VW: A multifaceted arts community

Although much of the conversation in the arts community and certainly in my column deals with the Niswonger Performing Arts Center, it has become very evident that Van Wert is a very busy arts community.  With the latest news that the Wassenberg Art Center will be renovating and moving into the old Armory Building, it shows that we are also a very progressive arts community.  I think you would be hard pressed to find a community of 11,000 people and a county of 29,000 that can boast of such a claim of this magnitude.

The Wassenberg Art Center has been in existence since the mid 1950’s when Charles Wassenberg left his estate and homestead to The Van Wert County Foundation upon his passing in 1954. I can hardly wait to see what the creative minds at Wassenberg can make of the Armory.  It will be interesting and fun to watch.  I do know if you want creative minds on the job, you certainly have that.

I believe the Civic Theatre dates back to 1959. They have been providing live theater in this area for a number of years.  By the way, I hear that their current production of Wrong Window is excellently done and very funny. Directed by Mary Ann Falk and Steve Lane, I’m sure it is quite good. It goes through this weekend, so you still may have time to catch one of their shows.

Of course, the Community Concert Series dates back to 1953 and has been presenting live musical performances for the county and region to enjoy for nearly 60 years!  Are you starting to see a pattern here?  It looks like the 1950’s were a boom for the arts in Van Wert.  Add another cultural icon for Van Wert in the Historical Society and the Clark Mansion known more commonly as the “House of Seven Oaks”.  It has its beginnings in 1955.  The Brumback Library, another proud cultural icon of Van Wert actually saw its beginning at the turn of the 19th century.

Now the question is, “which came first: the arts or the boom?” Most of us know that Van Wert saw its greatest economic growth through industry in the 1950s and ‘60s.  Either way, it is ironic they both occurred at the same time.

We now see another boom in the arts of Van Wert with the Niswonger Performing Arts Center, opening in 2007 and the soon to be new Wassenberg Arts Center. The Arts Factory, housed in the Main Street office downtown also recently came into existence. Visionary Promotions recently began presenting interesting musical entertainment at the new Black Swamp Bistro restaurant downtown. Our churches are active in presenting sacred and religious musical programming as well.

Like I said, for a small community like ours, you would be hard pressed to find another to match the offerings of Van Wert.  If the artistic and cultural boom had anything to do with the economic boom of the 1950s in Van Wert, are we then far away from another economic boom?  If it is up to the arts, I would say good things are on the horizon for Van Wert.  I do know one thing for sure; the arts in Van Wert sure do contribute mightily to our local economy.

Coming up soon at the NPAC are some events that will bring more people to our community.  Famed basketball coach and now college basketball TV analyst, Bob Knight will be coming to speak at the NPAC on Thursday, October 4.  Get your tickets now to hear all the great stories this iconic basketball coach has to share. The Lennon Sisters are close to sold out, but some good seats remain in the balcony for this October 6 concert. Nunset Boulevard, starring Cindy Williams of TV’s “Laverne & Shirley” fame then comes to town on October 14 and these seats are filling quickly too.

You can help the local economy through the arts by asking your friends and relatives to come to Van Wert for one of the events coming up.  What’s there to do in Van Wert?  Plenty if you enjoy the arts!

FINÉ.