At Wayne Center for the Arts (WCA), we know that creativity is a powerful force—but it’s the connections we build through art that truly transform lives and strengthen our community.
Every year, more than 2,000 students of all ages enter the WCA building, coming together not just to learn, but to belong. A sense of community thrives here. One student shared, “I always looked forward to class each week. The community-feel it provides is a great encouragement and support.” For another, a retired lifelong learner, our classes have offered a new way to connect and feel a part of something bigger: “It’s been very rewarding. I’m starting to look at things differently, and it has helped my creative side.”
WCA strives to be a place where people come together. A parent of a summer camper told us, “The environment here is so supportive and collaborative. It’s not about competition, it’s about working together.” And one of our adult students described the essence of our community perfectly: “Art brings people together in a way that nothing else can. We talk, we share ideas, we support each other. This is what community is supposed to be — everyone finding joy and connection in something they love.”
That sense of connection extends beyond our walls. Through our Outreach Programs, we brought the healing power of art to more than 6,000 people last year, many facing challenges like addiction, mental health issues, and economic hardship. We reach them where they are, offering art as a bridge to self-expression, healing, and hope.
That spirit of community is the heart of everything we do at WCA. And now, we’re actively pursuing opportunities to take more than our Outreach programs out to the four corners of Wayne county. Beginning in the new year we will offer dance classes, as well as adult and family visual arts programs in Orrville, making arts education and community-building even more accessible.
But none of this happens without you. To continue building a strong, connected community through the arts, we need your support. Your generous gift to the WCA Annual Fund will help us sustain these efforts—providing arts access for all, fostering well-being, and strengthening the ties that bind us together.
We invite you to join us in this effort. Together, we can continue to build a vibrant community where art brings people together, breaks down barriers, and fosters a sense of belonging for everyone.
Yes! I will invest in enriching lives and strengthening our community through art! Click below and you will be taken to our donation portal.