The Dhani Jones Challenge

Dhani Jones, founder of the BowTie Cause

The face of downtown Cincinnati has dramatically transformed in the past few years, in part to the numerous new ArtWorks murals, produced by local young artists through projects such as the Summer Mural Program. In fact, ArtWorks will have 67 public murals created throughout Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky by the end of August through this program alone.

To support the cause, former Bengals player and founder of the BowTie Cause Dhani Jones, is challenging the youth apprentices at ArtWorks to a contest after seeing their inspiring work beautify Cincinnati’s neighborhoods.

Through partnership with the Bowtie Cause, ArtWorks apprentices have a chance to make a difference through art. Two winning designs will be reproduced for the BowTie Cause Design Contest for ArtWorks. Youth apprentices ages 14-21 from ArtWorks will create a limited edition design for a unique scarf and BowTie that will be sold to the public with proceeds benefiting the Hero Design Company, an ArtWorks program that creates custom superhero capes to sick children, showing them that no matter what they’re going through they possess extraordinary real world superhero strength and powers.

The winners of the contest will be announced by Jones and two local celebrities the week of August 12. Two designs will be chosen producing 100 BowTies and 40 scarves available for sale this holiday season. A BowTie at $57 will fund the creation of one Hero Design Cape while a scarf at $100 will fund the creation of two capes helping children in need. In addition, the winners will have a chance to visit the BowTie Cause offices to see how it operates, the organization’s business model, to make final fabric selection for the design and to oversee the design review process.

“ArtWorks is a non-profit that focuses on the area’s youth. We hire and help with skills to prepare for future careers and also become contributing members of society,” explains Teresa Hoelle Vice President of Development and External Affairs for ArtWorks. Founded in 1996 their mission is to empower and inspire the creative community to transform everyday environments through education, employment, community partnerships, apprenticeships and civic engagement. “We thrive on partnering with the community and the apprentices are excited that Dhani Jones has challenged them.”

Partnerships are a part of ArtWorks’ core values and also include Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Cincinnati, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati Art Museum and Taft Museum of Art, among others.

For information on the The BowTie Cause Design Contest and winners visit www.artworkscincinnati.org. Visit ArtWorks’ Facebook page here and Hero Design Company here.