Who We Are?

Northwestern Ohio Rural Arts was founded in 1999 as a traveling arts program, bringing hands-on art instruction to high school students and teachers. For three years, we partnered with schools, offering month-long airbrush courses with donated supplies from industry manufacturers. However, security restrictions eventually limited our access.

Undeterred, we adapted—holding classes in church basements, community spaces, and, most recently, a local VFW hall, where we currently serve over 30 students in two weekly classes.

Our mission is expanding in three phases:

• Phase 1: Continuing to provide accessible arts education in our community.
• Phase 2: Operating our “Scoop Shack” (opened July 1, 2023), a premium ice cream shop that generates funding to secure a dedicated arts space.
• Phase 3: Acquiring land or an existing building to establish a permanent creative hub.

Our ultimate goal is to create a thriving center where artists and creatives of all ages can learn, teach, and collaborate. This space will provide access to equipment and technology not readily available in our underserved rural area—empowering the community through artistic expression and innovation.