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, hosted by Lit Youngstown, is an annual partnered event. This high-quality conference features 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, a program sponsored by The Links, Inc., is to produce and support programs that 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 through the Hope Center for Arts and Technology is the providing of 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 takes place every first Friday of the month in and around downtown Youngstown at various locations. During this event, visitors have the opportunity to enjoy live music, shopping, local dining, entertainment, arts, activities, recreation, and more.
The McDonough has participated in First Fridays in the past by sponsoring a maker event. The museum has also been the host location for First Fridays, featuring festivities like meet and greets with artists from the current exhibition on display and displays of live music with hors d’oeuvres and beverages. First Fridays 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.