HAPPY BIRTHDAY OGLEBAY INSTITUTE!
The Nation’s Oldest Arts Council Celebrates its 80th Anniversary with 80-Hour “Imagination Celebration”

WHEELING, W.Va. (March 5, 2010)- - Art can fill the soul, heal the heart and create community. That’s why Oglebay Institute is pulling out all the stops for its 80th Anniversary “Imagination Celebration,” a four-day, citywide celebration of art, nature and community April 15-18.

Located in Wheeling, West Virginia, Oglebay Institute is recognized as the nation’s oldest arts council, and its 80th anniversary creativity marathon involves all aspects of the Institute’s programs - art, nature, history, dance, theater and music. Events are planned for all ages in venues throughout Wheeling. Almost all of the special programs are absolutely free.

“We want our anniversary to be a celebration of Wheeling’s creative community – the artists, musicians, actors, writers and performers who contribute to the vibrant cultural life of our city and the loyal residents who consistently support these programs and whose lives are enriched through the arts,” President Kathleen McDermott said.

“The schedule of events is impressive and includes everything from early morning nature walks to a live music marathon that will rock into the late night hours,” Oglebay Institute director of marketing Misty Klug said.

She added that art demonstrations and workshops, historic tours, book and poetry readings, art exhibits, kids crafts and games, mural painting, gallery tours, Night at the Museum sleepovers, nature programs, astronomy, campfires, lectures, theatrical performances, concerts, dancing, luncheons, receptions and plenty of birthday cake are all included in the “Imagination Celebration” line-up.

A complete schedule is available at OIonline.com or by calling the Stifel Fine Arts Center at 304.242.7700.

Opening ceremonies will take place at 8:08 Thursday, April 15 on the steps of the city/county building where Wheeling Mayor Andy McKenzie will read a proclamation honoring Oglebay Institute for its contributions to the cultural life of Wheeling. The “Imagination Celebration” programs will continue around-the-clock through 5 p.m. Sunday, April 18.

“This celebration provides a glimpse of Wheeling’s artistic community in one jam-packed weekend,” Misty Klug, Oglebay Institute marketing director, said. “These types of events happen year-round in our city, but condensing them into one grand celebration really highlights the breadth of arts and entertainment opportunities that are available locally.”

Oglebay Institute partnered with area schools and universities, local businesses and organizations such as the Wheeling Arts and Culture Commission, Wheeling National Heritage Area Corporation and the City of Wheeling to present its 80th anniversary celebration.

“In addition to support from organizations, dozens of individual artists, musicians, actors, writers, educators and dancers have volunteered their time and talents to make this free community celebration possible,” McDermott said.

Oglebay Institute was formed in 1930 when a group of like-minded citizens, armed with the vision and the philanthropy of the Oglebay family, came together to “contribute to the joy of living” by creating cultural, education and recreational programming in the city’s newly acquire Oglebay Park.

Since that time the Institute has grown to include six facilities throughout Wheeling – The Mansion Museum, The Glass Museum, The Stifel Fine Arts Center, Towngate Theatre and Cinema, The Schrader Environmental Education Center and the School of Dance - and offers hundreds of community and school programs in the city, county, region and state. These institute-sponsored programs annually give entertainment and instruction in the arts, history and nature to more than 120,000 people of all ages.

For more information visit www.OIonline.com