After 30 years of championing Cincinnati’s arts community, local nonprofit ArtWorks has changed its name to 1001 Colors as part of a full rebrand.
The news was unveiled at the organization’s 30th anniversary dinner last night, with CEO and Artistic Director Colleen Houston telling the crowd that the organization decided to make the change to avoid confusion with other, similar arts organizations both in Cincinnati and abroad.
“We chose the name 1001 Colors because it gives us a name that is truly our own, distinct, memorable, and positions us to stand out both locally and nationally,” she said. “It’s a powerful expression of who we are today and a forward-looking decision that reflects the scale of our ambition and our belief that creativity opens pathways for every young person, every artist, and every community we serve. 1001 Colors reflects a spectrum of ideas, voices and possibilities of our creative community and our potential.”
The name came about in a surprising way. While doing renovations of the organization’s permanent creative campus, a hand-painted sign reading “1000 & 1 Colors” was uncovered beneath the building’s facade, a remnant from the former Bolce Paint Company dating back to 1909. Inside the building, pastel-painted ceiling beams were discovered, hidden for decades under drop ceilings. The group decided to roll with the new name to pay tribute to the building’s past as well as the organization’s future.
“For 30 years, this organization has shaped Cincinnati in ways both visible and deeply personal,” said Roxanne Qualls, former Cincinnati Mayor and 1001 Colors co-founder. “Without ArtWorks, now 1001 Colors, Cincinnati would be a little less than what it is, in terms of public art, how people feel about their community, and the ability of young people to find pathways into the arts.”
Over those three decades, the organization has produced over 400 murals and more than 14,000 creative projects while employing over 8,000 artists and young people.
That legacy will continue with their 2026 Summer Youth Apprentice Program, beginning today, which will employ over 100 young Cincinnatians ages 14-21 and over a dozen teaching artists to serve as mentors and role models while facilitating large scale community projects—like a mural for Cincinnati Public Radio at their new building in Evanston.
For more info, visit the new website of 1001 Colors by clicking here.
