Association of Volunteers

For the past 50 years, the Association of Volunteers has organized The Cincinnati Art & Antiques Festival, a fundraising event in support of Convalescent Hospital for Children and Children's Hospital Medical Center. The group has raised over $4 million over the past five decades, funding special projects for Children's Hospital, particularly in the areas providing care for children with long-term conditions, including occupational and physical therapies. This event has predominately  taken place at Cincinnati's beloved landmark Music Hall, after brief stints at the Sharonville Convention Center, the Alms Hotels and, where the event first began in 1966, The Carousel Inn.

"The Cincinnati Art & Antiques Festival has been a part of the fabric of Cincinnati since 1966," explained the group's Historian Marie Huenefeld. "A high-end antiques show, and a show with a philanthropic benefit, were both relatively new concepts at the time. But the nine volunteers, called Angels, were definitely on to something. Not only has the show continued to grow and evolve, but it has also raised millions of dollars, thanks to a roster that has grown to hundreds of dedicated volunteers." Each year, this event presents a celebrated lecture and luncheon, and each year brings in a design or antiques celebrity as its speaker. Past speakers have included Suzanne Kasler, Martha Stewart, Bunny Williams and James Farmer.

In 2016, the group welcomed interior design celebrity Vern Yip for the group's new home decor and lifestyle event, Design Cincinnati, A Legacy of Antiques, A New Era of Style. He was followed by, Eddie Ross, decorator, designer and food editor for House Beautiful, Martha Stewart Living and Food Network in 2017. In 2018, best selling design author and stylist Susanna Salk was the featured guest. Our lecture speaker for 2019 was designer, author and BRAVO Network star, Thom Filicia.

In 2020 we moved our event online as a way to give connection to our members and past attendees in a time of quarantine and isolation. Over 100 people from around the world and all over the United States joined us for online discussion with one of our favorite past guests, Susanna Salk, as we got a behind-the-scenes tour of some of the homes of our favorite designers--and their dogs--in the book, At Home in the English Countryside: Designers and their Dogs. Stacey Bewkes, the book phographer and Susanna's collaborator on the Quintessence video series, joined us as well. It was a great afternoon and we all felt the love and connection. To follow on the success of our virtual luncheon, our next event in the series was a  virtual happy hour with event planner extraordinaire, Bronson Van Wyck. Bronson showed us some of his most fabulous parties and events, while giving tips for what we can do in our own homes to make our gatherings extra special. He was joined by his good friend and local interior designer, Margot Good, for a  cocktail and lively discussion. 

For the last five years, the AOV has supported the be.well program, run through the Occupational and Physical Therapy departments at the hospital. In addition to their innovative "try it" days for sports, including skiing and rock climbing, their program also offers series programs like gardening and cooking. They continue to innovate and design new outlets for overall wellness. It is a beautiful partnership with the Association's mission of supporting children with long-term needs.

Follow us on our social media channels @designcincy to learn more about Design Cincinnati and the Association of Volunteers, as well as for more details about our next event. We hope you'll join us.  In the meantime, for more information about our annual in-person or our onlin series of events, please contact us at designcincinnati2020@gmail.com or aov@designcincyathome.com