More than 200 community leaders, artists, and business representatives gathered at Sinclair Community College in Dayton on April 14 for the inaugural Montgomery County Arts Forum, organized under the theme “Arts for All: Connecting Montgomery County Through Arts and Culture.” The event featured panel discussions and breakout sessions on how the arts sector contributes to regional identity and economic health.

Keynote speaker Lisa Wagner, executive director of Levitt Pavilion, spoke about art’s capacity to create community belonging. Debi Chess, external relations director of the Dayton Metro Library, highlighted the county’s mix of urban, rural, and suburban communities as an asset for cultural programming. The event featured live music by the Deron Bell Band and real-time graphic illustrations by Draw on Purpose.

Montgomery County Commissioner Mary McDonald framed arts investment as more than cultural amenity. “They are not just programs or events,” she said. “They are infrastructure. They support workforce attraction, neighborhood vitality.” County commissioners have allocated $1 million annually to the Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District. The local arts sector is estimated to support approximately 4,500 jobs, generate $6 million in local tax revenue, and produce $142 million in economic activity annually. The county also announced sponsorship of the 2026 Funk Concert Series at Levitt Pavilion.

Source: WYSU