A Sampling of the Sampler

By Mary Ellyn Hutton

Fine Arts Fund Sampler Weekend is Cincinnati’s February festival, two days to imbibe Greater Cincinnati arts and culture free of charge. Nearly 200 events will take place in 70 locations. There’ll be art, dance, music, drama, tours and activities from Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center in Covington to Fitton Center for Creative Arts in Hamilton, and from University of Cincinnati’s Clermont College in Batavia to Lawrenceburg Library, Lawrenceburg, Ind.

New venues this year include Memorial Hall in Over-the-Rhine, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center’s Harriet Tubman Theater, Mason Intermediate Campus, McAuley High School in College Hill, Northern Kentucky University’s Museum of Anthropology, Campbell Country Library in Fort Thomas and the Cincinnati Art Club in Mount Adams.

Organizations large, small and diverse will participate, from the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra to dance, theater, heritage and chamber music ensembles. Area art museums will be open admission- free and host numerous free events. Sampler Weekend is the annual kickoff for Cincinnati’s Fine Arts Fund, the largest and most profitable united arts fund in the United States.

This year’s goal will be announced at a Latin-flavored CSO concert at 4 p.m. Sunday at Music Hall. “Fiesta! A Celebration of Rhythm” will introduce the CSO’s new assistant conductor, Tito Munoz, and will include a tango demonstration by principal dancers of the Cincinnati Ballet. Tours of Music Hall from noon-4 p.m. and a piata of activities and attractions in the foyer from 2:30-3:45 p.m.

Sampler Highlights:

Saturday — 2-3 p.m., Zumba!/Cincy Latino (dancing) at the Cincinnati Art Academy, 1212 Jackson St. downtown; 10 a.m.-2:15 p.m., Bi-Okoto Drum and Dance Theater, 2511 Essex Place, Walnut Hills; 1-2:30 p.m., chamber music by members of the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, Campbell County Public Library, 901 E. 6th St., Newport; 2-3 p.m. “Peter and the Wolf,” Ballet Theatre Midwest, Carnegie Center of Columbia Tusculum, 3738 Eastern Ave. (also Sunday); 2-5 p.m., sculpture workshop, Kennedy Heights Arts Center, 6546 Montgomery Rd. (also Sunday).

Sunday — 12-1 p.m., Anya Gypsy Dance, Blue Ash Shaolin Do (martial arts), 10933 A & B, Reed Hartman Hwy. Blue Ash; 12-4 p.m., Art Walk, Essex Studio, 2515 Essex Place, Walnut Hills; 2-4:30 p.m., Rabbit Hash String Band, North Presbyterian Church, 5222 Hamilton Ave., Northside; 1-4 p.m., tours, talks, displays, Museum of Anthropology, NKU, 200 Landrum Academic Center, Highland Heights; 2- 3 p.m., May Festival Chorus and Youth Chorus, Memorial Hall, 1225 Elm St. OTR; 4 p.m., CSO concert, Music Hall.

Schedules of events are at Macy’s stores; or www.fineartsfund.org/ (513) 871-2787. FAF provides annual operating support to 18 organizations in the tri-state and monetary awards to over 75 others.

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