March is arts and crafts month!

For me, this means carving some time out of my busy schedule to break out the glue guns, paint and sewing machine for some DIY projects.

I scoured my new favorite social media obsession, Pinterest, and decided that I MUST make my own chalkboard paint, could spruce up the office with these adorable farm animals made from cardboard tubes, and need to get ready for garden time with a handy garden tool caddy.

Which crafts are you working on? And are you planning on entering any in this year's Ohio State Fair Creative Arts competition?

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2012 PROSPECTUS

The Prospectus is ready!

Our Fair website is being redesigned and is not quite ready. If you would like a copy of the Prospectus please email me at p.oloughlin@expo.state.oh.us and I will email you a copy.

The newly designed website should be up by the end of March. The Prospectus will be available there at that time.

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Country, Comedy and Concerts - Oh My!

The time has come - the first of the Ohio State Fair concerts have been announced and we can't believe we have to wait 138 days until the shows begin!

Comedians Jim Gaffigan (known for his hilarious, why-is-the-middle-still-frozen-and-the-outside-scorches-my-mouth "hot pocket" bit) and Billy Gardell (the star, Mike, of Mike & Molly) will kick off the Fair with some laughs on July 25.

As we run through the 12 days of the Fair, we'll take a tour of the nation, welcoming Chicago (co-headlining with The Doobie Brothers) on July 27 then visiting Boston (with special guest Kansas) on Aug. 1. Really, at how many fairs can you experience two other cities and a state? Make the trip complete with a trip to the International Food Court in the MarketPlace Building and you'll be set.

The legendary Isley Brothers, featuring the talented Ronald and Ernie Isley, will grace the stage on July 28. At the young age of 11, Ernie was taught how to play the guitar by former Isley Brothers touring guitarist Jimi Hendrix - how cool is that?!

Ohioans Sanctus Real will open for Christian chart-toppers the Casting Crowns on August 1 for a fun, feel-good show.

The next day, visitors can enjoy a free show by the Cab Calloway Orchestra during the afternoon. That evening, Merle Haggard and Kris Kristofferson will join together for an amazing 90-minute set of pickin' singin' and storytellin'.

Siblings Kimberly, Reid and Neil (better known as The Band Perry) will perform their chart-topping, Grammy-nominated hits on Aug. 2 following an opening performance by breakthrough country duo The JaneDear Girls.

Aug. 4 brings teen queen Victoria Justice, star of VicTORious, to the WCOL Celeste Center stage with her first-ever tour.

And what Ohio State Fair wouldn't be complete with performances by the All-Ohio State Fair Band & Youth Choir, the Sale of Champions and a free OSU Buckeye Sports Fest?

Don't think we forgot about the closing-night tradition of a concert in Crew Stadium! This year, Jason Aldean will be joined by Luke Bryan in this stadium-sized country jam fest.

We don't know about you, but we can hardly wait. See the full line-up and when tickets go on sale at ohiostatefair.com.

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2012 Fine Arts Exhibition

Hello Artists!

I wanted to share with you some important information regarding the 2012 Ohio State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition:

- The Prospectus will be online by March 19
- This year all entries will be made online: entry information, downloaded images and payment
- March 19, I will be reviewing the new online entry process in a collaborative workshop
(see below)
- Entry deadline is May 29 (with NO Late Entry date!!!!!)
- We have three fun competitions outside of the Exhibition this year,
• What the Hay, Straw Sculptures
• Plein Air
• Street Painting
(details to come...)

As always feel free to email with any questions p.oloughlin@expo.state.oh.us

Applied Learning; Learn How to Apply to OAC, GCAC and OSF

When: March 19, 2012
Where: The Jazz Academy 769 E. Long Street, Columbus, Ohio 43203
Located on the 4th floor of the historic Lincoln Theater complex
Time: 6pm - 8pm

OHIO ARTS COUNCIL
Calling all visual artists, crafts people, designers, photographers and media artists, the Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Award deadline for visual artists is September 1, 2012. In this “nuts and bolts” workshop we will teach you how to resize your images and put together a good narrative statement for your visual art form. So if you haven’t applied before this is the workshop for you. We will even share information about other resources the OAC provides to artists.

GREATER COLUMBUS ARTS COUNCIL
“Artists in the Community” is GCAC’s grants and services program designed to support individual artists in the community. Fellowships, supply grants and much more.

OHIO STATE FAIR FINE ARTS EXHIBITION
The Ohio State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition, obtain professional jurors who accept up to 300 works of art. Offering over $17,000+ in awards. This unique opportunity is a great way for amateurs to begin to exhibit their work, and professionals to have their work reviewed by numerous arts councils, arts organizations, patrons and the 70,000+ visitors to the Exhibition during the Ohio State Fair. Come learn how to apply to this one of a kind exhibition as we have changed our process to a full online entry procedure, that is fast and easy. Entry deadline is May 29, 2012.

To attend:
Applied Learning; Learn how to Apply to OAC, GCAC and OSF
Please RSVP to Ruby Harper – rharper@gcac.org

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