History of Middletown Arts Center:

Middletown Arts Center was founded in 1957 by the Art Committee of the Federation of Women's Clubs of Middletown. It was located in the basement of the American Legion. Miami University, Oxford Fine Arts Department sold stools, easels and lockers to the Arts Center for the total sum of $1.00. The Middletown Art Center was now on its way. In 1965, the Middletown Fine Arts Center became part of AIM (Arts in Middletown) and moved to a new building at 130 N. Verity Pkwy in 1975. In 2002, AIM ceased as an operating organization and Middletown Arts Center bought the building from AIM and took over the operation of the building and started doing business as Middletown Arts Center (MAC). MAC has an average of 160-175 classes offered during the year to students ages preschool to 90+ in all levels of experience; 10-12 gallery (lobby) exhibits per year; 10-12 satellite exhibits at the new Atrium Medical Center; 8 large exhibits in the newly renovated Exhibit hall featuring an Area Art Show; Student Show; Tomorrows Artist Today (ages 13-18); and general public exhibits featuring the Ohio Watercolor Society Traveling Exhibit; the American Watercolor Society Traveling Exhibit; Homer Hacker, watercolorist; and in 2009 Kevin Macpherson, American Impressionist. The Arts Center hosts 3-4 National Artists Workshops annually - Tony Couch, Mel Stabin, Judy Carducci, Frank Webb, Alex Powers, Doug Dawson to name a few. Enrollment for the classes and workshops averages 1500-1800 annually.

  2009-2010 Annual Report

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“We will be the leading art education center within our served area, which is within a 50-mile radius of Middletown. While maintaining our diverse curriculum, we will grow by implementing the following:

a) Increase community recognition by establishing a greater public presence and creating opportunities to broadcast our purpose.

b) Expand services to address our patrons’ unmet needs, including after-school youth programs, student mentoring, and partnering with public schools to complement their art programs.

c) Extend our resources by integrating more volunteers into our programs and operations.

d) Become financially secure by increasing student enrollment; by increasing revenues from sponsorships, grants and donors; and by increasing public participation in our community events.

The Middletown Arts Center serves its patrons and the community by providing educational opportunities in a professional learning environment diversified for all abilities and skill levels, and is welcoming to all individuals interested in the arts.