Creative Connections: How Fairmount’s Open Studios Brought Art to the Community
March’s Open Studio: Color Play
This past season, Fairmount Center for the Arts brought creativity, connection, and color to life through a brand-new initiative: monthly Open Studios, made possible by generous support from the Shook Foundation. From September through March (with a short break in December), these free events welcomed more than 500 community members into our creative spaces, offering fun, family-friendly experiences for all ages.
Designed to be multi-generational and accessible, each Open Studio featured a unique theme and blended hands-on visual art projects with rotating elements of music, dance, or theater. The result? A vibrant, ever-changing celebration of creativity that invited everyone—from toddlers to grandparents—to explore and express themselves.
A Season of Creative Exploration
Each month’s Open Studio offered something new:
September: Nature Arts – Participants got their hands messy with rock painting and explored natural dye techniques in a demo by local artist Maggie Latham.
October: Storytelling – Mini book-making and playful theater games brought the power of story to life.
November: Seasons – From foil trees and seasonal murals to an “instrument petting zoo,” this studio had something for every sense.
January: Myths & Legends – Dragon puppets and a treasure hunt turned the studio into a magical realm of imagination.
February: Valentine’s Day Party – With over 300 guests in attendance, this fan-favorite event featured cookie decorating, macramé keychains, watercolor Valentines, and performances by Fairmount’s youth dance groups.
March: Color Play – A sensory-rich celebration featuring open easel painting, a “sound of colors” music activity, and a mesmerizing paper marbling demo led by The Morgan Conservatory.
April: Alice in Wonderland – Presented by the Teen Arts Council, they brought to life the magical world through art and movement while guests found their way through the Queen of Heart’s Hedge Maze, enjoyed the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, and went on an adventure with the Cheshire Cat.
While all sessions were hosted at our beloved Novelty campus, we were excited to bring the magic to our newly opened Chardon Square location in November, January, and March—expanding our reach and welcoming new faces to the Fairmount family.
Looking Ahead
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for Open Studios! We loved having you, and we’re already looking forward to the next one. Do you want to be the first to hear about future Open Studios and upcoming programs? Sign up for our email list, opt in for text updates, and keep an eye out for our big announcement in June with all the details.
