Meet Meredith Raffel | Meredith Raffel is the Founder and Executive Director of The Arts Alliance.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Meredith Raffel and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Meredith, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I am the founder and executive director of my organization called The Arts Alliance. I founded the organization because I saw a huge void in my community. At the time, I was living in the fastest growing community in the state of Ohio and there was no organized arts organization here. There was nowhere for talented individuals to share their work, and no reason for the community to gather for any arts programming.

Over the past 16 years. we have built a better place to live through the arts. Arts festivals, exhibitions, classes, and performing arts concerts have been put into place to help this southwest region of Ohio become an arts destination.

None of this would be possible without the partnership of our local municipality, Deerfield Township. They have supported my vision for this community and have valued what we bring. Deerfield Township serves as a model for how every city, town, and township across this nation should engage with small arts organizations through collaboration, partnership, and a trusted relationship.

I didn’t want to start a club. I wanted to start a movement I wanted people to see this region as an arts destination and to bridge this region to the wonderful arts sources in downtown Cincinnati. We’ve done that through collaborations and partnership.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

I graduated from Ohio University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Journalism from the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. Back then, we’d choose a sequence. I was in broadcast news, thinking I really wanted to be on-air. personality. After college, I landed a great job in television production and a lot of freelance commercial work. I discovered that I really loved the behind the scenes. I also quickly discovered that I didn’t like working 9-5 or in an office environment. I didn’t have enough vision at the time to venture out on my own and at 22, I was a little more worried about the next boy, beer, and bar to be too concerned about my professional future. But I did have enough sense to work in creative environments. I worked in TV, for an animator, the music industry and through all of those jobs, I gained a tremendous respect for the creative process.

Fast forward…marriage, three boys, and I always dabbled in free-lance writing and photography. As my children grew, I knew it was time for me to grow, too.

I wanted to start my own business…an art studio. I presented a very poorly written business plan to my father. He asked me who I was serving. Who is my customer? I couldn’t answer that question. I hadn’t done enough groundwork. He told me to look into a founding a non-profit, learn who makes up your community, and to build a better place. I did that. My parents instilled the appreciation for the arts in me and to always be curious.

I spent the next year connecting with small arts organizations that served communities that shared the same demographics as mine. People paid it forward over and over again. sharing their stories, failures, and successes. That is something I’ve tried to do over these past 16 years – pay if forward. I connected to the most successful arts festival in this region, and they allowed me to tag along for year. I learned, learned, and learned some more. I put a board of directors together. We built our bi-laws, mission statement and goals. I found some seed money and we were off. It sounds easy. It wasn’t. It was hard for me to imagine, but not everyone thinks the arts are necessary within a community… I didn’t listen to them.

I receive my first grant from the Ohio Arts Council. They offer this wonderful experience for you to sit and listen to the reading of your grant and feedback from the committee members. I remember vividly hearing one of them say, “Why would anyone want to start an arts council?” It never occurred to me that this was a bad idea. But then, another committee member said, “I like the spirit of this group and I think they are going to do good work.” That has stayed with me for a long time.

Along the way, I’ve made a thousand mistakes. But with mistakes, come success in all different forms. When I first founded The Arts Alliance, I thought that the love art was the foundation, but over the years, I’ve realized it’s the community that really drives me. There is nothing more gratifying than putting an event together and watching thousands of people come, enjoy, and just be.

The greatest lesson is to trust yourself. Trust time. Be true to who you are and don’t ever be afraid to make a lot of mistakes. And remember, you never want anything from someone who doesn’t want to give it to you. Trust that when a door is slammed, windows are shut, there is opportunity around the corner.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Cincinnati is a fantastic city. I feel so fortunate to live in this part of the country. Cincinnati has seen so much growth, innovative restauranters have taken a chance on this city and brought the most wonderful places to gather. I love all of the neighborhoods and pockets in this city.

Come anytime to Cincinnati and walk. Hit the downtown streets and admire our architecture and history.
Walk along the Ohio River along Smale Park and sit on the Serpentine Wall and watch the barges and boats go by.
Walk across our bridges to Northern Kentucky, turn around and see the beautiful Cincinnati skyline.
The Cincinnati Art Museum, Museum Center, Freedom Center, Taft Art Musuem, Contemporary Art Museum…just to name a few are the most perfect destinations.
Over-the-Rhine is a regentrified area downtown Cincinnati that boasts great bars, restaurants, and unique stores.
Findley Market is the most beautiful all-year farmers’ market in the region. You’ll really get to the heart of the city and the history of Cincinnati food here…after all, they don’t call it Porkopolis for nothing.
Go see the beautiful, historic Music Hall and hang out on Washington Park. Enjoy the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Pops, and the Cincinnati Zoo, that is now home to a few remarkable hippos!
Sports fan? Depending on the time of year, you can catch the Bengals and Reds playing.
Walk, walk, walk!
And don’t forget to come out to Deerfield Township to see what awesome programming The Arts Alliance has going on!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My success and story here in this region are built on collaborations and partnerships. There is no greater of these than with my local municipality, Deerfield Township. To do this work without them would just be a lonely venture. But to build a dream and vision with a group of dedicated individuals who truly want to enhance the community through your efforts is really a dream come true.

The team of people from the township, including the trustees, administration, and staff…well, they just “get me”. They want the organization to succeed without any strings attached. Being a gracious receiver has helped to build on a truly trusted relationship. To feel valued is a great gift.

I have built my organization on the experiences that were instilled in me by my parents. There wasn’t a museum they didn’t take me to. There wasn’t a trip I wasn’t invited on. They dragged me around and I’m sure I complained all day, but I have all of those experience imbedded in me. My parents appreciated all art forms and exposed me to all kind of wonderful experiences. The Arts Alliance was created to share the arts with my community, just as they shared their love of art, the world, and people with me.

Website: www.the-arts-alliance.org

Instagram: artsallianceohio

Linkedin: Meredith Raffel

Twitter: ArtsAllianceOH

Facebook: The Arts Alliance

Other: info@the-arts-alliance.org