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.
"Our
mission is to enrich our community by creating opportunities for
artistic expression through learning and appreciation."
Purpose Statement:
BOARD of GOVERNORS
We will partner with communities in our artistic endeavors to
provide a welcoming, stimulating and diverse learning
environment with professional facilities, artists, classes,
exhibits and workshops.
Joan Stonitsch - President
Cathie Mulligan-
Vice President
James P. Langendorf - Treasurer
Katherine Oellerich - Secretary
Vision Statement:
David E. Beck
Chair - Marketing
“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.