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Art Academy leaders urge continued city support, pedestrian zone for Over‑the‑Rhine
Summary
Representatives of the Art Academy of Cincinnati told council the school provides scholarships and retains graduates in the region; speakers asked the council to support a pedestrian zone on Jackson Street and continued backing for the Academy.
Katie Brenner Wolf, director of enrollment and student success at the Art Academy of Cincinnati, and Joe Gerondola spoke during the citizens forum about the Art Academy’s role in Cincinnati’s creative economy and asked the council to support neighborhood improvements including a pedestrian zone on Jackson Street.
“Katie Brenner Wolf, director of enrollment and student success at the Art Academy of Cincinnati,” said she is an alumna and that the Academy “fosters the next generation of artists and creative professionals.” She told the council the Academy provides scholarships to students — “Every year, 100% of our students receive our scholarships” — and that the institution awards “over $4,000,000 in scholarships annually,” remarks intended to highlight financial support for students.
Wolf said “80% of our graduates choose to stay in the Cincinnati region,” a statistic she offered to underscore the school’s local economic impact. She described the Academy as “an incubator for artists, entrepreneurs, and leaders who will shape the future of our city,” and asked the council for continued support.
Joe Gerondola, also speaking about the Art Academy and the Over‑the‑Rhine neighborhood, urged council support for a Jackson Street pedestrian zone. He said a pedestrian zone could create educational opportunities and green space, and provide a hub for youth programming and cultural activities.
Why it matters: The Art Academy of Cincinnati is a local higher‑education institution that connects arts education, economic development and neighborhood vitality. Speakers asked the council to support neighborhood planning that could expand pedestrian access and public space in Over‑the‑Rhine.
Council response and next steps: Council members thanked speakers and acknowledged the Academy’s contributions. No formal motion or ordinance on the pedestrian zone was introduced at the meeting; the requests were recorded as public comment and advocacy for future planning discussions.
