Every September, tens of thousands of visitors and residents come to Grove City Town Center to enjoy the creativity of more than 100 juried artists and exhibitors, witness the musical talents of award-winning school choirs and nationally recognized bands and cheer on singers vying for the coveted Voice of Grove City title.

In its 43rd year, Arts in the Alley, hosted by the Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce, is one of central Ohio’s longest-running arts and music festivals. Each year, the level of craftsmanship and shear talent of participants continues to impress me as I witness the spectacular displays of fine art, photography, pottery, glass, quilting, crafts and so much more. In each category, artists vie for top recognition from judges and hope to collect the most People’s Choice votes at shows in buildings all over the historic Town Center.

Throughout City Hall are beautiful pieces of art, most of them the works of individuals who have participated in the top fine-art competition of Arts in the Alley – the Easel Award. The winning entry in this category earns the artist a $2,000 purchase award and adds their work to the city’s permanent collection.

First introduced in 1989, the Easel Award was conceived with the intention of creating a compilation of past and present images of Grove City while showcasing the talents of area artists. More than 30 years later, our collection has become an incredible visual timeline. Each piece captures a moment in Grove City’s history that exemplifies life in our hometown.

Now it is time to expand the collection.

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Beginning with this year’s Easel Award competition, submissions in this category are no longer required to depict scenes of Grove City past or present, though such pieces are certainly welcome. However, entries are required to reflect the 2022 Arts in the Alley theme of “My Hometown Original” and include a brief description of the subject matter. We look forward to growing a collection of art that embodies our city’s welcoming and inclusive nature.

By expanding the criteria for the Easel Award, we expect to see entries sharing the things artists love most about their hometown, giving us an opportunity to learn about and embrace their roots. This, in a way, is an extension of our 170th-anniversary celebration, as we encourage others to explore Grove City’s roots during the week leading up to Arts in the Alley, Sept. 9-17.

Come to the Grant-Sawyer Home at 6 p.m. Sept. 9 and join “founder William Foster Breck,” performed by Glen Garcia of Little Theatre Off Broadway, as he helps kick off our nine-day anniversary celebration. The event, featuring Jackson Middle School’s Spark of Class show choir, is the first of many planned activities during the week, including a historic bike tour hosted by Heritage Bikes, opportunities to meet local history authors, Gantz Farm’s 31st-anniversary open house, a military encampment reenactment at Century Village, extended museum hours and an open house and picnic with “the Grant Family” at the Grant-Sawyer Home. For details, go to grovecityohio.gov.

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Grove City has earned a reputation as a welcoming and supportive community – one where even those who have just moved here feel at home.

For more details about Arts in the Alley, including all art competitions, the community Parade or the Voice of Grove City vocal competition, go to gcchamber.org/arts. Join me for two weeks of Grove City traditions and history throughout the community during September.

Richard “Ike” Stage is the mayor of Grove City.