Step right up and enter zoOTRopia, the Art Academy’s official exhibition of the 2024 BLINK Festival of Art & Light!
A four-day extravaganza of light, music, and curated oddities will take over all of Jackson Street in the heart of Over-the-Rhine with daytime and nighttime engagements that will captivate festivalgoers of all ages.
The imaginative world of zoOTRopia represents a spirited collaboration between the Art Academy and the Cincinnati Zoo, American Sign Museum, Cincinnati Art Museum, School for Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA), Cincinnati Music Accelerator, Columbus College of Art and Design (CCAD), University of Cincinnati College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (UC DAAP) and the Know Theatre.
ZoOTRopia is funded in part with instrumental support from ArtsWave and City of Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce.
ZoOTRopia Event Schedule
Thursday, Oct. 17
Kickoff party, including a ceremonial lighting of the milk-crate sculpture, digital projection mapping in collaboration with The Mural ReMix team from CCAD, lantern display in collaboration with Cincinnati Zoo, and art created by Art Academy and SCPA students.
Friday, Oct. 18
“Fired Fantasies,” including an interactive glass-blowing workshop led by Art Academy alumna Merritt Holdcraft, wood-fired delights for purchase, glow-in-the-dark facepainting, prize giveaways and games, and special performances by SCPA students led by SCPA Creative Director Maggie Perrino.
Saturday, Oct. 19
“Saturday Night Fab 155 Fever,” including daytime animal encounters in collaboration with the Cincinnati Zoo Animal Ambassador program, and the return of Stinkstock: BLINK edition (emceed by Pam Kravetz and Crystal Tubes), featuring musical and spoken-word performances by Art Academy students and faculty including a special performance by Paul Jillz and Prosper Jones. There will also be a not-to-be-missed digital projection in collaboration with the Cincinnati Art Museum that features the Art Academy’s 155 years of alumni excellence.
Sunday, Oct. 20
“Sunday Funday,” featuring an all-inclusive dance party and DJ set battles from 7 to 10 p.m.
Read more about BLINK at the official website.
How to Get Here
- Our address: 1212 Jackson St., Cincinnati, OH 45202
- On-street parking and garage parking are available throughout Over-the-Rhine and within walking distance of our campus, which is located at the corner or 12th St. and Jackson St. You can plan ahead and view BLINK event parking right here!
- Nearby Connector stations: 6 (12th & Main), 7 (12th & Vine), 14 (Washington Park), and 15 (Central Parkway)
- Recommended SORTA/Metro routes: 46, 78. Plus, rides will be FREE throughout the festival this year! Check out the details for park-and-ride options and direct routes to BLINK.
