The Carnegie Center of Columbia Tusculum’s new Artist in Residence program expands TCCCT’s community enrichment goals by partnering with professional artist educators. Originary Arts Initiative, founded by Dr. Sherry Cook Stanforth, supports this endeavor through creative emphasis on Appalachian migration heritage identity, which historically defines the immediate and surrounding communities. Programs will feature an experienced artist educator and other professional artists to develop multi-genre arts experiences, foster intergenerational artist collaborations, and promote genuine curiosity for Greater Cincinnati’s diverse cultural heritages. Each artist in residence will create collaborative programming for 2-3 years while supporting the mission of our organization. Dr. Stanforth has integrated creative writing, poetry, art, music and storytelling in her community programs.

The artist in residence will create community-based arts programs and workshops that embrace richly textured artist collaborations and arts content (literature, music, visual art, storytelling) reflective of place-based heritage and culture. For this first residency, Originary Arts Initiative (OAI) will emphasize diverse interpretations of “home places” and “heritage,” using historic and cultural inspirations from Greater Cincinnati’s diverse migration cultures. Additionally, OAI will cultivate affordable, intergenerational, and culturally dynamic arts programming for neighborhood residents and other attendees representing Ohio’s Greater Cincinnati communities. 

OAI began collaborating with TCCCT in 2024, and the creative infusion has been successful and exciting for our community. We look forward to quality programming and unique forms of collaboration.