The arts are alive and thriving in the Mid-Ohio Valley, with symphony, ballet, theater, visual arts, and literature offered through a variety of organized public activities.
Add to that a long list of festivals, like the annual Multi-Cultural Festival in City Park during June, the Downtown Cultural District’s “Arts!Downtown” family weekend in August, and free outdoor concerts in parks all summer. There is no shortage of cultural activities to enjoy in our colorful valley.
Publicity is coordinated through ARTSBRIDGE, the arts service agency for the region, with regularly updated arts calendars on local television and radio stations and in the local newspapers on Fridays and Saturdays, and on the web at www.artswindow.org.
ARTSBRIDGE offers a variety of services to arts groups and audiences in Wood County as well as Washington County, Ohio.
Other sources of cultural events include the area’s colleges. Ohio Valley and WVU-P’s Drama and Music Departments present numerous concerts, as well as other special events, featuring visiting musicians, theater companies, and lecturers.
Churches in the Valley also sponsor many concerts and other cultural events throughout the year for the public.
To experience the personality of the Mid-Ohio Valley, one should experience what the arts have to offer.
Actors’ Guild of Parkersburg consists of community volunteers who love the theater. Productions range from Neil Simon comedies to murder mysteries and serious drama. The Guild has won a number of awards for excellence.
Actor’s Guild Builders is an organization for young people from third through ninth grades. Youngsters study every aspect of theater production and then apply what they’ve learned to produce a student-written play, as well as another major production for the public.
Mid-Ohio Valley Ballet is home to 10 principal dancers and 15 junior apprentices who present at least three major, full-length productions each year. Well-known guest artists and instructors are often featured in the programs.
Mid-Ohio Valley Symphony Orchestra Society sponsors at least four local performances each year by the West Virginia Symphony from Charleston. Although the Symphony travels often throughout the state, it regards Parkersburg as its “second home” because this area has a regular subscription program. Concerts are on a par with those of larger metropolitan areas and many nationally recognized musicians have made guest appearances here. The MOVSOS also provides special programs for the area’s schools.
Ohio Valley Literary Group is an organization dedicated to the promotion of the literary arts. Its activities include the Blennerhassett Reading Series, a monthly program to showcase area writers, and special informal presentations in the spring and fall by well-known authors. The group publishes a literary magazine, Confluence.
Ohio Valley Artists meet the first Thursday of each month at the Parkersburg Art Center. Artists share ideas for marketing, exhibiting, and improving techniques. Anyone may attend the meetings and participate in the critiques by and for fellow artists.
Parkersburg Art Center, 725 Market Street, in downtown Parkersburg, hosts eight exhibits each year of nationally or internationally known artists; eight exhibits of state or regional artwork; twelve exhibits by local artists, and many exhibits by young artists in their five galleries. Other services offered include the "Zocolo" Gift Shop, classes and workshops. There is a $2.00 charge to visit the galleries for non-members; affordable memberships available. Please call 304-485-3859 for more information.
Parkersburg Choral Society, which was founded in 1967, presents a regular series of concerts. Forty singers, usually performing with a chamber orchestra and guest soloists, produce works of classical music.
River Cities Symphony Orchestra is a full orchestra, composed of area musicians. A relatively new group, it has a full-time director and presents at least four concerts of classical music each year.
Schrader Youth Ballet is a dance company for young people. The group provides a number of opportunities for young, aspiring dancers to improve their skills and to perform for the public.