First Friday event celebrates local art scene

Yahoo

08-03-2025

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — It was a full house at SMARTS in Youngstown for March's First Friday celebration – this one centered around celebrating young artists.
'I think it really provides a great opportunity for people to get a little taste of all the different things happening around Youngstown, all the different creative people that are here,' said Adam Lee, Chair of the downtown Youngstown Partnership.
Youngstown Playhouse and Ballet Western Reserve were there, plus the SMARTS rock band.
Assistant Director Abbie Twyford Wilson said it's important for people to see all the arts programs available under one roof.
'We know that funding for arts programs in schools is lacking in a lot of ways. So a lot of these organizations help fill those gaps, especially here at SMARTS. We offer all five creative outlets – music, theater, art, dance and creative writing,' Twyford Wilson said.
'Sort of a mutual benefit of bringing people under the spaces that they have maybe not been to in a long time or ever at all,' Lee said.
There was also an improv comedy team. It's the only one based in Youngstown and has been running for over seven years. They'll put on their 100th show later this month.
Creative Director Paul Dahman says it's important to introduce kids to new forms of the arts.
'I got introduced to acting and performing when I was little and I was bitten by the big and have been doing it ever since. To be able to kind of introduce the next generation to that kind of stuff is very exciting,' Dahman said.
Next month's first Fridays will be at OH WOW. It'll be held outdoors again in May.
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