In addition to free admission for the day, we are proud to welcome community partners for unique programming, including spoken word performances with Arts Equity Collective. We will also screen the film, Songs from the Hole followed by a panel discussion. We will close out our day with our friends from the May Festival as they preview their 2027 season with a choir performance.

November 8 is also the final day to view our temporary exhibit, Witness to the Journey: Matt Herron and the Deep South, 1965, which is part of the 2026 Fotofocus Biennial.

Through spoken word, music, dance, interactive activities and meaningful conversations, this family-friendly gathering creates space for dialogue around violence prevention, mental wellness and community resilience. Performers include local spoken word artists, a special performance by Redefined Dance Studio and music from DJ April Reign. The celebration will also feature community-led discussions exploring Black women's healing and empowerment, fatherhood and family support, and collaborative approaches to building safer, healthier neighborhoods.

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Songs from the Hole is a documentary visual album composed by a musician struggling to find healing and accountability as he comes of age while incarcerated. Through clear-eyed narration and lyrical journal entries, James “JJ’88” Jacobs reveals his innermost struggles as a person who has both committed and experienced violent harm as he serves a double-life prison sentence.

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The Cincinnati May Festival is the longest-standing choral festival in the Western Hemisphere, as well as the official chorus of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the Cincinnati Pops. The May Festival Chorus is comprised of 130 professionally-trained singers and has earned local, national and international acclaim for its musicality and vast range of repertoire. We are excited to welcome the May Festival to unveil their 2027 season lineup.

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We are pleased to welcome the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Southwest Ohio to table all day at the Freedom Center.

NAMI Southwest Ohio is a grassroots education, support and advocacy organization originally founded as NAMI Hamilton County in 1979. At the end of 2014 NAMI Hamilton County, NAMI Warren & Clinton Counties and NAMI Clermont County merged to better serve the region. The organization offers educational programs, support groups, and an information and referral phone line. NAMI Southwest Ohio works with the national organization and state affiliate to advocate for people living with mental illness and their families.

Fifth Third Community Days are made possible through the generous support of the Fifth Third Foundation. Museum guests receive free admission and the opportunity to experience special programming activities. Reserve your tickets online or in-person.