How a Bold Vision from ArtWorks is Transforming the Walnut Hills Business District
In a once-abandoned corner of the historic Walnut Hills Business District, a new first-of-its-kind mural by world-renowned artist Charles Gaines stands proudly against the backdrop of downtown Cincinnati. At the base of the mural – which highlights indigenous cottonwood trees – is a public greenspace, featuring ample space for seating, colorful landscaping, and a sculpture by another famous artist, Roberto Lugo. This is “Hannan ArtPark” a multiuse space under the leadership of ArtWorks Cincinnati. A $75,000 grant from Greater Cincinnati Foundation helped make it possible.
ArtWorks is widely recognized in the region for creating numerous public murals that have become integral to our city’s identity. At its core, ArtWorks creates community-based public art that provides career opportunities for all ages. The economic impact of ArtWorks is significant. In 2023 alone, the organization paid $2.2 million in wages and employed over 365 professional, teen, and young adult artists. These artists created 26 permanent murals for the city, which reached more than 26 million residents and tourists.
For years ArtWorks operated out of various rented spaces, with its headquarters in Over-the-Rhine. In 2020, their rent doubled, making their home unsustainable. ArtWorks’ CEO and Artistic Director, Colleen Houston, and two board members began the search for a new home. They found that consolidating ArtWorks into a single creative campus on purchased property could save over $100,000 a year in rent. From a fiscal standpoint, the savings were significant, but even more enticing, was the opportunity to grow their impact on employment and workforce development. With their own space, the organization could expand into year-round employment for youth.
Armed with a bold vision to establish roots in a budding arts district, ArtWorks started to transform an overgrown lot, filled with tires and discarded objects, and a building, which had housed Race Refrigeration for over 50 years, into an anchor of the Walnut Hills Business District.
The building and land that ArtWorks purchased in Walnut Hills are centrally located with easy bus connections and high visual impact, spanning both sides of Gilbert Avenue. Somewhat serendipitously, the historic 1909 structure was once a paint store, boasting “1,001 colors” – as you can see in a newly uncovered graphic adorning the front windows.
“It gives me chills thinking about the critical mass of arts and nonprofit organizations that now call Walnut Hills home,” said Colleen. “This is a real, catalyst project for transforming the neighborhood and this feels like a different kind of development story. La Soupe is here, and Mortar. There’s also Cincinnati Ballet, Cincinnati Art Museum, and many others.”
ArtWorks’ commitment to making high-quality art public and accessible is undeniable, and Hannan ArtPark is just the latest example of that longtime commitment. As ArtWorks was constructing their new headquarters, they were required by law to include parking spaces. Instead of just building a parking lot, the team studied examples of civic spaces where parking lots could become green spaces and places to create community connections. They also involved the community in the ideation and planning phase and have worked with the city on traffic calming measures, including adding two beautifully designed crosswalks and reconfiguring the central median, creating a dramatic transformation for the neighborhood.
ArtWorks expresses deep gratitude for the partnerships that have made the move possible. The organization has partnered with Triversity, a Black-owned construction company, and other local businesses such as Human Nature and Team B for design and landscaping.
Artist Charles Gaines, creator of The American Manifest, partnered with ArtWorks for his first-ever mural. Twenty-five ArtWorks’ apprentices worked with teaching artists to bring it to life. “When the young artists met Charles and explained what this project meant to them, he was moved to tears,” shared Colleen. “It’s really exciting to have his first ever mural here, in a historic African American neighborhood. He thanked each of them and said this experience was a gift.”
With gifts from generous people and community support, ArtWorks has raised $11 million to make its new building and Hannan ArtPark possible. “This space would not exist without philanthropy. We were able to leverage tax credits and get some public support, but the balance is philanthropy. It had to be a combination of all of these to get this project over the finish line,” said Colleen.
If you’d like to support ArtWorks and Painting the Future Together, the capital campaign that supports this project, please visit artworkscincinnati.org/donate or speak with your philanthropic advisor at GCF by calling 513-241-2880. The campaign still has $400,000 to go before it is fully funded.
On April 26, 2025, ArtWorks invites the community to celebrate the official opening of their new headquarters at 2429 Gilbert Ave. and experience Hannan ArtPark across the street in full bloom.
