Press release courtesy Game Day Communications
Cincinnati, Ohio (March 1, 2023) - Earlier today, the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, in partnership with AGAR, the Haile Foundation, Artworks, Cincy Nice, and ish released a report detailing the profound economic impact BLINK®, illuminated by ArtsWave, had on the Cincinnati region.
In October 2022, the nowhere-else BLINK experience attracted over 2 million attendees across the 4-day event, resulting in a direct economic impact of $126 million dollars. Additionally, the event directly supported or created 1,687 jobs, and generated $1.5 million dollars in direct artist commissions, honorariums, and art fees.
“The Chamber once again worked in close partnership with the Haile Foundation, AGAR, and ArtWorks, and welcomed new partners Cincy Nice and ish to the team,” said Justin Brookhart, Executive Director of BLINK. “Together this dedicated group labored alongside hundreds of hard-working and talented artists, visionaries, musicians, technical experts, and volunteers to deliver something truly special.”
At the heart of its mission, BLINK solidified the Cincinnati region as a hub of arts and culture, and the BLINK team made this possible by honoring the rich and diverse history of the city itself. Known for its collaborative spirit, BLINK paired awe-inspiring murals with projection mapping and lighting to create wholly engaging experiences. In total, the four-day event featured over 100 unique experiences including: 28 projection mapping installations, 42 light and art installations, over 100 musical performances, 300 drones lighting up the sky over the Ohio River, a parade featuring over 2,500 participants, and 17 murals that will leave a lasting impact on the Cincinnati landscape for years to come.
The 2022 BLINK Economic Impact report was developed by the Cincinnati Chamber’s Center for Research & Data, and utilized a variety of data sources and outputs to generate the information detailed in the report. The Center for Research & Data is an initiative to deliver data-driven analysis regarding vital regional indicators and outcomes and helps leaders, community partners, and policymakers make informed decisions.
You can view the full report at: https://www.blinkcincinnati.com/files/assets/blinkeconomicimpactreport2022spreads.pdf
“This report details the economic impact of BLINK, but it is important to note that the true beauty and impact of BLINK lies in the shared memories and experiences of those attendees,” said Brookhart. “Friends, families, neighbors, and strangers stood side-by-side on street corners gazing up in amazement at the artistic wonder covering familiar buildings and surroundings, experiencing Cincinnati in a whole new light. ”
About BLINK
Last experienced by over 2.1 million people in 2022, BLINK®, Illuminated by ArtsWave, delivered a direct economic impact of $126 million dollars in the Cincinnati region.
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. The ArtsWave Campaign is happening now. 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.
About the Center for Research & Data
The Cincinnati Chamber’s Center for Research & Data is an initiative to deliver data-driven analysis regarding vital regional indicators and outcomes. The Center helps regional leaders, community partners, and policymakers make informed decisions around priorities like talent attraction, inclusive economic growth, and community-wide goals. The Center for Research and Data provides actionable insights to support the mission and vision of the Chamber.