Tipp City Area Arts Council keeps busy with a packed event schedule
The temperatures aren’t the only thing heating up this spring—so is Tipp City’s arts scene thanks to the Tipp City Area Arts Council (TCAAC) and its many upcoming events.
Founded in 2009, The TCAAC is a nonprofit that supports the arts and artists in the Greater Miami Valley by providing classes, art talks, art shows, plein airs contests, concerts and special art events.
This year’s events kicked off with A Fine Art Exhibition and Sale March 31-April 5. “[The show] is held annually at the Tipp Center (855 N. Third St.) [and] features both amateur and professional artists’ works from the Miami Valley region. Last year’s show hosted over 150 pieces from over 80 regional artists,” says Lynn Shirk Terrell, administrator for the TCAAC and co-chair for Canal Music Fest.
The event is free to the public and many pieces will be available for sale during the An Art Affair fine art vendor show April 5. “An Art Affair is a free event to the public where exquisite artwork created by Miami Valley area’s most talented artists can be viewed and purchased. Artists’ booths are filled with art of all mediums—from paintings, to wood, to glass, pottery and cement—and much more,” says Shirk Terell.
In addition to the art, the event will feature performances from local musicians and dining options from Lilia’s Outside Café food truck.
On June 14, the TCAAC will bring the community together once again for its annual Canal Music Fest at Tipp City Park. The event will feature food trucks, children’s entertainment and performances by Barracuda, a Heart tribute band from the Nashville area and Stranger, a popular local ‘80s rock band.
“Canal Music Fest has been the platform for providing free concerts to the Miami Valley region since 2010. The event has gained momentum each year and has grown from its initial attendance of approximately 200 attendees to 4,000-plus over the past 15 years,” says Shirk Terrell.
During the rest of the summer, the TCAAC will be participating in community activities like First Fridays, the Tipp City Public Library Summer Reading Program kick-off in June, the Tipp Monroe Federal 150th Anniversary Block Party in July and the Tipp City Police Department’s National Night Out in August. It will pick back up with its own events in the fall.
On Oct. 4, the TCAAC will host its annual Plein Air outdoor painting competition and awards and on Nov. 8 it will host Holiday Affair, an arts and craft show.
The TCAAC is also installing new community projects for residents and visitors to enjoy. “We are currently in the process of finishing a community sculpture for the Canal Lock Park with grant support from the Tipp City Foundation. We are looking at a spring installment of ‘The Tree’ (working title) and are looking forward to planning our next community project. We hope to plan this upcoming project with the schools and other Tipp City organizations to create the art needed for a collaborative community mural,” says Shirk Terrell.
The TCAAC is also looking for more people to get involved with the organization, whether they be artists or art lovers. If interested in learning more, contact the TCAAC at tippcityartscouncil@gmail.com or 937-543-5115.
