Kennedy Heights Arts Center Youth Programs and Camps

Kennedy Heights Arts Center Youth Programs and Camps include Summer Art Camps, the Cincinnati Jazz Academy, and after-school arts programs such as the CR8 Club at John P. Parker Elementary and the Academy of World Languages. The program also includes an after-school arts and social learning program at John P. Parker School. Summer Art Camps 2026 are described as a variety of one-week camps for youth ages 5-13.

• Ages: 5–13 years old
• Schedule: Summer Art Camps offered in one-week sessions; gallery and office hours generally Tuesday–Friday with Saturday hours

The mission of Kennedy Heights Arts Center is to provide accessible and inclusive arts and cultural experiences that celebrate diversity, nurture creativity, and build vibrant, connected communities. One stated feature is that 100% of programs are accessible to everyone regardless of ability to pay. The Art Shop at Kennedy Heights Arts Center features original, hand-crafted artworks by over 40 local artists.

Kennedy Heights Arts Center was founded in 2004 and is housed in the former home of Lewis Kennedy, a historic wood-frame building on 2.5 acres. After more than five years of work, the organization completed a $2.4 million renovation of a vacant former grocery store, transforming it into a multi-use cultural campus that includes the Lindner Annex, a 10,300 square foot satellite facility with a multi-purpose performance and event venue, digital media lab, and artist studios.

The leadership team includes Executive Director Ellen Muse; Director of Exhibitions and Public Art Mallory Feltz; After School Program Coordinator Shawndale Thomas; After-School Enrichment Manager Carolyn Youngquist; Director of Marketing and Communications Joi Sears; Program Assistant, Cincinnati Jazz Academy, Quentin Coleman; and Bookkeeper Mairi Huizinga. Board leadership includes Board President Ramsey Ford, Vice President Kristy High, Secretary Meg Cannon, and board members Lisa Andrews, Robin Hartmann, Hannah Lohr-Pearson, Mahmoud Said, and Brian Yangyuen. Ellen Muse holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre from the College of Wooster and a Master’s of Social Work Administration from the University of Cincinnati. Mallory Feltz earned a BFA in Sculpture from the University of Cincinnati in 2006 and an MFA in Sculpture from Louisiana State University in 2009. Shawndale Thomas earned an Associate Degree in Interactive Media Design from the Art Institute of Ohio-Cincinnati. Mairi Huizinga has a three-year business college degree specializing in computer programming and worked for IBM for 22 years.

Kennedy Heights Arts Center is described as an example of community action, with local residents organizing to save the historic Kennedy Mansion. The City of Cincinnati contributed a grant for a down payment, and 40 neighborhood residents contributed money in personal certificates of deposit as collateral to secure the loan. Kennedy Heights Arts Center partnered with other nonprofits to revitalize the vacant former grocery store next to its main facility. Juneteenth Cincinnati and Kennedy Heights Arts Center present Voices of Freedom, a visual and performing arts series. The Cincinnati Jazz Academy is a partnership between Kennedy Heights Arts Center and Cincinnati Public Schools. High school students can earn community service hours and gain leadership experience as volunteers in Summer Art Camps, and Kennedy Heights Arts Center offers volunteer opportunities as an art class assistant, in the art shop, or helping with special events.

Last updated June 29, 2026.