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Thank you to our
Supporters & Partners
BAS IMPACT REPORT
Black Art Speaks (BAS) was founded with a mission to harness art's power for social justice, cultural expression, and community engagement in Cincinnati. BAS has emerged as a pivotal force in the local art scene, known for impactful projects like the original BLM Mural, a response to the national dialogue on racial justice.
BAS's key projects and initiatives from 2020 to 2024, highlighting our influence on public and private art, youth engagement programs, and contributions to social justice initiatives.
Annual Signature Events
BLM Mural (2020)
Created Cincinnati’s first Black Lives Matter! (BLM) Mural located in front of City Hall. Responsible for the annual refresh of the BLM mural, ensuring its vibrancy and relevance.
Serves as a major attraction to the location for millions of residents and visitors alike
BAS Sneaker Event (2022)
Engage families in annual shoe design workshops. Participants receive a paint kit and sneakers after completing the 2.5-hour workshop. We also honor Cincinnati trailblazers and BAS advocates with specialty-designed shoes by seasoned artists.
Engaged 120 families annually Honored 11 Cincinnati trailblazers
Commissioned Projects
Ziegler Park (Completed 2023)
Selected by Cincinnati Development Corporation (3CDC) to curate Ziegler Park in downtown Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, resulting in the creation of 4 wall murals and 3 interactive ground murals for youth. These initiatives have significantly enhanced inclusivity and community appeal at the park.
Solicited feedback & input from 370 neighbors & businessesOver 1 million visitors have experienced the park
Holloman Center for Social Justice (2023-ongoing)
Selected by the Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio to curate their new facility and establish an ongoing art gallery in their convening hall. Partnered to secure funding for the project and curated artwork focusing on social justice and advocacy, featuring a life-sized sculpture inspired by the likeness of a teenage Dr. King
Since its opening, over 3,000 people have visited the space and experienced the art
Children's Hospital Juneteenth Event (2023)
Commissioned by Hospital to orchestrate a day of engagement with patients, visitors, and staff. The event themed "Expressions of Resilience" featured interactive art pieces, panels, book signings, and expressions of resilience.
Engaged thousands of patients, employees, and community members both in person and virtually
Heritage Museum (2024)
Selected to curate the Heritage Museum's "Freedom Now" event, featuring art displayed throughout June and July.
Over 1,000 visitors have come to enjoy the art displayed
Fifth Third Bank Custom Sneakers (2024)
BAS was selected to design and create company-branded sneakers for 5/3rd’s art fundraiser. The initiative included a "Design Your Own" kit option, which accounted for 10% of total orders.
Delivered over 200 sneakers in three weeks
Youth Programming
Dive Right & Bengals Partnership (2023)
Partnered with Dive-Right and the Bengals to create an "Artistic moment" during their 8-week Flag football program. Students and coaches collaborated to design a logo for jerseys used in the "Super Bowl" event. Current and past Bengal players served as coaches and had students sign their jerseys. Graphic designers assisted in logo creation and introduced students to various artistic skills throughout the sessions.
Over 120 students and 20 coaches participated in the event
Everyday “A” Episode (2023 – ongoing)
Partnered with NFL player Keandre Jones’ company “Everyday “A” Episode to create and execute a six-session mentoring program for all ages and families. Program focuses on self-awareness and development, communication through vision boards, financial literacy, digital literacy, and online workshops.
Served over 120 kids and 20 adults
Cincinnati Public Library Workshops (2024)
Commissioned to conduct six workshops across city libraries. Topics include Art and Illustration, Graffiti Art and Emotions, Dreams, Children’s Book Illustration, and T-shirt Design.
Served approximately 100 children
Cincinnati Recreation Department (2024)
Cincy Rec@Night: Commissioned by the City of Cincinnati’s Recreation Center for the 2024 Summer to deliver 4 workshops. Workshops included graffiti painting for communication, sip and plant sessions teaching students flower planting, and sneaker build training.
Served over 250 children
Citi Camp T-shirt Build (2024)
Facilitated, trained, and sponsored the design and creation of individual t-shirts during the 2024 Citi Camp.
Over 50 youth attended
Books
BLM! Book (2022)
Authored and published "The Making of Cincinnati’s Black Lives Mural," documenting its history, showcasing the design within each letter, and featuring information about each artist involved.
Over 400 copies sold locally and nationally
Children’s Book (2023)
Assisted an artist in designing and publishing the children’s book, "Dreams, Success, and Art."
Over 200 copies sold
Events
Art & Social Justice: An interactive Experience (2023)
Event to help fundraise and kickoff the BLM Letter Projects. The event featured a panel discussion moderated by Yvette Simpson and discussion centered on community violence and bias against Black men, which informs the theme of the first letters installed two years later.
Event reached its maximum capacity with 300 attendees
Avondale Empowerment Day (2023, 2024)
Participated with the Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio and Fifth Third Bank in hosting activities for their annual Avondale Empowerment Day. Activities included designing and painting personalized "A" artworks displayed at the Avondale Development Center, as well as T-shirt and hat painting, and sip and plant sessions.
Annually, serve 1000 +
Everything is Art (2024)
Partnered with Chris Evans, Cincinnati Bengals NFL player, and Black Cherry Visuals to showcase artists from Cincinnati and Indianapolis. The event was held in Indianapolis, IN.
300 Attendees
Other Projects
The Letter Monument Project (2022-ongoing)
This initiative, Empowerment through Art, entails constructing, designing, and installing 17 letters for Cincinnati’s BLM Mural. Each letter reflects a specific theme aimed at fostering positive community outcomes. As of now, two of the 17 letters have been installed, with a third planned for installation in August 2024.
Touched over 800 through programming.Current installations include "R" in Roselawn and "A" in Avondale
Upcoming Projects
Historical Black Lives Matter! Marker (2024)
Created an historical BLM! marker slated for installation in August 2024 in front of City Hall.
Blink: BLM Mural (2024)
In 2024, BAS will collaborate with the City of Cincinnati and BLINK, the renowned light and art festival, to redesign and repaint the BLM! Mural. This partnership aims to rejuvenate the mural, ensuring it remains a vibrant symbol of the ongoing struggle for racial equality and justice. By incorporating innovative techniques and involving local and national artists, the revitalized mural will honor past challenges and inspire future generations.
Blink: Black Neighborhood Project (2024)
BAS has proposed a new project to the BLINK committee aimed at increasing participation from Black communities. The project will spotlight three Black Cincinnati neighborhoods during the upcoming four-day BLINK celebration, showcasing their beautiful residents, rich history, and vibrant art. The goal is to emphasize cultural heritage and provide a platform for Black artists to share their contributions to our collective culture.
Book, "They Want Our Rhythm but Not Our Blues” (2024)
Unmasking the truth behind today’s Black art, focusing on the current state of Black arts and culture in Cincinnati and examining the dollars behind the beauty.
American Manifest (2025)
The American Manifest, a Creative Time project, examines the contradictions of the American narrative through large-scale art installations. Initially exhibited in New York City, it is now scheduled for Cincinnati. BAS has been chosen to hire and oversee the Project Manager, develop a training program, and manage the docents for the exhibit. The project is currently pending.
Fiscal Agent
Member Partnerships
Since its inception, BAS has grown from 17 to over 100 members, consisting of individual artists and small businesses. Services provided include acting as fiscal agents for small businesses and, on rare occasions, assisting with fundraising efforts. Some of our partners include:
A Ruth Creations
ARTE
Asha The Artist
Gee Horton Studios
Michel Coppage LLC
Most Outgrowing
Robert O’Neal Multicultural Art Center (ROMAC) Youth Events
Soul Palette
Black Ballerinas in Italy
Supported five local Black professional dancers to participate in a training and exhibition event in Italy. Played a key role in promoting and partially funding their international trip, enhancing their professional development and providing a global platform to showcase their talent.
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