BLINK® Brings 2 Million to Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky

Cincinnati, OH (October 19, 2022) - BLINK®, illuminated by ArtsWave, pulled out all of the stopsand attracted over 2 million attendees from across the globe. The festivities kicked off on Thursday as visitors lined 5th street for the opening parade and continued the enthusiasm throughout the weekend. Highlighted by nightly drone shows and immersive art, the event spanned the entirety of Cincinnati and Covington, KY as its canvas, composing a positive impact on artists, businesses, and the community.

“Yet again, our community has come together to celebrate and support each other,” said Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval. “The excitement and energy BLINK has created is an experience you won’t find anywhere else. Only in Cincinnati.”

“The Covington experience was extraordinary. Visitors from all over the country were here expressing amazement at the creativity, the interesting and historical spaces in Covington, and the community they experienced,” said Covington Mayor Joe Meyer “We want to thank the other Kenton County cities who contributed significant support and helped the entire region benefit from the BLINK festivities.”

"What an incredible weekend for public art and community in the Cincinnati region. We are so honored to have shared BLINK with residents and visitors to Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. We want to thank the artists, partners, and sponsors who truly made BLINK possible,” said Justin Brookhart, Executive Director of BLINK. We are proud to have BLINK back at the quality and scale the region deserves and look forward to what’s next.”

Full economic impact of the event won’t be available for several months. BLINK organizers are working with local officials, organizations, and businesses to gather data on the event. The public is invited to participate in a survey that will help determine the event’s full impact. Visit blinkcincinnati.com/survey to take the survey.

About BLINK

BLINK, Illuminated by ArtsWave, is an unforgettable four-day, 30 city block, outdoor art experience that unites street art, projection mapping and light-based installations.

Not only does the event speak to the dynamic evolution of the Cincinnati art community, it calls upon the city’s deep roots in supporting the arts. BLINK is illuminated by ArtsWave, the first and largest community campaign in the nation and the primary way that Cincinnati funds its arts. When tens of thousands of people and hundreds of companies give to ArtsWave, they support 150 cultural organizations and projects each year like BLINK that make our region vibrant. Donations to BLINK and other arts projects and organizations can be made at artswave.org/give.

BLINK is produced and curated by its Executive Partners - the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, AGAR, and the Haile Foundation, and produced in conjunction with its Partners ArtWorks, Cincy Nice, and ish - to provide opportunities for regional artists and bring in global creators all in the pursuit of a stronger community.