Kokosing Valley Arts Alliance

08/10/2026

Join us this weekend at the Mount Vernon Music & Arts Festival for the announcements of the Art in the Park Community Art Contest winners, South Stage, August 15th, 1:30pm!

There is still time to visit the community art exhibit at the Knox County Convention & Visitors Bureau , CA&C Depot Visitors Center, 501 South Main St., MTV to join in the Community Choice Award voting!

07/13/2026

The front porches on East High Street are turning into stages on July 17. The Mount Vernon Summer Front Porch Concert Series runs from June through August, bringing a full lineup of live music directly to the neighborhood.

Expect a packed schedule of local musicians covering jazz, gospel, blues, folk, and rock. The streets will be lined with food trucks, artists, vendors, and activities alongside the porch stages. Grab your lawn chair, find a spot in the yard, and catch the performances all summer long.

Head to www.kokosingarts.org/july for the full lineup!

Photo credit: Front Porch Concert Series and WQIO/WMVO

07/07/2026

Join us July 10th 4-6pm for Art at the Park!

A community art contest and exhibition presented by Kokosing Valley Arts Alliance in partnership with Knox County Convention & Visitors Bureau and our wonderful community art galleries:

Coleman Gallery, Pine Row Studios, Kudos Artists Co-op, Kenyon Annex - Gund Gallery, Gallery on Gambier.

This event will showcase local creativity at the historic CA&C Visitor Center in Mount Vernon and celebrate the many talented artists who make our community so unique.

Selected artwork will be displayed during the public exhibition from July 10 through August 16, where visitors will also have the opportunity to vote for their favorite pieces in the Community Choice Award. Winners announced August 15th at the Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival.

Whether you are a longtime artist or simply enjoy creating, we encourage you to be part of this exciting new event.

06/22/2026

KVAA is proud to be a sponsor of this year's Knox Foodies, LLC Blues, Brews & BBQ! Featuring some of the best regional blues artists, Ohio craft beers and the best BBQ around, this is sure to be another great community event.

The Shaun Booker Dammit Band
John Henry and the Rainmakers
The Joint Rockers

06/04/2026

Running late? You’re good. Sign‑ups are staying open past 7pm! Come share your talents!

Tonight’s the night! Join us at 7pm at The Woodward Opera House for a special Woodward Opera House Open Mic Night sponsored by Bickerdyke Table & Tap.

Bring your music, poetry, comedy, storytelling, magic tricks, juggling, or whatever creative spark you’ve got ready to share!

Sign ups start at 5:30!

06/04/2026

Tonight’s the night! Join us at 7pm at The Woodward Opera House for a special Woodward Opera House Open Mic Night sponsored by Bickerdyke Table & Tap.

Bring your music, poetry, comedy, storytelling, magic tricks, juggling, or whatever creative spark you’ve got ready to share!

Sign ups start at 5:30!

06/02/2026

This night is for YOU!

The Woodward Opera House Open Mic Night is more than a performance — it’s a gathering place for creativity, encouragement, and community. Whether you sing, write poetry, tell jokes, play guitar, juggle, or simply love supporting local talent, we invite you to join us Thursday, June 4. 7pm.

No pressure. No expectations. Just a welcoming room full of people sharing art and cheering each other on. Bring a friend. Try something new. Discover your next favorite local artist.

Sign ups start at 5:30pm
Sponsored by Bickerdyke Table & Tap
Hosted by Nellie Six and Side Effects
Bar service 6–9pm
Free event

05/30/2026

CALLING ALL PERFORMERS!

Musicians, poets, comedians, storytellers, magicians, spoken word artists, and creative souls of every kind — the Woodward stage is waiting for you!

Join us for Woodward Open Mic Night on Thursday, June 4, 7pm and share your talent in one of Ohio’s most beautiful historic venues. Sign ups start at 5:30

Hosted by Nellie Six and Side Effects, this special event blends the spirit of Mount Vernon’s open mic community into one incredible night of support.

You can chose go it solo, singer/songwriter style, small combo or have the open jam band back you up!

First timer? You are welcome here.
Seasoned performer? We want to hear you.
Just coming to listen? We’d love to have you.

Sponsored by Bickerdyke Table & Tap
Hosted by Nellie Six and Side Effects
Bar service 6–9pm
Free event

05/29/2026

Tomorrow! Join KVAA for an inspiring afternoon of photography, storytelling, and conversation with internationally acclaimed photographer and filmmaker Louie Palu at The Woodward Opera House.

From documenting mining communities to covering conflict zones and the changing Arctic, Palu’s work explores how photography can deepen our understanding of people, place, science, journalism, and world affairs.

Whether you’re a photographer, student, filmmaker, artist, or simply curious about visual storytelling, this free public workshop offers a rare opportunity to hear firsthand from an artist whose work has appeared in museums and publications around the world.

Saturday, May 30, 1–3 PM
Free & open to the public
A live Q&A session will follow the presentation.

05/28/2026

What does it mean to tell stories through images?

Join award-winning photographer and filmmaker Louie Palu for KVAA’s Arts Alliance Workshop: Photography on Saturday, May 30. 1-3pm at The Woodward Opera House.

Over a career spanning more than 30 years, Palu has documented workers, communities, war, migration, and the Arctic through photography and film. During this workshop, he’ll share photographs, personal experiences, and practical insights into documentary storytelling and the role visual art plays in understanding the world around us.

Click here to see Palu's photo documentary: The Fighting Season:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uUioIZlya61LwWvz0fnsPccmW7ayTmDR/view?usp=sharing

photo @ louie palu

Audience Q&A included
Free Public Event