Kennedy Heights Arts Center

Kennedy Heights Arts Center (KHAC) was founded in 2004 by local residents who organized to save an historic mansion in an urban neighborhood of Cincinnati from demolition and create a community hub for creativity; and 10 years later, partnered with two other nonprofits to transform an adjacent long-vacant grocery store into a $2.4M cultural campus. 

Our mission is to enhance the life of our surrounding neighborhoods through arts and cultural experiences that embrace diversity, foster creativity and build community. Kennedy Heights Arts Center creates social change through the practice of socially-engaged art, employing art as a vehicle for human interaction and connection.

Serving a diverse audience of more than 6,000 youth and adults annually, the community arts center offers art exhibitions, arts education programs for youth and adults, arts and cultural programs in public schools, artist residencies, an afterschool jazz academy, public art projects, and events from music concerts to poetry readings. 100% of our programs are accessible to everyone regardless of income.

Kennedy Heights Arts Center is a member of the OF/BY/FOR ALL Change Network, a cohort of arts, cultural and civic organizations across the globe working to become more inclusive, equitable, and relevant to their communities. 

Originally volunteer run, KHAC hired its first executive director in 2008. The center now has a professional staff of 4.5 FTE, 18 contractors, 150+ volunteers, and engages 6,000+ people annually. Learn more at kennedyarts.org.