ARTSNCT to publish free Newcomerstown arts history book 

ARTSNCT, the Arts Center of Newcomerstown, announced the upcoming release of a community history book, “Newcomerstown’s Connection to the Arts,” scheduled for publication in March 2026.

The book documents Newcomerstown residents who went on to professional careers in the arts, including music, theater, film, design and performance, often beyond Tuscarawas County. Richly illustrated and researched, the book includes both well-known figures and lesser-known artists whose work contributed to the town’s cultural legacy.

“This book exists because these stories matter,” Michael Wise, executive director of ARTSNCT, said. “Newcomerstown has sent artists out into the world for more than a century. Many of them helped shape the arts in ways most people never realized — and this project finally brings those stories home.”

The project also highlights Newcomerstown’s history as a hub of arrivals and departures, including the Newcomerstown Railroad Depot and the former Newcomerstown Opera House. Touring performers, vaudeville troupes and concert musicians stopped in town, and major attractions of the era, including the John Philip Sousa Band and P.T. Barnum’s circus, passed through, Wise said.

“This project is about reclaiming and sharing stories that belong to this community,” Wise said. “Newcomerstown has contributed far more to the arts than most people realize. These artists carried this town with them wherever their careers took them, and their stories deserve to be preserved and celebrated.”

To broaden access, ARTSNCT said the book will be distributed free throughout the community. Copies will be placed in Newcomerstown schools, the Newcomerstown Historical Society, the Newcomerstown Public Library, the Tuscarawas County Convention & Visitors Bureau and other regional locations. The free distribution is supported by a grant from the Tuscarawas County Convention & Visitors Bureau.

ARTSNCT will release additional information closer to publication, including availability, distribution locations and related public programs.

ARTSNCT is a nonprofit organization focused on preserving and promoting the arts and cultural heritage of Newcomerstown and the surrounding region through education, exhibitions, performances and community partnerships.