Community Engagement
Building Community Through Art
The McDonough as a center for contemporary art recognizes the need to support both cultural values and artistic excellence through community engagement. We seek to promote learning through communication, shared experience and visual literacy. We have created partnerships with local and regional organizations to not only reinforce the vital role of art and design in community but to also support those organizations and their missions. Our collaborations give us an opportunity to share and also a chance to learn, grow and give voice to our community and its diverse perspectives.
Lit Youngstown
The Fall Literary Fest is an annual partnered event. A high-quality conference of award-winning writers and dozens of concurrent sessions on writing, reading, understanding, teaching, editing, publishing and performing creative work.
The Links, Inc.
The goal of The Arts Facet is to produce and support programs to enrich the quality of life of youth and communities through educational and engaging art experiences while transforming communities.
Hope Center for Arts and Technology
One of the many programs available at HopeCAT is providing free after-school visual art classes for students in grades 7-12 from the surrounding region with the goal of increasing positive mentorship and leading students to pathways that create productive citizens in their communities.
First Fridays
First Fridays Downtown Youngstown take place every first Friday of the month in and around Downtown Youngstown at various locations. During First Fridays, visitors have the opportunity to enjoy live music, shopping, local dining, entertainment, arts, activities, recreation, and more.
The McDonough has participated in past with a maker event as well as being the host location with festivities including an opportunity to meet and greet some of the artists from the exhibition on display along with a chance to listen to live music while enjoying hors d’oeuvres and beverages. First Fridays Downtown Youngstown are evenings of fun and culture.
Inspiring Minds
Inspiring Minds is a nonprofit organization that engages and empowers youth with after-school and summer programs that focus on five areas of impact: education, college and career readiness, exposure to new experiences, health and wellness, and personal development. This partnership allows the McDonough to encourage creativity and enhance the participants' arts education as well as inspiring these youths to help foster a new generation of art enthusiasts.