Margarita Madness At The Purple People Bridge : May 17th

Cincinnati Ranks First for Street Art in 10Best Readers' Choice Poll

Cincinnati arts organization ArtWorks is a driving force behind the city's street art, responsible for over 300 outdoor murals.

Mar 4, 2024 at 3:16 pm

Cincinnati Toy Heritage mural Photo: Savana Willhoite

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Cincinnati’s public art is getting some national love after the city was voted the best in the country for street art.

Cincinnati took home the No. 1 spot in USA Today’s 10Best Cities for Street Art 2024 reader poll. Over four weeks, the public was able to vote on their favorite street art from a list of 20 cities that was curated by a panel of experts, including USA Today editors, 10Best.com editors and influential contributors. This was Cincinnati’s fourth consecutive appearance in the category and the first time it's placed No. 1.

Cincinnati arts organization ArtWorks is a driving force behind the city’s street art, responsible for more than 300 outdoor murals. The organization says since its inception in 1996, it has championed community-based public art and offered the city as a canvas for artists of all ages to showcase their talents.

"Being the No. 1 city for street art is a testament to ArtWorks’ longstanding commitment to prioritizing community-based partnerships, listening to community voices, hiring local artists, celebrating heritage and elevating civic pride,” Colleen Houston, Artworks’ CEO and artistic director, said in a news release. “Our process is just as important as these gorgeous works of art, which have forever changed our city. This award celebrates all who have been involved, from youth artists, professional artists, building owners, community councils, nonprofit partners and the City of Cincinnati. Together with you, we celebrate the vibrant cultural landscape that defines our city and look forward to continuing to co-create a brighter future.”

'Love Wins,' ArtWorks' Newest Downtown Mural, Celebrates 50 Years of Cincinnati Pride: A number of P&G associates and members of the Pride community helped paint the ArtWorks mural.

In September, Houston attended the first National Street Art Summit in Detroit. The summit brought together arts leaders from the 2023 10Best top 10 cities for street art to discuss the rising mural movement, city initiatives to encourage mural art, mutual learning opportunities and ideas for supporting artists. Plans for the second-annual summit are currently underway.

Despite the accolades, Artworks says it’s not slowing down, with dozens of projects coming this spring and summer.

“As Cincinnati basks in the spotlight of this well-deserved accolade, the city's streets continue to evolve into a living, breathing gallery, captivating locals and visitors alike,” the organization said in the release.

ArtWorks is also staying busy helping organize BLINK 2024, a four-day arts and lights festival, which will return Thursday-Sunday, Oct. 17-20. A culmination celebrating the city’s street art, BLINK will span 30 city blocks through Over-the-Rhine, downtown Cincinnati and Covington. Attendees can once again expect art to be brought to life through projection mapping, light-based installations and vibrant murals. You can learn more about BLINK here.

The top 10 cities for best street art, according to 10Best voters are:

Cincinnati, Ohio
Richmond, Virginia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Detroit, Michigan
Portland, Oregon
Miami, Florida
Nashville, Tennessee
Washington, D.C.
New York City, New York

More info on ArtWorks: artworkscincinnati.org.

Slideshow

25 Cute Date Ideas in Greater Cincinnati You Can Do for $30

Have a Picnic at Washington Park Before Exploring the Brewing Heritage TrailFreeWashington Park, with its large greenspace and view of the beautiful Music Hall, offers a great setting to relax and enjoy some pre-packed snacks with your date. And when the weather is nice, the park’s bar, The Porch, opens for business so you can enjoy an after-lunch drink from their variety of beer, wine, seltzer and liquor. And if you want to explore more, hop on the streetcar and head toward Findlay Market where you can start your journey on the city’s Brewing Heritage Trail, which celebrates the city's storied past as a beer-producing capital with a series of guided tours and a free walking trail. The trail stretches about three-fourths of a mile between Findlay Market and Grant Park. You can start at either end; just follow embedded medallions in the sidewalk to discover historic buildings, brewing sites, public art and more. Washington Park: 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine; Brewing Heritage Trail: 1801 Race St. to 73 E. McMillan Ave., Over-the-Rhine.

Take a Romantic Walk at Smale Riverfront Park and Ride Carol Ann’s Carousel$2 per personNestled between Great American Ball Park and Paul Brown Stadium, Smale Riverfront Park is dotted with fountains, gardens, an event lawn, a labyrinth, a playground and Carol Ann’s glass-enclosed, year-round carousel. Open select days and hours depending on the season, it features 44 whimsical, Cincinnati-centric creatures for you to ride. If spinning around in circles works up your appetite, Condado Tacos at The Banks nearby has affordable tacos and margaritas. 8 E. Mehring Way, Downtown.

$Spend a Romantic Night Under the Stars at the Cincinnati Observatory$5-$15Founded in 1842, the Cincinnati Observatory houses the oldest fully operational telescope in the nation. On many Friday nights — and some Saturday nights — it hosts public viewings where anyone and everyone (who RSVPs) is welcome to come explore the cosmos with a local astronomer. Listen to a presentation and then partake in a guided stargaze with your sweetie through “a 16-foot long wood and brass refractor first used in 1845.” Weather permitting, you’ll see the moon, planets and stars. If it’s cloudy, you’ll get a tour of the cool historical building. And on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, you can also take part in a daytime history tour, which includes the observatory’s two buildings and two main telescopes, as well as a stop at their out-of-this-world gift shop.3489 Observatory Place, Mount Lookout.$

Try Your Hand at Duckpin Bowling or Pinball at Pins Mechanical Co.$6 a gameThis multi-level OTR entertainment bar features duckpin bowling, vintage pinball machines, ping pong, foosball and a rooftop patio with bocce ball and firepits. Duckpin bowling uses smaller bowling balls (without holes), smaller pins and smaller lanes than traditional bowling alleys. Games are first-come, first-serve and are only $6 per person per game; no special shoes required. If there’s a line for a lane, happy hour runs until 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and features $2 off signature cocktails, drafts and wine, so grab a drink while you wait for your name to be called. Giant Jenga is free, pinball games are $1 each and foosball only costs 50 cents a game. 1124 Main St., Over-the-Rhine.

Do a Scavenger Hunt of All of Downtown and Over-the-Rhine’s MuralsFreeDowntown Cincinnati and Over-the-Rhine are covered in free artwork, and the adventurous can go on a journey to find all of it. Download a PDF of downtown and Over-the-Rhine murals at artworkscincinnati.org. 20 E. Central Parkway, Downtown.

Breakfast at Bowtie Cafe Followed by a Visit to the Cincinnati Art MuseumBowtie Cafe: Price varies; Cincinnati Art Museum: FreeBowtie Cafe in Mt. Adams offers affordable and delicious breakfast options, from the bagel (plain, blueberry or everything) with cream cheese or peanut butter for just $3.50 to the quinoa bowl, served with your choice of sausage or bacon, for $8.50. Their coffee and tea menu also has drinks, all of which are $5 or less. Following breakfast, if the weather is nice, you can take a walk up the hill – or take the Art Climb – to the Cincinnati Art Museum in Eden Park where you can view the museum’s “diverse, encyclopedic art collection” of more than 67,000 works spanning the ancient world to modern times – all for free. Bowtie Cafe, 1101 St. Gregory St., Mt. Adams; Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Walnut Hills.

Take a Walk on the Wild Side at the Krohn Conservatory$10 per personLocated in historic Eden Park, the Krohn Conservatory is an aluminum-and-glass Art Deco destination (in the shape of an upside-down heart) filled with more than 3,500 plant species from around the world. Permanent displays include a rare orchid house, a steamy tropical room, a succulent-filled desert space and a fun walk-through rainforest rock waterfall. 1501 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams.

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About The Author

Katherine Barrier

Katherine Barrier is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s journalism program and has nearly 10 years of experience reporting local and national news as a digital journalist. At CityBeat, she oversees the digital and social media strategies, edits web and print content and writes for the dining and arts...