Artist Run: The Continuing Legacy of Cincinnati’s Artist-Run Spaces

Cincinnati has long been an incubator for experimental, outsider, and DIY arts activities. Some would argue that it’s because Ohio is a flyover state—or perhaps it’s due to a lack of robust institutional support for local artists, or simply because of a lack of a strong collector and commercial gallery system—that artists here are more willing to step outside of the conventional white-walled box to create unique art experiences. Whatever the reason, Cincinnati has a history of artist-run spaces in spades.

There is a joy, freedom, and willingness to “make it work” that is found largely in artist-run spaces. Artists identify a void in the offerings of cultural centers in our region and aim to fill it. Often begun with little-to-no experience, budget, or supplies, these spaces become the ultimate learn-as-you-go laboratories, and, being artist-run, the spaces are often more artistic endeavors unto themselves than curatorial models at all.

Artist Run, developed by Britni Bicknaver and Calcagno Cullen, is a photographic archive and audiovisual history tour of underground art spaces in Cincinnati, including a physical bus tour, with a live host and interview clips from artists and curators during October. The bus tour will be a performative art experiment, very much in the spirit of the DIY spaces being recognized with this project.

Each site will include a large-scale historical print of the space installed on the exterior of the building, and signage with a QR code linking to audio interviews. A digital publication will accompany this project. The bus tour will visit a small selection of pivotal, formerly active spaces, with many more recognized on the website. 

Featured Venues: Anytime Dept., C.A.G.E., DiLeia, Images, The Mockbee, Neo Ancestralists, Publico, Semantics, Thundersky, VOLK

Artists: Britni Bicknaver and Calcagno Cullen

Bus Tours:
October 4: 7pm & 9pm
October 5: 7pm & 9pm
October 11: 7pm & 9pm
October 12: 7pm & 9pm

Tours begin at Wave Pool at 7pm and 9pm, with a reception between tours from 8–9pm to discuss the project, share stories, and connect the artist-run community. Receptions are open to the public.