Hundreds of arts leaders gathered in Cincinnati the week of June 11-14, 2025, for the Americans for the Arts Annual Convention (AFTACON), hosted locally by ArtsWave. The convention brought together cultural leaders, advocates, and organizations from across the country.

Cincinnati has been ranked among the top 20 most arts-active large communities in the United States for four consecutive years by SMU DataArts. The convention followed ArtsWave’s 2025 Campaign, which raised $12.3 million.

“Cincinnati’s distinctive approach to arts funding and community engagement makes it the perfect backdrop for national arts leaders to explore innovative solutions to the challenges facing our sector,” said Alecia Kintner, president and CEO of ArtsWave.

Source: ArtsWave