irst Friday, the arts, music and entertainment festival that transforms down-town Canton on the First Friday of each month, is back with its fifth year ofmonthly art rendezvous in the Arts District!

Each month, the art galleries and studios of downtown Canton welcome you to experience a nightof creativity, the local restaurants cook up heavenly cuisine, and the shops are hopping. Live the-atre, poetry slams, public art demonstrations, painting experiments, improv comedy, children’sactivities and gallery openings abound, as do opportunities to get to know the artists, craftsmenand entrepreneurs who are making the revitalization of our center city a reality.

Mark you calendar now for the exciting lineup of themes coming in 2012 – and make sure youcome back downtown throughout the month for even more to see and do in the Canton ArtsDistrict and surrounding community.

SAVE THE DATE NOW2012 LINE-UPJanuary 6th Ice! Ice! BabyFebruary 3rd Get a Clue.March 2nd Music Madness!April 6th Sew ArtisticMay 4th It’s a Zoo Art ThereJune 1st Chalk the WalkJuly 6th All That JazzAugust 3rd Carnival of ArtSeptember 7th Now We’re CookingOctober 5th Once Upon a Time November 2nd Zombie ArtVasionDecember 7th BeBop & Shop

Coming Up!Hear the rip roaring sounds of chainsaws as world champion ice carver Aaron Costic and histeam compete in a First Friday Ice Carving Competition, alongside other local ice masters andartists, who will carve crystal canvases and sculpt snowy silhouettes at Ice! Ice! Baby First Fridayon Jan. 6. Get sprayed by live ice sculpting demonstrations, rock out with bands like the MiseryJackals, Viva Le Vox, The Most Beautiful Losers, and more at Buzzbin Magazine’s Froth Fest. Siphot chocolate and bite into gooey s’mores as you take in the many glistening and impressive icesculptures that will sparkle downtown.

We will help you investigate the mystery of the downtown Canton Arts District with the Feb. 3 Geta Clue First Friday. Travel to the five downtown galleries or into some of the delectable restau-rants on an informal tour of the district, while searching for the candlestick, the revolver, and somerope, and you might just cross paths with Miss Scarlet or Professor Plum. Find clues that will helpyou learn more about our artists and galleries, and if you can solve the mystery, you’ll be reward-ed in the end.

For the most up-to-date First Friday information, visit www.CantonFirstFriday.com.

First Friday is celebrated every first Friday of the month from 6 to 10 p.m. in downtown Canton.First Friday is presented by ArtsinStark, the County Arts Council, and the Downtown CantonSpecial Improvement District.

First Friday back and BIGGER than ever in 2012!

F

PA RTNERSHIP REPORT

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

GUEST COLUMN

LOOKING INSIDE

SPECIAL FEAT U R E S• Fi rst Fri d ay Line Up• SID Annual Re p o rt• Dow n town Camp a i g n• Gove rnor’s Art Awa rd• Dow n town Deals

WH ATWH E R EWH E N

First Friday of every month

Wednesdays in Feb. and Mar.

M a rk your calendar and plan to atte n d !

2 012 D ow n town E vent Sch e d u l e

D ow n town Canton’s st re etscape comes alive with fun fe st i va l s !

In 2012, we look forward to presenting our “Big 5”d ow n town fe st i vals, and our Canton Fa rm e rs 'Market. In addition, we will continue to experimentwith some new special events and programs. Welook forward to supporting new art walks and foodtours downtown. And, of course, we are proud topartner with ArtsinStark for another year of FirstFridays!

The CDP began a committee effort in late 2011 tostudy the need for downtown housing units. To date,the committee has inventoried current apartmentunits downtown and has reviewed possible sites fornew units and buildings that could be repurposed asliving spaces. The goal of the committee is to devel-op a housing plan and complete some housing unitsin our downtown area in 2012.

We look forward to pursuing our mission of bringingmore business downtown this year. Last year, busi-ness inquiries definitely increased from the previousperiod. In 2011, we experienced the completion ofa major housing unit, welcomed new companies toour center city, viewed the improvements made to anumber of buildings downtown, and saw a numberof buildings receive new ownership and a commit-ment to rehabilitation. We expect economic devel-opment activity to increase even more in 2012.

A Strong 2012We hope that everyone enjoyed the holiday season and is ready to embark upon a new year.There are many signs that suggest 2012 will be stronger economically than last year. One of thesubjects that seems to be part of everyone’s conversation is the role that oil and gas explorationwill play in our region. There is a growing consensus that this industry will grow rapidly and havea substantial impact on our regional economy and on our downtown. We look forward to this pos-itive trend.

Look for our new downtown marketing cam-paign, highlighting arts, dining, entertainment,shopping and attractions, early in the year. Getmore information about all of the excitingevents happening in our town at our new web-s i te w w w. d ow n tow n c a n to n . c o m and in th ec e n ter spread of this issue of D ow n tow nDevelopments!

2012 promises to be a year of growth for ourcenter city. We hope that this growth, coupledwith our strategic plans, will continue to moveour downtown ahead in 2012.

Re m e m b e r, during these winter months toplease support our retail, restaurant and artsvenues. As always, thank you for your supportof our downtown.

Downtown Developments is published bi-monthly by Canton DevelopmentPartnership, a department of CantonRegional Chamber of Commerce in

cooperation with Downtown CantonSpecial Improvement District

222 Market Ave. N.Canton, OH 44702

(330) 456-0468fax (330) 452-7786

cdp@cantonchamber.orgwww.DowntownCanton.com

Dennis P. SaunierPresident & CEO

Michael P. GillDirector

Annette Rosenberger Office Manager

Denise BurtonMembership Director

Jessica BennettMarketing Director & Editor

Sarah Lutz BhatiaGraphics Manager

The Canton Development Pa rt n e rship is a coalitionof area development organizations and cityg ove rn m e n t that share an interest in downtownC a n ton’s continual imp rovement, rev i ta l i z a t i o n ,image, and quality of life for its citizens.

Its mission is to support and coord i n a te the activitiesand programs of its partner organizations in orderto encourage and sustain community and eco-nomic development in downtown Canton.

The part n e ring organizations include: Canton Re g i o n a lChamber of Commerce, Dow n town Canton SpecialI mp rovement Dist rict, Dow n town Canton Land Bank,C a n ton To m o rrow, Inc., and City of Canto n .

Information regarding downtown events and newscan be submitted for reprint at the discretion ofthe Partnership director and publication editor.The Canton Development Partnership reserves theright to edit all copy. Deadlines are the 15th of themonth, two months prior to publication (i.e., May15 for the July/August issue).

Statements of fact and opinion within DowntownDevelopments are the responsibility of the authorsalone and do not imply the opinion of the mem-bers of Canton Development Partnership or itspartnering organizations.

Advertising rates and specifications are availableby contacting the Chamber sales department at(330) 458-2067.

by Michael P. Gill,director, CantonDevelopment Partnership

The Downtown Canton Special ImprovementDistrict’s annual meeting was heldThursday, Nov. 17. At the meeting, the following individuals were elected to itsboard of directors for a two-year term:

Timothy S. Belden, owner,Joseph Saxton Gallery of PhotographyDavid T. Beule, CEO, Appalachian Basin, CPAsRobert J. Hankins, president and CEO,ArtsinStarkMichael E. King, owner, King PropertiesRodney W. Meadows, owner,Motter & Meadows ArchitectsMichael E. Williams, executive director,Stark Metropolitan Housing Authority

Michael P. Gill is the president of the SID.

In addition, the organization recognizedJosh Schory, Lucca Restaurant; MikeNasvadi, Buzzbin Magazine Art & MusicShop; Nick Brewer, The Auricle; GregOuimet, VXI Global Solutions; Mike King,4th Street lights project; and ScottWoodruff, Canton Charge, for their commit-ment and investment in downtown Canton.

For more information about the year’s developments, and a look back at the programming in 2011, visitDowntownCanton.com or stop by theCanton Development Partnership for yourcopy of the 2011 Downtown Canton Special Improvement District Annual Report.

3SID board elections &annual re p o rt

Ever wonder where everyone heads after the barsclose? Now there’s a place for the late-night crowdto enjoy live entertainment – The Old Eagles Clubin downtown Canton! The new after hours hot spot,known to those in the know as simply “The OEC,”is downtown Canton’s high-energy BYOB dancespot. Open until 6 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays,owner Mike Harrer opened the historic club withbig plans for live entertainment and after hours fun!Harrer, who has been a deejay for 21 years, inaddition to vast restaurant management experi-ence, believes he has something truly unique in TheOEC.

“We are the only BYOB after hours location inStark County open until 6am. We feature DJs thatwill play mash up, house, funk, old school and mar-tini vibe music,” said Harrer.

The OEC was built in 1927 and was the first EaglesClub in Ohio. They promise to take you back intime to the 1930s and 50s, with tribute performersof Etta James, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, NeilDiamond, Billy Joel, Elton John and many, manymore, along with “unplugged” local artists.

The organization is also the new home of theCanton Comedy Series, and will be featuring com-edy acts twice a month. Teen Dance nights begin-ning at 7 p.m. are happening throughout the week.More acts and performers are coming soon, visitTheOEC.biz for more details about all upcomingevents and to buy tickets in advance.

Regular after hours cover charges are $15, with aspecial discounted price of just $10 for members of

the service industry. Evening show tickets are addi-tional, and memberships to the club are availableand selling quickly. Memberships include personallocker, discounted pricing on special events andshows, reserved parking space, private entry, andmuch more!

The venue can accommodate up to 200 guests forweddings, anniversaries, birthdays and corporateevents and is booking fast for 2012. Think abouthaving your next event in this beautifully preserved,historic venue!

Visit TheOEC.biz for information about joiningthe club, tickets and upcoming shows.

The Old Eagles Club104 Sixth Street S.W. in downtown Cantonwww.TheOEC.bizHours: After Hours on Fridays & Saturdays from 2:30 to 6 a.m. and for special events and performances

Yep, it’s down here: Downtown Canton marketing campaign launchesNew Website continues to grow and promotional campaign takes off!

he Downtown Canton Special Improvement District began rolling out

their comprehensive downtown Canton brand awareness cam-

paign in December, with a slate of print ads and radio commercials pro-

moting the art galleries and restaurants in downtown Canton. Later this month and into

the coming year, you’ll see a strategic, all-encompassing campaign – promoting down-

town Canton attractions, shopping, festivals, events and more, through print, outdoor,

radio and online media.

“The goal of our campaign is to promote downtown Canton as a true one-stop destina-tion, top to bottom, for arts, entertainment, dining and more,” said Mike Gill, director ofthe Downtown Canton Special Improvement District. “As we work toward a strate-gic housing plan for downtown Canton, it becomes imperative that we showcase all ofthe things to do in the center city.”

The launch of the new go-to guide to downtown Canton, DowntownCanton.com, hasalready generated a great deal of traffic, and new features and expanded listings areplanned for next month. The site includes custom listings for businesses, organizations,attractions, and venues – as well as events – in downtown Canton, complete with photosand details, online wayfinding maps for all listings and events, user reviews, commentsand social media sharing. Make sure your business or event is listed by visitingDowntownCanton.com and clicking on “Add a Listing” or “Add an Event,” orcontact Jessica Bennett at jessb@cantonchamber.org for assistance.

In addition, a new set of wayfinding maps are in development to direct visitors to the arts,dining, parking and attractions downtown.

The Downtown Canton Special Improvement District will also be working to promoteNEW! upcoming art walks and food tours. Look for more details in an upcoming issue ofDowntown Developments newsletter.

For the latest news and development information, visit DowntownCanton.com.

T

Ads from the ongoing downtownCanton awareness campaign.

5

New go-to guide to downtown at DowntownCanton.com

“The Downtown Deals Wednesday promotion is an excellent oppor-tunity to experience some of the incredible local restaurants in down-town Canton,” said Mike Gill, director of the Downtown SpecialImprovement District. “Diners can experience all types of cuisinesand enjoy both casual and fine dining with this exciting promotion.”

For details about Dow n town Deals We d n e s d ay, visitwww.DowntownCanton.com, or contact Annette Rosenberger atannette@cantonchamber.org or (330) 458-2092.

rt s i n Sta rk has re c e i ved th e

2012 Governor’s Award for the

Arts in Ohio for community development and

participation. The award will be presented at

a luncheon ceremony honoring the winners

and members of the Ohio Legislature at noon

on We d n e s d ay, May 9, at the Columbus

Athenaeum in dow n town Columbus. The

luncheon is hosted by the Ohio Arts Council

and Ohio Citizens for the Arts Foundation.

The 2012 Governor’s Awards Selection Committeeconsisted of seven Ohio Arts Council board mem-bers and three non-board members who wereselected by Ohio Citizens for the Arts. The OhioArts Council is a state agency that funds and sup-ports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohiocommunities culturally, educationally and econom-ically. The Ohio Citizens for the Arts Foundationprovides information to all Ohioans about the arts,and promotes their value to a high quality of life, astrong economy and the achievement of educa-tional excellence.

More information about the Governor’s Awardsfor the Arts in Ohio, including a full list of past win-ners, is available on the Ohio Arts Council websitehere: www.oac.ohio.gov/events/GovAwards.

About ArtsinStark:The organization now called Art s i n Sta rk wa sformed in 1968 to build the Cultural Center for theA rts in Canton. More than 40 ye a rs late r,ArtsinStark has become the county arts council forStark County, serving its nearly 300,000 residentswith a commitment to creating smarter kids, newjobs and healthier communities.

While Art s i n Sta rk continues to manage th e330,000-square-foot Cultural Arts Center, the non-profit organization also distributes more than $1.2million in operating, special projects and communi-ty arts grants to hundreds of organizations andindividuals each year. The first $1 million in oper-ating support goes to the seven largest arts organ-izations in Stark County: the Canton Ballet, CantonMuseum of Art, Canton Palace Theatre, CantonSymphony Orchestra, Massillon Museum, PlayersGuild Theater and Voices of Canton. In addition,A rt s i n Sta rk also awa rds $200,000 in smallergrants annually to 100 county nonprofits andartists.

Nearly 99 percent of ArtsinStark’s $2.6 millionannual budget comes from the private sector. In2011, the campaign raised a record high of morethan $1.5 million, with 91 cents of every dollarraised going directly back to the community. Thisfunding helps to support the burgeoning culturalindustry in Stark County, which represents morethan 500 jobs and $18 million in economicimpact. In fact, using the creative sector for eco-nomic development is a key st ra tegy fo rA rt s i n Sta rk, from part n e ring with the Canto nRegional Chamber to cre a te the Canton Art sDistrict, to co-hosting a blockbuster exhibit with theCanton Museum of Art that generated $6 million in

economic impact. In 2012, ArtsinStark will unveil20/20 Vision—a 10-year plan for arts and eco-nomic development in Stark County.

E qu a l ly imp o rtant is the nonp ro fit’s focus onimproving learning. In 2006, ArtsinStark launchedthe SmArts Program to help “supercharge learn-ing” by integrating arts and academics. In the lastsix ye a rs, the SmArts Pro gram has inve ste d$250,000 to host 100 SmArts projects for 15,000kids.

In what has been called an “arts explosion,” thed i re c to rs, sta ff and vo l u n te e rs that make upArtsinStark are successfully incorporating art intoevery part of the community, reshaping the face ofStark County and changing the lives of those wholive here.

ArtsinStark receives the 2012 Governor’s Award for the Arts in Ohio

A

From Feb. 1 through March 28, the Downtown Special Improvement District willonce again be hosting the “Downtown Deals Wednesday” promotion.

Diners to the participating downtown Canton restaurants will receive one half-priced entrée for each entrée they purchase at regular price. Select down-town restaurants will offer this special discount to diners every Wednesday inFebruary and March. The discount is valid after 5 p.m. only.

In order to receive the discount, a coupon must be presented at time of purchase.Clip yours from this article, look for your coupon in an upcoming issue of TheRepository, or go online to DowntownCanton.com to download your coupon.

Downtown Deals will feature 11 downtown Canton restaurants, including:

• Arcadia Grille •• Bender’s Tavern •

• Desert Inn •• Napoli’s Italian Eatery •

• Pete’s Grill & Pizza •• Peter Shears Downtown •• Picciano’s Martini Bar •

• Primo’s •• Sports Therapy Bar and Grill •

• Thatsa Wrapp •• Thorpe’s Grill at the McKinley Grand •

Dine downtown on Wednesdays for deals at your favorite restaurants!

7Looking inside...MOLA Info

As we ring in the New Year, Julia Dick, owner ofMOLA Gallery in the downtown Canton ArtsDistrict, is celebrating a milestone of her own – herone year anniversary!

Growing up in Panama, it makes sense that Dickwould specialize in the unique, eclectic MOLA tex-tile art by the Kuna people of Panama, along withart from other indigenous people of Panama andCentral America. The Kuna live simple, beautifullives on archipelago islands off the northern coastof Panama.

“I have known so many of the wonderful Kuna peo-ple, and I’ve been to the islands so often that I feelI’ve been collecting these works my entire life,” saidDick. She purchases works directly from the Kuna,along with other collectors and friends who live inPanama.

“MOLA” is the Kuna word for blouse, and the tex-tile art is something that the Kuna have been incor-porating into their daily dress for generations. Whatevo lved from body paint when early tra d e rsbrought textiles to the island is now evolving furtheras to u rism increases in the area and MOLAbecomes more sought after throughout Panama.MOLA textiles are a specific size, and are createdd u ring a unique process known as reve rs eappliqué, where instead of layering upon textiles asin traditional appliqué, the Kuna produce their col-orful patterns by cutting through the textile to revealthe layers underneath and stitching detail.

“I love this work, it’s so colorful, incredibly creativeand absolutely unique to these people. I fell in lovewith the Kuna when I was very young, and I’m so

excited to bring this exquisite craft to Canton,”explained Dick of both her gallery collection aswell as her personal collection, which she estimatesat nearly 500 pieces.

MOLA patterns largely reflect the world and expe-riences of daily life, from the sea, animals, birds andfish, to the sun and moon, the rain dance, the tree oflife, and sand dollars, all of which figure prominent-ly in the MOLA designs. At the same time, the Kunaare very whimsical, often incorporating Bugs Bunnyand other characters into their art. Likewise, theKuna have ventured away from strictly creatingMOLA art in panel or wearable form, now produc-ing “indigenous creations” such as pillows and purs-es in the MOLA technique.

In addition to the gallery’s namesake works, Dickshares her space with local artist Rick Huggett, whohelps her hang a monthly show of artists from StarkCounty and Ohio.

Dick has been waiting for this gallery to become areality for several years, and in addition to runningthe gallery, she owns MOLA Productions, an adver-tising, marketing and PR firm in Canton, and is partowner of the inaugural Canton Marathon, comingin June 2012.

“I absolutely love Canton – I’ve lived here for 17years, and I’m thrilled to be a part of the DowntownArts District – the art, the restaurants, the music, andthe revitalization are so important and I’m excitedto do my part,” said Dick.

(Right): MOLA textile art from MOLA Gallery

336 Fourth Street NW

in downtown Canton

Hours: Saturdays Noon to 4 p.m.,

Thursdays 4 to 6 p.m., during First

Fridays and other downtown events

and by appointment

(330) 232-6199

molagallery@aol.com

MOLA Gallery

20-21 Raising AngelinaKathleen Howland Theatrewww.secondapril.org

23 Museum Auxiliary Luncheon & Program Arm Chair Walking Tour of West Lawn CemeteryMcKinley Presidential Library & Museumwww.mckinleymuseum.org

27-28 Niffer Clarke: Beyond the IngenueKathleen Howland Theatrewww.secondapril.org

28 Masterworks Concert: Winter DreamsCanton Symphonywww.cantonsymphony.org

28 McKinley DayMcKinley Presidential Library & Museumwww.mckinleymuseum.org

28-31 Exhibit: Twice as Good – Artwork byEric Velasquez, the William Powell StoryCanton Museum of Artwww.cantonart.org

February1-10 Exhibit: Twice as Good – Artwork by

Eric Velasquez, the William Powell StoryCanton Museum of Artwww.cantonart.org

3 First Friday – Get a Clue.Downtown Cantonwww.cantonfirstfriday.com

3 First Friday Family MovieCanton Palace Theatrewww.cantonpalacetheatre.org

3-25 Revisionist Histories by Chad HansenTranslations Gallery at Anderson Creativewww.translationsart.com

4 Scared Scriptless Improv Comedy2nd April Galerie & Studioswww.secondapril.org

9 Aultman Primetime SeriesCanton Symphonywww.cantonsymphony.org

10 Exhibit Opening: That’s Entertainment!McKinley Presidential Library & Museumwww.mckinleymuseum.org

Want to advertise here? ContactDenise Burton, 330.458.2067.

Cost is $75 per issue.

January1 (through Jan. 21)

Exhibit: Beth MoonJoseph Saxton Gallery of Photographywww.josephsaxton.com

1 (through March 4)Exhibits: Focus Fiber-2011, Body Language - Selections from the PermanentCollection, Ted Lawson - A Moment in Time, Martin Bertman - EvocationsCanton Museum of Artwww.cantonart.org

1 (through May 4)Exhibit: Rising to the OccasionNational First Ladies’ Librarywww.firstladies.org

6 First Friday – Ice! Ice! BabyDowntown Cantonwww.cantonfirstfriday.com

6 First Friday Family MovieCanton Palace Theatrewww.cantonpalacetheatre.org

6-28 Required ReadingTranslations Gallery at Anderson Creativewww.translationsart.com

7 Scared Scriptless Improv Comedy2nd April Galerie & Studioswww.secondapril.org

12 Aultman Primetime SeriesCanton Symphonywww.cantonsymphony.org

12-14 The Rabbit HoleKathleen Howland Theatrewww.secondapril.org

13-29 RapunzelPlayers Guild Theatrewww.playersguildtheatre.com

19 Soup at Six: The Civil War-The 23rd Ohio Voluntary Infantry & William McKinleyMcKinley Presidential Library & Museumwww.mckinleymuseum.org

20 Blues Night at the PalaceCanton Palace Theatrewww.cantonpalacetheatre.org

11 Jim Brickman: The Romanza TourCanton Palace Theatrewww.cantonpalacetheatre.org

11 “Love is Eternal”National First Ladies’ Librarywww.firstladies.org

18 The Love ConcertCanton Palace Theatrewww.cantonpalacetheatre.org

20 President’s Day Activities!McKinley Presidential Library & Museumwww.mckinleymuseum.org

24-29 Little Women –The MusicalPlayers Guild Theatrewww.playersguildtheatre.com

26 Masterworks Concert:Student and TeacherCanton Symphonywww.cantonsymphony.org

More event information at www.DowntownCanton.com