King Arts Complex

Join us to celebrate Ohio State Senator Hearcel F. Craig for his extraordinary leadership, service, and longstanding commitment to our community. For 39 years, The King Arts Complex has been a place where arts, culture, and community come together to educate, inspire, and empower. The Gala will be held this Thursday, May 14th from 6 PM – 9 PM. Tickets include a cocktail reception with performance from Starlit Ways, dinner with performance from the Otis Davenport Trio, and a special program featuring a fireside chat moderated by Colleen Marshall, News Anchor - NBC4. Online ticket sales end tomorrow, Tuesday, May 12th at 11:59 PM. Purchase your tickets today! LINK IN BIO

The King Arts Complex honors Coretta Scott King on her birthday. A steadfast force in the Civil Rights Movement, she carried forward a lifelong commitment to peace, justice, and human dignity. Her journey also brought her to Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, where her time in Ohio helped shape her voice as an emerging leader and artist committed to social change. After the loss of her husband, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., her resolve only deepened, transforming grief into action and purpose. Through the founding of The King Center in Atlanta, she created a lasting space to preserve and advance the ideals they shared. Today, her legacy calls us not just to remember, but to act, continuing the work of building a more just, compassionate, and equitable world.

✨ 30 DAYS TO GO! ✨ The countdown is on for our 39th Anniversary Gala honoring Ohio State Senator Hearcel F. Craig! Get ready for an incredible evening filled with celebration, connection, and community impact. 🎟️ Tickets are available now—don’t wait! LINK IN BIO Gather your friends, dress to impress, and join us for a memorable night. #GalaSeason #Countdown #CommunityCelebration Photo credit: @purplestarphoto

This week’s History of Black Columbus photo series features Champion Junior High School, a lasting symbol of pride and identity on the East Side of Columbus. Champion Middle School, rooted in the historic Mount Vernon community, traces its story back to 1909 as Champion Avenue School, the first elementary school built specifically to educate the Black community in Columbus. Located at 1270 Hawthorn Avenue, the building stood strong as one of the city’s first fireproof schools. Inside, you could hear the soft scratch of pencils, the steady rhythm of lessons, and the quiet determination of students and teachers shaping something greater than themselves. Though never legally designated as an all-Black school, it became one through the reality of its neighborhood, bringing Black educators and students together in a shared space of purpose, discipline, and pride. By 1922, it had grown into a junior high, expanding again in 1928 as the community flourished. The halls echoed with footsteps, voices, and expectations set by strong leadership and dedicated teachers who made the school a cornerstone of the neighborhood. Their work created an environment grounded in belief, structure, and care, leaving a lasting imprint on generations of families. Rebuilt in 2008, Champion continues today at 284 North 22nd Street, serving grades 6 through 8 within Columbus City Schools. While the building has changed, the spirit remains. Its legacy lives not in fame, but in the lives shaped within its walls, in the memories carried forward, and in the enduring belief that education can transform a community. #tbt #whoremembers #championjuniorhighforever

This week’s History of Black Columbus photo series highlights Marion Franklin High School — a lasting symbol of pride and identity on the South Side. Located at 1265 Koebel Road, the school has been a cornerstone of the Marion Franklin neighborhood as families built community here throughout the 1970s and 1980s, shaping it into a vital center of Black life in Columbus. More than a school, Marion Franklin has long served as a cultural anchor where connections were formed and a shared sense of identity and belonging took root. Even as the South Side faced the impacts of white flight, disinvestment, and shifting public perception, the school remained a source of strength. Students, families, and educators built a culture grounded in resilience, discipline, and pride that continues to define the community today. That legacy lives on through its people and its impact. Notable alumni include Ken Lanier (NFL, Denver Broncos), Eddie Milner (MLB, Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants), Herb Williams (Ohio State and NBA), Mike Tatum (four-time IFL champion), John Williamson, and Trelaine McKinney, actor. Alongside these names, generations of students and strong athletic programs in football, basketball, and track have carried South Side pride forward. Marion Franklin is more than a school — it is a legacy. #tbt #whoremembers #marionfranklinforever

Today we celebrate a remarkable milestone - 39 years of the King Arts Complex! Thirty-nine years ago today, we opened our doors with a mission to inspire, educate, and uplift our community through the arts. Since then, we have been proud to serve as a cultural cornerstone, honoring our history while shaping the future. Now, we invite you to celebrate with us! Join us for our 39th Anniversary Gala on Thursday, May 14th at the Ohio Statehouse as we honor Ohio Senator Hearcel Craig for his outstanding leadership and commitment to our community. LINK IN BIO Let us come together for an unforgettable evening of celebration, legacy, and vision for the years ahead.

This week’s History of Black Columbus photos highlight Milo-Grogan, a historic neighborhood northeast of downtown Columbus. Formed in the late 1870s, it grew around industry and immigrant communities, later becoming a hub for Black working-class families. Cleveland Avenue became the main commercial corridor, and local institutions fostered strong community networks. Notable residents include NBA coach Jim Cleamons, community leader Charles Thompkins, and storytellers Rodney Kent, Sheila Castellarin, and Gail Brown. Today, Milo-Grogan reflects both its industrial roots and revitalization efforts. Landmarks like the Milo Arts Center and historic Columbus Railway, Power & Light office celebrate its heritage, while the Milo-Grogan Recreation Center keeps community life thriving. Bounded by I-670 and rail corridors and near Italian Village, Weinland Park, and Linden, Milo-Grogan remains a resilient heart of Columbus’s Black community. #WhoRemembers #MiloGroganForever #tbt

Bill T. Jones / Arnie Zane Company - Still Here Friday, April 17, 2026 - 7:00 PM Mershon Auditorium LINK IN BIO More than 30 years later, we are proud to partner once again with the Wex to welcome the Bill T. Jones / Arnie Zane Company’s Still Here to Columbus. This powerful performance honors the resilience and strength of individuals living with life threatening illnesses while celebrating a lasting artistic legacy. The King Arts Complex previously served as an Assisting Organization for the Survival Workshop held on December 8, 1993. The workshop was organized by Charles Helm of the Wex, with special recognition given to Dr. Barbara Nicholson and Sandra Smith of the King Arts Complex. Through spoken word, video portraits, dance, and the abstract nature of gesture, Still/Here pays homage to the participants of the survival workshops held across the country during the project’s initial stages. The participants' generosity of spirit and willingness to express their experiences through words and gesture have always been and remain the essence of Still/Here. Their gestures inform the choreography, their words the lyrics, and their images the stage.

The Journey: Breaking Barriers Concept and Creation by Destiny Coleman Saturday, April 11, 2026 - 7:00 PM Lincoln Theatre LINK IN BIO The Journey: Breaking Barriers is a new multidisciplinary stage production presented in collaboration with Ohio Humanities. The work features Columbus-based artists, dancers, spoken word poets, musicians, and vocalists, and highlights the ongoing fight for educational equity in the United States. The production will tell the lesser-known stories of those who courageously challenged segregation in schools, focusing on the Lincoln School Marchers in Hillsboro, Ohio, and the broader resistance to integration in Columbus. Despite the landmark Brown v. Board of Education ruling in 1954, many Ohio communities resisted desegregation into the 1960s and 70s. This production will preserve and amplify these critical stories, allowing them to resonate with today’s audiences.

The King Arts Complex has been awarded funding via the Summer Youth Program Grant from the City of Columbus to support our Summer Camp. The funding allows us to continue providing meaningful arts, educational, and cultural experiences for young people in our community. This award reflects the strength of our mission and our ongoing commitment to empowering youth through the arts. 📸 Pictured: Corey Favor - Incoming Executive Director, Mayor Andrew Ginther, and Jevon Collins - Chief Operating Officer. We want to thank the City of Columbus for investing in youth development and recognizing the power of the arts to inspire the next generation. Here’s to an inspiring summer ahead! 💫 #TheKingArtsComplex #YouthPrograms #CommunityImpact #ArtsMatter

This week’s History of Black Columbus photos shine a light on Brentnell! Located on the northeast side of Columbus in Franklin County, Brentnell grew in the mid-20th century as affordable housing for families seeking access to downtown jobs while keeping a quiet, community vibe. Key streets like Brentnell Ave, Agler Rd, Sunbury Rd, and Mock Rd connect the neighborhood to the rest of the city, and it’s just minutes from major roadways and John Glenn Columbus International Airport. The neighborhood is diverse—about 50–55% Black, 35–40% White, and 5–10% Hispanic, multiracial, or other groups—with a mix of homeowners and renters. Many homes were built in the 1940s–1960s, including brick ranches, Cape Cods, and other modest single-family houses. Parks and the Brentnell Recreation Center remain central to neighborhood life, hosting recreation, youth programs, and community events that keep neighbors connected. Brentnell is part of the Columbus City Schools district. Local students have historically attended Linden-McKinley, Mifflin, Northland, and Beechcroft High Schools, building traditions through academics, sports, and extracurricular activities. Generations of residents share school and neighborhood ties that make Brentnell truly special. Who remembers? #tbt #BrentnellForever

This week’s History of Black Columbus photos highlight the history of the Hilltop. This west side neighborhood developed rapidly in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as streetcar lines and industry expanded beyond downtown Columbus. Early subdivisions such as Burnside Heights offered housing for working families who wanted to live near factories, rail lines, and major routes like Broad Street. As the community grew, families built strong institutions including schools where Hilltop children were educated such as Westgate Elementary School, Hilltonia Junior High School, and West High School, shaping generations of west side residents. Like other Columbus neighborhoods including Linden, the Hilltop was influenced by racial housing patterns that shaped many American cities in the early and mid twentieth century. Restrictive covenants in property deeds, discriminatory lending, and informal real estate agreements often limited where Black families could purchase property or build homes. Developers and neighborhood associations frequently controlled access to new subdivisions and vacant lots, steering Black residents toward certain areas while excluding them from others. Despite these barriers, families gradually moved into parts of the Hilltop as opportunities opened and legal restrictions weakened, building churches, businesses, and civic organizations that strengthened the neighborhood. The Hilltop also has a connection to internationally known jazz vocalist Nancy Wilson, who grew up on Columbus’s west side. In April 1971 she returned home to perform a concert organized by the Hilltop Civic Association at Veterans Memorial Auditorium, bringing pride and recognition to the community. Photographs from that event are shared with this post, preserving an important moment in Hilltop history. Who remembers? #tbt #hilltopforever