This January, the Tamarack Foundation for the Arts jumpstarted its Ripple program within the Morgantown community, designed to bring $10,000 to the local community to initiate two artistic projects. Over the past five months, a group of dedicated community members worked together to brainstorm and bring impactful creative projects to life, receiving additional support from the Visit Mountaineer Country Conventions and Visitors Bureau (VMCCVB) and the Main Street Morgantown Affiliate Program. Since its beginning in the Morgantown community in early 2024, the Ripple Program has supported seven events specifically designed and created to uplift our local artisans. Two of the program’s major events include:
Morgantown Maker Mixer
The Morgantown Maker Mixer was a wonderful initiative created through the Ripple program to establish a welcoming space for local artists and creators to connect with community members they may not have interacted with previously. This program included two well-received networking events on April 18 at the Monongalia Arts Center and May 16 at the Co-Op on Pleasant Street.
The May 16 Maker Mixer was a great success, drawing in more than 70 talented artisans, who were all provided with complimentary drinks and catering from local restaurants BC MaC and the Morgantown Art Bar, courtesy of the Ripple program. Attendees had the opportunity to engage with artisans practicing various creative mediums within our Greater Morgantown Area, fostering meaningful networking and relationship-building among the local creative community.
This event had a significant impact, leading the Tamarack Foundation for the Arts’ desire to showcase it as a model for other communities in West Virginia, providing a blueprint to help bolster local artisan connections and strengthen the creative fabric of communities throughout the state.
First Friday for the Arts
The second project developed under the Tamarack Ripple Program is First Friday for the Arts, a monthly event that has enriched the Morgantown community with Friday evenings dedicated to celebrating the arts. These initiatives have successfully showcased the work of more than 50 talented artists through featured exhibitions, live demonstrations and captivating performances.
The most recent event, held on June 7, featured six exhibitions, three live music performances and four engaging visual art demonstrations/activities all available to the public free of charge. June’s First Friday for the Arts attendees had the opportunity to carve their own linoleum prints with Red Thread Press, witness live wood-burning from Monique Rowe and so much more.
This is just the beginning of a series of collaborative initiatives. Fueled by the desire to create a lasting impact, dedicated community members are working to expand and enhance these creative opportunities for artisans. The community is looking forward to the ongoing expansion of this program, committed to bringing the best of local exhibitions, visual arts, performances and more to our community.
Get connected to the Creative community
The Arts Council of Greater Morgantown (ACGM) is your local resource for arts information and opportunities. Here at the ACGM, we aim to advance the arts and enhance the community by encouraging investment in imagination, infrastructure and invention. Please check out our website artsgm.org or follow us on Facebook and Instagram @theArtsCouncilofGreaterMorgantown.
Want to stay connected? Email Jordan@artsgm.org to be added to the ACGM Creative Network mailing list! Also, donations to advance the Arts Council can be made through the donation tab located at artsgm.org.
