Todd Walburn and Brennis Booth always planned to open 2nd April Galerie in downtown Canton. When they started looking for a space a few years ago, the landscape was little more than blocks of vacant buildings, but they believed the area would rebound.
“We always wanted to be in a downtown location,” Walburn says. “We believe arts are a great way to revitalize downtown.”
It was a philosophy shared by ArtsinStark, a nonprofit led by president and CEO
Robb Hankins. Thanks in large part to the group’s efforts, the Canton Arts District has grown into a bustling hub of activity with four art galleries, 22 art studios, 40 public art installations and monthly First Friday events for area residents.
Today, more than 50 local artists operate out of the galleries and studios, and each year 25,000 people attend First Friday to see street performers, gallery openings and public art unveilings.
Now located on Cleveland Avenue in the heart of the Canton Arts District, 2nd April has grown as well, boasting 10,000 square feet of gallery space, a coffee bar, 20 artist studios and a black box theater in the basement.
Walburn attributes much of the gallery’s success to First Fridays.
“They’re a comfortable way for people to work their way into an art gallery,” he says. Although he doesn’t know exactly how many people visit the gallery during the events, he estimates it’s in the thousands.
“From front to back, the studio is packed with people,” he says, and the exposure is clearly making a difference at 2nd April, which had its most profitable Christmas last year.
“As a small business, we couldn’t afford to promote ourselves the way that ArtsinStark promotes the Arts District and First Fridays and the arts in general.”
All this is good news for the future of the Canton Arts District, and Walburn notices more than just the scenery changing. “People really understand art better because they’re exposed to it month after month,” he says. “ArtsinStark makes art fun, interesting and educational. Art is something to have fun with and enjoy. It’s not something to be afraid of.”