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CINCINNATI— As Cincinnati braces for cicadas, a different insect is making a buzz at the Cincinnati Art Museum.

Two new beehives, filled with 60,000 bees, were installed on the museum grounds in partnership with the Queen City Pollinator Project on Friday, April 23.

Now the public can support the museum and its community wellness efforts by donating to the Adopt-a-Bee program from May 3–31. With each $5 donation, participants can name one of the bees. For $10 participants can name a bee and receive a special wildflower seed packet from the museum.

Adopting and naming a bee is easy: text BEES to 41444 or visit cincinnatiartmuseum.org/bees.

Starting May 24, the museum begins a Queen City Bee Bracket tournament on Instagram that will allow the public the chance to vote on their favorite names for the two queen bees and for a chance to win prizes. The contest consists of a two-sided bracket where names for the Queen Bees go head-to-head or wing-to-wing. One winner/name will advance to the next round, while the other is eliminated. Each match winner advances until only the winning names remain. It is free to vote on the bracket. Names for the tournament will be selected by staff from bees adopted by May 21.

The hives—respectfully named Pablo Bee-casso and Reigning Queen (after a Warhol artwork)—are sponsored by the museum’s Women’s Committee. The hives reside amidst a pollinator garden, a foot off the ground in a mulch bed near the Longworth administrative wing on the west side of the building. Additional hives may be added in the future. These “friendly” bees which rarely sting can travel up to three miles from their hives, so the museum’s bees may be seen all over the Queen City.

The museum’s focus on community wellness supports bringing in honeybees to aid the health of the entire community. Pollinators are a vital part of a balanced ecosystem. Nearly all pollinators are suffering from declines and installing hives assists their repopulation.

This program is supported by the Green Team founded in early 2019 by an interdepartmental team of Cincinnati Art Museum staff dedicated to creating sustainable practices within the museum. As a starting point, the team took steps to create a culture of sustainability among staff at the museum.

About the Queen City Pollinator Project (QCPP)

QCPP challenges businesses in Greater Cincinnati to become community leaders in environmental sustainability and challenges every citizen to take action to protect and support pollinators in their own yards. Learn more at queencitypollinatorproject.org.

About the Women’s Committee of the Cincinnati Art Museum

The Women’s Committee supports the Cincinnati Art Museum by offering informative programs for members, promoting participation in museum activities, and raising funds. Since its inception in 1973, the Women’s Committee has financially assisted with art purchases, special exhibitions and other museums needs. Learn more or join online.

About the Cincinnati Art Museum

The Cincinnati Art Museum is supported by the generosity of individuals and businesses that give annually to ArtsWave. The Ohio Arts Council helps fund the Cincinnati Art Museum with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. The Cincinnati Art Museum gratefully acknowledges operating support from the City of Cincinnati, as well as our members.

Free general admission to the Cincinnati Art Museum is made possible by a gift from the Rosenthal Family Foundation. Special exhibition pricing may vary. Parking at the Cincinnati Art Museum is free. Visit cincinnatiartmuseum.org for more information.

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