HCA puts forth a day of fun and activities

One central focus that accompanied the creation of the new arts facility when the Holmes Center for the Arts building was created in Berlin was to invest in ways to connect with community.

On Friday, March 21, that connection was on full display when the HCA put forth a day of fun and activities for individuals with special needs.

The Holmes Center for the Arts received a $500 grant from Community Fund Ohio to host an arts celebration in whatever way it felt it wanted. The HCA chose to invite friends from Sacred Ground Adult Daycare in Berlin and Michelle Mishler’s class of special needs students at Hiland High School.

The event included participation in various visual art activities and line-dancing and creative movement sessions. Once those sessions were over, the entire group gathered together for a lunch of pizza from Colorful Cookery and ice cream sundaes with ingredients supplied by German Village Market.

“We were really fortunate to receive this grant,” said Cathie Lynch, outreach director with Holmes Center for the Arts. “The grant paid for three different teachers and all of the supplies needed for the arts as well as the pizza.”

However, when the funds ran out short of what they had initially hoped to provide, in stepped another area business to make sure this was everything the participants had hoped it would be.

“We didn’t quite have enough money left after supplies and pizza to cover the ice cream, so German Village graciously stepped up and donated the ice cream for free,” Lynch said. “We were so grateful.”

According to Lynch, HCA had previously received funding from Community Fund Ohio, specifically to purchase special-need-accessible pottery wheels, thus qualifying for the smaller $500 grant fund.

It all added up to a three-hour event filled with creativity, smiles and laughs.

Mishler, intervention specialist with Hiland High School, had nine of her students in attendance. She said while they do as many different activities as possible throughout the school year, few can rival the joy that accompanies attending special events outside the school building.

“We have seen such growth in our students by having these types of experiences outside the daily routine of the school,” Mishler said. “There’s so much more excitement that comes with events outside in the community.”

She said with all the music, movement, creativity and fellowship, the event provided unique opportunities.

“We get to follow directions, participate and engage and connect with the community when we get outside,” Mishler said.

She said this is a new partnership between her class and the HCA that has already begun to pay dividends, and her students were eager to experience everything the HCA had to offer.

While Mishler’s students were busy painting small treasure boxes and putting their own flair on each one, the table next to theirs saw clients from Sacred Ground Adult Daycare working on another painting project.

Karen Dorngowski, an art teacher with the HCA who teaches a variety of art classes for both adults and youth, was leading individuals in creating polka dot art.

She said everyone enjoyed the time, something she said art presents every time someone sits down to use their skills, regardless of their talent level.

Downstairs Ella Sommers, who works part-time with Sacred Ground Adult Daycare, provided instructions and worked with individuals on movement and some physical activities and exercises.

“We’re working on some fine motor skills. We did a musicality march, we’ve done some scarf exercises and upstairs we’ve created an obstacle course for them to enjoy,” Sommers said. “This has been such a neat experience that they’ve really enjoyed.”

Whether it was more physical work or the relaxation of painting, it all added up to a satisfying day of activities at HCA.