FREE admission on the lawn for concerts at Riverbend
ArtWorks — Self-guided tours of public art projects created by ArtWorks, including the Big Pig Gig, Bats Incredible!, Flower Power andMuralWorks—FREE; admission to the ArtWorks Gallery is always FREE.
The Children’s Theatre — FREE admission to the S.T.A.R. Program performance at Corbett Auditorium at Northern Kentucky University.
The Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center — FREE admission to galleries (except opening night).
Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra — FREE admission for one child under 18 with each adult ticket purchase; FREE In Your Community Concerts throughout Greater Cincinnati.
Fitton Center for Creative Arts — All exhibits are FREE and open to the public including exhibition receptions which often provide an opportunity to meet and talk with artists about their work; Music Café is a FREE showcase of local musicians, 7 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of each month.
Kentucky Symphony Orchestra — FREE series of summer concerts at Devou Parkin Covington.
Madcap Productions Puppet Theatre — FREE performances at public libraries throughout the region; FREE performances at various locations such as Coney Island, Harvest Home Fair, Haunted Nights at Parky’s Farm, and The Cincinnati Zoo.
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company — FREE Shakespeare in the Park performances in local parks during the summer and fall.
The Mason Arts Festival — see works by local and regional artists, arts performances, art activities for children and more…all for FREE.
StreetScapes: A Street Painting Festival — See public art come to life for FREE when famous paintings are reproduced as over-sized chalk drawings on Telford Street near Ludlow Avenue in Clifton one weekend in late September; music, roving entertainment, and children's area.