After 15 years of covering local theater, arts, music and more on 91.7 WVXU, Cincinnati Public Radio’s Around Cincinnati has announced its final show will be broadcast on Sunday, Aug. 23.
Lee Hay has served as the show’s producer and host since the beginning in 2005.
“Over the past two weeks, I’ve talked with contributors to the show and shared their sorrow at the end of Around Cincinnati,” said Hay in the announcement. “I’m honored to work with such talented volunteers who are also my friends as are many of the creative artists and organizations in the area we’ve talked with. So, we hope that our legacy will be enhanced by the programming that replaces us.”
The program’s end is attributed to a shift in the arts community as it faces an “indeterminate intermission” due to the coronavirus pandemic. Hay is also looking to expand her in-depth production roles, as seen in her award-winning series on King Records.
Around Cincinnati will continue its regularly scheduled programming every Sunday at 7 p.m. throughout July. For the first three weeks of August, the show will feature some of Around Cincinnati’s favorite interviews from their archive, going back through the years and highlighting some of the best moments on the program.
“WVXU listeners have learned so much about the local arts scene from Lee Hay and Around Cincinnati’s highly committed volunteer contributors. We are grateful for the time and expertise they devoted to the program,” said Cincinnati Public Radio VP of Content Chris Phelps. “The arts are an integral part of Cincinnati’s vitality, life, economy, and community spirit. We look forward to continuing to tell their stories in new ways, within WVXU programming and across our multiple platforms.”
Details on what will take over the 7 p.m. Sunday slot on 91.7 WVXU are expected to be announced soon.
For more information and updates on plans for the new program, visit wvxu.org.
This article appears in The Summer Guide.
