The Alliance of African American Artists Foundation and the Contemporary Arts Center are bringing Cincinnati four days of an artistic mix.

        A Cultural Collage of the Arts was developed partly as a way to enhance the experience of the Adrian Piper retrospective. The exhibition, which deals with the problem of interracial communication, opened Saturday. The series of events, to be held at the Contemporary Arts Center, will include a jazz concert, literary discussions and a dialogue among youth.

SCHEDULE

Today 6-10 p.m. — Classical jazz concert and reception featuring Ora Reed, Derrick Alton with John Atkins and Pharez of Columbus.     Friday and Saturday 7-10 p.m. — Literary connective, two evenings of literary discussions, poetry and prose along with an open mike and poetry slam.     Sunday 3-7 p.m. — YouthSpeak, a discussion and dialogue with community youth.     All events are free, but reservations are a must for the jazz concert; call 345-8401. For more information on the Alliance of African American Artists Foundation, visit www.artists4a.com.

        “It really is a collage of the arts,” says Joyce Moore, director of the Alliance of African American Artists Foundation. "It's using the Adrian Piper exhibition as a backdrop to give the experience of other aspects of the arts by Africa-Americans.”

        This is something linked closely with the foundation's mission of of being an educational organization of and about fine artists of African-American descent.

        The foundation, in its second year of nonprofit organization status, also will be becoming more closely linked to Cincinnati: It will eventually be relocating to the city.

        “I am personally fantastically excited to be having this event here,” Ms. Moore says. “We've been embraced by and met wonderful people here who understand what our goals and objectives are.”

        These people include some Contemporary Arts Center directors with whom Ms. Moore met and initially developed the idea for the four days of events.

        “It's not just an opportunity for us,” Ms. Moore says. “But it's an opportunity for them to open their doors and reach out to the community and give them a chance for education and thinking. It's also a chance for the community to get together on a different level and venue.”

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