(From left) Barberton High School DECA Advisor Samantha Coldwell and her students Ashley Cook, Justine Liddle and Kathryn Ebner have helped unify Barberton’s arts and entertainment district with the launch of the monthly Fourth Friday event, which kicks off Friday, Feb. 26 (Photo: Chris Miller)
Barberton DECA high school students along with the downtown Barberton businesses have partnered to present Barberton Fourth Friday. Three senior high school students were inspired by their marketing project to partner with the Barberton Arts & Entertainment district to create a marketing plan to inspire growth in the area.
The first Fourth Friday event is a result of this project and will take place on Friday, Feb. 26 from 5 to 8 p.m. in downtown Barberton on Tuscarawas Ave.
“The purpose of Barberton Fourth Friday is to show off the businesses and the downtown arts & culture district of Barberton. The night will feature music, art, food and fun!” said Samantha Coldwell, Barberton DECA Advisor. “What I’m looking forward to is seeing this event inspire economic development in this area.”
Many of the downtown businesses will be offering specials, discounts, live music, pop-up art galleries and live artists in their businesses. Lake 8 Movies will be hosting a pop-up gallery by artist George Erwin, Block 7 will be hosting Saxy Rob – saxophonist & Joshua Surgeon guitarist & vocalist, ACot will be hosting live painting by Nikki Bartell & music by Zach plus their resident artists will all have their studios open. Additionally, Nine Muses will have a Gallery opening by George Kurka featuring “Alchemy” paintings & The Magical Theater Company will be giving tours of their newly renovated theater & hosting games & improve for kids & adults.
“What is great about this event is it is bringing together all the businesses downtown,” said Kathryn Ebner, Barberton Fourth Friday project lead and high school student. “We helped the downtown businesses form a Merchants Association. It is so awesome to see them supporting each other and supporting the arts.”
She added: “We all grew up in Barberton, so it holds a special place in our hearts, and ever since Kave has opened and they started doing the open mic night on Thursdays we love to go down there and watch our friends sing and we wanted it to grow and get even bigger.”
“We found that a lot of people were nor even aware that Barberton had an arts district and those who were aware didn’t really know what was happening in the arts district,” said Justine Liddle, another student involved with planning this event.
A school marketing research project inspired this amazing event and partnership. To learn more about Barberton Fourth Friday you can find out more on Facebook. For questions, contact Coldwell at [email protected].
