MANSFIELD, Ohio – As a way of highlighting the rich diversity of arts in Richland County, the Arts Sector of the Richland Community Development Group is holding #CREATE.
#CREATE involves a variety of community happenings that will occur throughout the day on Saturday, Dec. 13. Among some of the activities that will take place include a Christmas walking tour at Kingwood Center, the 45th Annual Holiday Fair at the Mansfield Art Center, and a production of “The Christmas Bus” at the Mansfield Playhouse.
Free transportation via the Richland County Transit will be available from 12-4 p.m. to the various events.
Attendees should note that some events require a fee.
#CREATE helps fulfill one of the main goals of the RCDG Arts Sector, which is to demonstrate that “the arts are a viable economic driving force for the county,” said Llalan Fowler, manager at Main Street Books and co-coordinator of #CREATE.
“We wanted to show how large that the arts sector is in Mansfield,” added Kathy Goodwin, art coordinator at Element of Art Studio and co-coordinator of #CREATE. “The art circles down here are just getting huge.”
#CREATE also serves as a reminder of the various art pieces that could make perfect holiday gifts, said Fowler.
Goodwin noted that participants are encouraged to tweet to #CREATE throughout the day. “That way more people will realize what’s available in the area, and they’ll start understanding that Mansfield is an art destination,” she said.
#CREATE is likely to return in another form in the future, said Fowler. “We’ll probably do events at other times of the year and use that name [#CREATE],” she said.
The list of entertainment and events for #CREATE is long. Here are some of the highlights:
● Kingwood Center: Christmas Walking Tour; The Ashland Symphony Orchestra will be represented there selling hand-crafted bowls made out of old vinyl LPs, ASO tree ornaments, mugs, and t-shirts
● The Mansfield Art Center: entertainment and the 45th Annual Holiday Fair
● The Renaissance Theatre: open rehearsal for the Mansfield Symphony’s Holiday Pops concert from 2:30 to 5 p.m. The Symphony and Chorus Pops Concert itself begins at 8 p.m.
● The Mansfield Playhouse has a production of “The Christmas Bus” at 7 p.m.
● The Ohio State University Mansfield Main Stage Productions is putting on “A Christmas Carol” at 2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.
● The Mansfield/Richland County Public Library has Christmas Story time for children and families at 10:30 a.m. plus a very popular surprise Christmas movie at 2 p.m.
● Little Buckeye Children’s Museum is putting on a Children’s Art Show
● Element of Art has students from Pioneer Performing Arts Academy to entertain shoppers from 1 to 5 p.m.
● Main Street Books has Story time with Dandi Daley Mackall at 11 a.m., stories, snacks and crafts; from 1 to 3 p.m. they host a signing with local historians Mary Eileen Levison and Joe James
● Richland Academy and The Richland Carrousel Park are uniting in a Christmas Party for underprivileged children around 5 p.m.
For more information on #CREATE, contact Llalan Fowler at 419-522-BOOK or llalan@MainStreetBooksMansfield.com.
“We wanted to show how large that the arts sector is in Mansfield,” said Kathy Goodwin.
