The arts are fundamental to our humanity. They not only help create a culture of community and unify people, the arts strengthen the economy, help to improve individual well-being, and drive tourism. [Read more about reasons to support the arts here.]
Cincinnati is home to the fifth oldest symphony in the US. It is one of a handful of cities in the United States that is home to the symphony, ballet, opera, theatre, and fine art museums. The Queen City hosts the nation’s largest immersive art festival. It was even recently recognized as a top city for street art in the United States. We are fortunate to have places like ArtWorks, ArtsWave, and AGAR (among many others) that help fund and ensure we have excellent (and accessible!) arts programming throughout the year in our great city.
“…through funding, services and advocacy … [we] create thousands of concerts, shows, exhibitions, arts education programming, public art, events like BLINK® and others, fueling a more vibrant regional economy and connected community for everyone.” [ArtsWave]
Supporting the arts isn’t always easy and there is often cost involved. But don’t let an expense that may not be in your budget get in the way of experiencing the vast array of arts that our city has to offer. There are very many arts-related places and events that provide FREE experiences for the community at large.
Many of our incredible arts have robust, year-round event schedules. Below you will see several options to experience local artforms at little to no cost of admission:
ArtWorks
FREE self-guided ArtWorks Mural Tour
ArtWorks leads public mural tours from June through November. You can also download the Mural and Installation Map to lead your very own self-guided tour.
BLINK
Admission is completely FREE to attend and experience
The nation’s largest light projection and mapping festival is a vast display of visual arts and civic pride—an art- and light-filled community celebration spanning 30+ city blocks from Findlay Market to Covington.
October 17–20, 2024
CHPL Discovery Pass
FREE (with a library card) to visit participating organizations
With your library card you can visit arts, cultural, and recreational attractions in Hamilton County. Participating organizations including the Cincinnati Observatory, Taft Museum of Art, Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park and Museum, Harriet Beecher Stowe House, Cincinnati Museum Center, Cincinnati Art Museum, and the American Sign Museum.
Cincinnati Art Museum
FREE general admission and parking
Founded in 1881, CAM was the first purpose-built art museum west of the Alleghenies, and is one of the oldest in the United States. It has one of the most comprehensive collections in the midwest. Exhibition ticket pricing varies. (Save $2 when you buy online.)
953 Eden Park Drive | Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Tuesday and Wednesday, 11a–5p | Thursday 11a–8p | Friday–Sunday, 11a–5p | Closed Monday
Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame
FREE admission
Interactive stroll through Cincinnati’s rich history of Black musicians and their contributions to the music industry.
190 W Mehring Way | Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Cincinnati Opera
FREE series and offsite events
The Opera occasionally hosts events offsite that are FREE to attend. Click here to view their calendar.
Cincinnati Print & Type Museum
Free admission (by appointment only)
Preserves the history of printing while making people aware of career opportunities in print media; to advance the printing industry by promoting new technologies, and break the cycle of addiction by providing training, jobs, and dignity to the people of Price Hill.
2307 West Eighth Street | Cincinnati, Ohio 45204
Open by appointment Tuesday–Saturday at 10a, 12p, or 1p
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company
FREE Shakespeare in the Park
More than 30 venues throughout Greater Cincinnati showing Shakespeare performances by the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company. Click here for more information and schedule.
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Pops
FREE and discounted performances
While seeing a CSO or Pops performance is not inherently free, the organization does hold several free or discounted performances throughout Greater Cincinnati, including:
• Brady Block Parties
• Free livestreams
• Music For All performances featuring discounted tickets
Contemporary Arts Center
FREE admission
Exhibitions, performances, and experiences, plus the UnMuseum and Creativity Center.
44 E Sixth Street | Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Thursday and Friday, 10a–7p | Saturday and Sunday, 10a–4p | Closed Monday–Wednesday
Kentucky Symphony Orchestra
FREE community performances
KSO Summer Park Series and calendar of FREE community events.
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
5/3 Community Days: FREE admission on the fifth and third Sundays of the month, as well as on MLK Day and Juneteenth
Named one of the best history museums in the US, the Freedom Center shares the stories of the Underground Railroad, Martin Luther King, Jr.’s march from Selma, and the millions of people still enslaved in the world today.
50 E Freedom Way | Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Wednesday–Sunday, 10a–5p | Closed Monday, Tuesday
Taft Museum of Art
Saturday and Sunday FREE admission
A small fine art museum in a landmark building with a garden, cafe, and a collection featuring works by Rembrandt and others.
316 Pike Street | Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Wednesday–Monday, 10a–5p
In addition to what is mentioned above, you can also check out the Weekend Rundown, which is published weekly and features several FREE attractions happening in greater Cincinnati each week. To make it even easier, and to never miss making plans for the coming weekend, you can subscribe to the Weekend Rundown newsletter and it will be delivered directly to your inbox each week. Whenever you visit tourdecincinnati.com you should get a prompt to subscribe.
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