The Arts

The Mayerson Artistic Excellence Program at SCPA enhances and extends the pre-collegiate, pre-professional curriculum of the only public K-12 school of the arts in the United States through a Master Artists Series and an Artists-in-Residence Program.

As a Foundation-operated program, the initiative is funded and organized through Foundation staff.

Read more about the Artistic Excellence Program here.

The Mayerson Foundation Art Collection is an extraordinary exhibit of paintings, prints, sculptures and ceramics by some of the masters of Modern Art including Mark Rothko, James Rosenquist, Roy Lichtenstein and Willem De Kooning. The core of the collection marks the transition of the center of the art world from Paris to New York City at the turn of the twentieth century. Pioneering examples of Abstract Expressionism, Color Field, and Pop Art by Josef Albers, Hans Hofmann and Andy Warhol are included with special emphasis on women artists of the Modern Movement such as Helen Frankenthaler and Louise Nevelson. The diverse Collection also includes key pieces of American Indian ceramics and contemporary work by Jenny Holzer and Nam June Paik.

Read more about the Mayerson Art Gallery Collection and visiting the Collection here.

The Music Resource Center, located near the newly developed arts, residential and retail development off DeSales Corner in Walnut Hills, provides a wide variety of music, digital recording and related classes in its state-of-the-art facility.

Classes and recording opportunities are provided to school-age members at no charge after a very modest membership fee ($2/month) is paid.  The Mayerson Foundation provided several early capital grants in addition to technical assistance during the start-up phase of MRC.

Since 1963, Cincinnati Ballet has presented a bold array of classical, full-length ballets and contemporary dance works with live orchestral accompaniment. With a mission to inspire hope and joy in our community and beyond through the power and passion of dance, Cincinnati Ballet reaches beyond the stage to present exhilarating performances, extensive education outreach programs and offer top level professional ballet training.

A long-time supporter of Cincinnati Ballet, the Mayerson Foundation provided lead funding for a first-ever tour to the Joyce Theater in New York City by Cincinnati Ballet.

The New York City tour "snowballed" into the participation of a dozen Cincinnati-based arts organizations who presented a variety of performances in NYC during a "Cincinnati invasion" of Manhattan that has resulted in long-lasting relationships.

Founded in 1920 and the second oldest opera company in the U.S., Cincinnati Opera presents world-class artists and conductors, important company debuts, stunning sets and costumes, and the spectacular Cincin­nati Symphony Orchestra.

The Mayerson Foundation has provided long-standing support of Cincinnati Opera including co-sponsorship of the Opera's summer season.

Cincinnati Opera is hailed as Cincinnati's "prime summer arts festival," attracting a passionate regional audience as well as opera tourists from throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Built in 1878, Music Hall is an iconic entertainment venue is considered one of the best and most beautiful concert theaters in the world. Home to the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (the sixth oldest symphony orchestra in the country), Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, the Cincinnati Ballet, and the May Festival (the longest-running choral festival in the Western hemisphere), Music Hall anchors a vibrant urban arts district.

The Mayerson Foundation provided capital support for building's façade illumination and towards the 2017-18 $135 million major renovation.

The renovation will affirm Music Hall as one of the world's greatest performance venues, celebrate the hall's remarkable history, breathe new life and accessibility into the Music Hall experience and lay the foundation for a bright future.