Five Decades of Performing Arts in Springfield

In May 1967, Springfield community members met with representatives from existing arts organizations to organize a “Springfield Summer Arts Festival” to provide summer activities for the community and arts activity for local arts organizations during their slow season.

In 1971, the group was encouraged by the Ohio Arts Council (OAC) to adopt plans to become a year-round operation and to develop programing including touring performances and arts education, and in Spring of 1971, the Springfield Arts Council was incorporated.

in 1974, the organization hired J. Chris Moore as full-time Executive Director to provide continuity for the group and the Summer Arts Festival, to work with the council in the development of programming, and to organize fundraising efforts.

In 1975, the Springfield Arts Council began its Arts in the Classroom program with a month-long music residency and several poetry residencies funded by the Ohio Arts Council. A year later, an expanded format of arts education programs was added to Arts in the Classroom roster in an attempt to offer arts programs to schools throughout Clark County.

1976 also saw the Springfield Arts Council present programming which eventually became the foundation of a “Winter Artist Series.” This was accomplished through encouragement and funding from the Ohio Arts Council, rather than from a strong community need. While Summer Arts Festival and Arts in the Classroom programs continued to grow, as did support from local and state government and the community, the “Winter Artist Series” did not grow, and funding was needed to subsidize the gap left by low ticket sales.

In 1981, the Springfield Arts Council decided to attempt winter programming of a more popular nature. Series and single ticket sales increased sharply and progressed on a steady incline until the 1985-1986 season when Memorial Hall was closed. The Series was moved to North High School, where it continued until 1993. Community interest in a state-of-the-art performance hall resulted in a fundraising effort, ultimately resulting in the construction of the Clark State Performing Arts Center, opened in downtown Springfield in 1993.

In recent years, the “Winter Artist Series” has adapted to be known as the Great Entertainment Series, the Traditions and Transitions Series, and the Broadway and Beyond Series, and is currently marketed as The Showtime Series, continuing a tradition of over 45 years of presenting high-quality performing arts concerts and touring attractions in Springfield and Clark County.

In 2004, the first phase of a “Veterans Park Renovation Project” capitol campaign was completed with the addition of a concession stand, public restrooms and hospitality terrace on the east side of the amphitheater. In 2005, the second phase of the project was completed, which included a new stage, lighting canopy, an orchestra/ reserved seating pad, a new central production control building (with a sponsor seating deck,) and asphalt paths and handicapped seating pads throughout the Grand Lawn area. The final phase of the project, including both east and west concession stands, additional public restrooms, two hospitality terraces, a sponsor hospitality area, and a Festival office on the west side of the amphitheater, was completed in 2010. The Summer Arts Festival celebrated its 57th year of admission-free concerts and performances in 2023.

In 2007, our highly acclaimed Summer Arts Festival, the longest-running event of its kind in Ohio, was one of just 70 Ohio projects registered as a “Local Legacy” in the U.S. Library of Congress.

Currently, the Summer Arts Festival annually receives support from the Ohio Arts Council, from local foundations, businesses, Festival sponsors, and from Annual Fund Campaign donors. The Summer Arts Festival’s “pass the hat” donations, and net sales from concessions, also serve to support the organization. Additional fundraising events at the Summer Arts Festival, plus seasonal events including the annual “Salute to the Arts” fundraiser, along with late fall and late spring raffle/fundraiser events, also provide additional cash flow. Occasional incomes from rental of audio and lighting equipment, as well as rental of costumes from the SAC’s Costume Collection, also contribute.

The Springfield Arts Council’s Arts in Education programs (Arts in the Classroom, Youth Arts Ambassadors, and Arts Alive) are funded by corporate or individual grants, sponsorships, and by individual donations. Arts in the Classroom receives support through school program fees of approximately 75% of the programming cost. Youth Arts Ambassadors receive funding from tickets sales and YAA events, as well as miscellaneous grants, sponsorships, and individual support.

The Springfield Arts Council Endowment Fund is currently managed by The Springfield Foundation, with interest from the endowment helping to support the Springfield Arts Council’s annual budget. Planned giving arrangements benefiting the Council are also managed through the Springfield Foundation.

Following 39 years of service to the Springfield Arts Council, former executive director J. Chris Moore retired in August 2013 and was honorarily named Director Emeritus of the organization. In November 2013, following 13 years with SAC as Marketing and Design Director, Tim Rowe was named to the SAC’s Executive Director position. Following Rowe’s retirement in October 2024 after 23 years of service, Krissy Brown was promoted on November 1, 2024 to the position of Executive Director of the Springfield Arts Council.

The Springfield Arts Council, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. As of the 2024-25 fiscal year, a nineteen-member Board of Directors is responsible to set the organization’s strategic direction and ensure that the organization has necessary resources to achieve its goals. The Board of Directors meets regularly throughout the Springfield Arts Council’s September 1 through August 31 fiscal year. Daily operations of the organization are currently managed by a four-person full-time staff.

The Springfield Arts Council’s business office is currently located at 202 N. Limestone St., Suite 301, in downtown Springfield, OH, in the historic News-Sun building. The office is open Monday – Friday, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm.

Information about events and programs is available at springfieldartscouncil.org, and at facebook.com/SpringfieldArtsCouncil.

Contact the Springfield Arts Council:
saconline@springfieldartscouncil.org and 937-324-2712.