Manifest Creative Research Gallery and Drawing Center

Manifest is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit founded on Woodburn Avenue in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 2004 by professors and students from area universities seeking to make a positive community impact. Manifest continues to be operated by professors, students, and working artists to this day. Our programming is divided into four balanced quadrants: Gallery (exhibitions), Press (publications), Artist Residency (support), and Drawing Center (education). The first three programs are housed on Woodburn Avenue in East Walnut Hills. The Drawing Center Studio is located on Central Parkway in Clifton in what will ultimately become The Manifest Center for the Visual Arts after a planned renovation.

Manifest’s operations are funded by a mix of artist-supported revenue, state funding from the Ohio Arts Council, grants from local and national foundations, a supporting annual membership, and donations from individuals. Sales of Manifest's national award-winning annual publications help fund the organization's educational work.

Manifest’s mission is to stand for quality in the visual arts, the importance of creative research, meaningful and accessible art-based experiences for the public, deep learning outside academia, the rigorous documentation of exceptional art for posterity, and the promotion of visual literacy, critical thinking, and skill development as personal and social catalysts.

The organization seeks to engage students, professionals, and the public from around the world through accessible world-class exhibits, studio programs, and publications centered on the broader visual arts.

Manifest Gallery serves as a venue for the display and experience of insightful, thought-provoking art and design and functions as a hub for creative research and innovation at all levels of artistic endeavor.

Manifest Drawing Center promotes and explores drawing, painting, film photography, and printmaking as culturally significant contemporary art forms through the pursuit of educational hands-on activities.

Manifest Press documents the organization's activities through carefully designed publications and has the goal of making the organization's projects accessible for public availability everywhere, including outside its own geographical radius.

The Manifest Artist Residency supports artists in making art and engaging the general public by providing optimal working space and a dynamic environment for meaningful growth.

The organization was founded by three people who hold Master of Fine Arts degrees from UC. Many UC students visit the Gallery and participate in various offerings at the Drawing Center, including free Study Hall and Open Lab sessions. We also hire UC students through the Co-op Program. On occasion, UC volunteers or UC co-op students at Manifest will be hired as staff. The organization has had a volunteer program since we were founded in 2004. UC students volunteer at both the Gallery and Drawing Center, helping with a range of activities, including monitoring the gallery during open hours, helping with mailings and community engagement, helping to organize and plan exhibitions, courses, and workshops, assisting in running courses, offerings, workshops, and open figure and open darkroom sessions.