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    Contemporary Arts Center

    4.4 (122 reviews)
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    Updated 1 month ago

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    Rachael H.

    Have you checked out the new Creativity Center on the 6th floor of the Cincy CAC? It's a fun, interactive play space for kids of all ages (although personally I think better equipped for kids over 2). Selah loved crawling through tunnels, watching the screens and lights, and playing in the bowl of ravioli They also have board books for younger kids and more hands on exhibits for older kids.

    Bright & Colorful
    Marie F.

    Vibe: Culture while in Cincinnati Price: Free!! Parking: unknown, I walked here I'm always up for art of any kind, but especially contemporary. This sparse museum contained several floors but each possessed little. But for what I paid to enter, it was worth every penny. The top floor has a cool space for the kiddos to create and explore. I love how colorful things were there. Bright and cheerful and inviting.

    Cincinnati Art Museum decorated for the holidays.
    Joe B.

    First of all the "Let It Glow" outdoor holiday event which is now free to members and nonmembers is a bit of a disappointment unless you are there when they are open at night. That being said as members we enjoyed the special exhibit of the talented staff of the Cincinnati Art Museum who have artistic gifts we weren't aware of. Many of these people are in positions that are not related to art itself. Let's not forget the free permanent exhibits that are exceptional. Free parking and if you are a member the Ansel Adams exhibit is free. Located in beautiful Eden Park it's a can't miss opportunity.

    Rebecca M.

    Creativity Center review: The brand new Creativity Center is a dream for local parents! With children involvement as the top priority, CAC has designed several interactive art features for a fully immersive experience. The grand elevator opens up to a whimsical wonderland of funky colors, shapes and designs. It is an open invitation to fun! The art is intended to be taken off shelves and manipulated into whatever a child's imagination leads them to. Sights and sounds throughout the CC provide a stimulating sensory experience for children and adults alike. Put a record on the record machine and mix some tunes or lay in a bowl of ravioli... the fun is endless!

    Black authors showcased
    Jessica L.

    What an interesting center, lots of unique pieces that you can tell where created w/lots of emotion behind them. I thought the children center on the top floor was a great addition, we saw kids really enjoying the space - it's good to see that it's being used well! I love how they really spotlight artist of color and provide a safe place for them to express themselves w/out judgement! I would love to come back b/c I know their will be even more mind blowing art to see!

    Jennifer F.

    The concept of this center is pretty cool but unfortunately during our visit only two levels were open. They have free admission to view the art. The top floor was their creativity room and seems to be geared towards kids and they have a little art studio and a little kitchen for them to play in. The only other open floor was the second level and they have a few pieces of art their with a photography concept at the time of our visit. I actually really enjoyed that exhibit. I would have liked to see what other things they had.

    John B.

    This is a majestic downtown building which houses several floors of art exhibits, plus an upscale cafe on the first floor that looked nice. It is free to enter, and I was able to wander unimpeded through the galleries. It was a very avante garde modern set of exhibits, which I wasn't overly intrigued by, but of course these things do rotate. As a space for art, it has plenty to offer. The collection certainly isn't anywhere near what you'd get at the Cincinnati Art Museum, but if you don't want to climb the hill to get there, this is an easy place to get to from the streetcar.

    Do you want to take a trip to another dimension?
    Brad G.

    There are a few places in Cincinnati that are must-visits every time you're in this city. This museum is one of those places. I've been a few times now and I always enjoy myself here. This museum is somehow free. It's in a fancy building in downtown Cincinnati. The top floor is full of things you can touch and play with. Honestly, it's mostly for kids but there is one reason to go up there. Sitting next to the Shark girl is a must. The lower floors are where the bulk of the art is. I'm not sure how often they rotate exhibits but they're always interesting. The collection isn't large like other museums but every piece is always interesting. No room for the lazy here. It's easy to visit downtown Cincy, have brunch, and visit the museums in the area. So stop missing out and visit this place!

    Paul L.

    The CAC was in the midst of changing out exhibitions during my visit so only one floor was open. While that would typically be discouraging, one floor was more than enough to digest the exhibitions featuring the work of Pamela Phatsimo Sunstrum and Saya Woolfalk. Ms. Woolfalk mixed race heritage influences this installation that tackles race and gender employing colorfully-decorated mannequins, video and technology. It's a wonder and often playful scene for the eyes. I found Pamela Phatsimo Sunstrum's exhibition the more penetrating. My favorite is her large-scale wall mural titled 'All my seven faces' that enveloped me with her likeness repeated as a line drawing throughout the high-ceilinged space. It was not unlike standing inside an ancient ruin viewing a Mexican mural mashup. Even when I visit CAC and dislike what I see, I am still provoked and never bored. On this one-floor journey, I was delighted.

    I don't know how they put so much into this one structure. I'm sure you will figure it out!
    Kevin K.

    A city with a free art museum has to be applauded. Cincinnati is such a place. Their CAC is a generous space that qualifies as art itself. It is fully equipped with six themed floors there connected by innovative stairwells and a couple of elevators, one of which is HUGE. Exhibits feature an array of media from fabric arts to cinematic gems. The topics cover the glorious gamut of nature, diverse cultures, edgy environments and interactive features in the top floor that are delightful for the Littles as well as their parents and grands. Go, just GO! For me the time (and my imagination) just flew!

    Sharkgirl!
    Charlynn R.

    Being from Buffalo and having our own Shark girl I had to visit her sister in Cincy! I was pleasantly surprised to find out this museum is free to the public. It has (I think) 4 floors of different kinds of modern art and each floor has its own type of theme. Of course my favorite exhibit was Shark girl which was in the top floor with a ton of other interactive pieces. I highly recommend visiting!

    Cincinnati Swing
    Crystal L.

    A very nice, smallish place that is definitely worth seeing. When we were there, only a few exhibits were available as they were getting ready for a few new exhibits to debut, but I still really enjoyed everything on display. The building itself is gorgeous and has so many interesting design elements. "Cincinnati Swing" - the swinging lights - are beautiful. And like the Broad in LA, this museum is free! Parking is tough though. Lovely little cafe on the ground floor. And a small "shop" area as well.

    Nidia C.

    I can't believe this place is free! At least it was the 1st week of March 2020. This was a week or so before "covid" spiraled out of control. Came to Cincinnati for a conference and saw that Vhils (sculptor/street artist) had an exhibit at CAC; decided to pop in. It's cool because his stuff is usually on the street. There was other art and different video clips throughout that were really interesting as well. It's a small gallery/art center, but powerful. This place makes you think and do a double take. This was my first time in Cincinnati and CAC, and thought this place was awesome!

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    3 months ago

    It used to be free, but now has an adult admission of $12. Kids and SNAP/EBT are still free.

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    The Lucky Cat Museum - Sign outside the main door of Essex Studios

    The Lucky Cat Museum

    (22 reviews)

    $$

    Corryville

    What a charming, quirky and fun place! I was in the…read moreCincinnati area and this popped into my Facebook feed. You need to book an appointment to visit and the owner very graciously fit us in even though they had a fairly packed schedule. The space is in a cool art/studio space where various artisans rent out areas. The museum owner told me about some of the history of the building which was really interesting to hear. I love when old spaces are reimagined. When you get to the building that the museum is in, the cat museum is down the hall and to the right. (there isn't any directional signage when you enter the building). You know you are in the right place when you see the giant blow up lucky cat. The museum itself is a small space, but it is packed, literally wall to wall and floor to ceiling with lucky cat and other cat related items. There are several interactive items (noted with a paw so you know what you can and can't touch). There are items the owners collected, items created by the owners and items created and donated by others. One of my daughter's favorites was the weird al lucky cat and the super tiny lucky cat. We spent a surprisingly long amount of time in there because my daughter wanted to look at and take in as many details as possible. The museum itself is free, but you can make a donation. You can also support the museum and owner by making a purchase in the shop. They have everything from $1 small trinket items to large and expensive stuffed animals and souvenir shirts. If you are looking for something unique and quirky to do, definitely check out this super fun space.

    A bit difficult to sign up for a tour and once you are there it is also a bit hard to find…read more Go to the big glass door entrance located in the corner of the building. Once inside go to the back and to the right... from there on it is easy because then you will see a big ole lucky cat and the entrance is marked. It is a small museum, but houses thousands of lucky cats. Varieties you have never seen before. Big ones, tiny ones, interactive ones, old ones, new ones.... Enjoy

    Contemporary Arts Center - artmuseums - Updated May 2026

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