Special to 1812Blockhouse
Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center is hosting its annual Artapolooza fine arts festival. This year it will take place on April 2 through the 6 and will be held at the Mid-Ohio Conference Center at 890 W. Fourth Street in Mansfield.
“This event is one of the biggest that we host at Mid-Ohio.” stated Jennifer Pennell, Mid-Ohio ESC Gifted Education Consultant and coordinator of the event. “We plan to display over 500 student-made works!” The gallery will be open on Saturday, April 2nd from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Sunday, April 3rd, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The gallery will also be open during the week on Monday, April 4th through Wednesday, April 6th from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
An awards presentation will be held in the Mid-Ohio ESC Gallery on Wednesday, April 6th at 6:30 p.m., including a slideshow that will be posted on MOESC’s website. “This will allow the public to be able to view the gallery and awards virtually as well,” stated Pennell.
As in years previous, Artapolooza will be accepting all types of visual art projects: paintings, drawings, sculptures, as well as mixed media and digital art. Pennell emphasized that students from all area schools, not just MOESC member districts, are all welcome and may submit projects for the festival.
Pennell explained, “Artapolooza is about celebrating the arts, something that is important to every child’s education. We’re supporting the belief from the Ohio Department of Education that ‘education in the Fine Arts is essential in developing the whole child.’”
Districts or schools interested in having student art displayed need to register by March 17th at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd7Uo0cLcPlkhu0FHOn3hkRhFVnZAVWBzgxUKfa4ZfhwcEpcA/viewform. Those with questions can reach out to Pennell at [email protected].
