We’re excited to share some fantastic news! Columbia City Connect has been awarded a $4,000 Arts Project Support (APS) grant from the Indiana Arts Commission (IAC) to help bring the 2025 Steam Roller Party to our upcoming First Fridays: Arts on the Square on Friday, September 5, 2025, in downtown Columbia City.
The APS program is a competitive grant that supports public-facing, short-term arts projects such as exhibitions, performances and festivals. Grants like this help community organizations fund creative, engaging projects that bring people together, foster local talent and make the arts accessible to all. The Indiana Arts Commission, supported by the State of Indiana and the National Endowment for the Arts, is dedicated to strengthening communities through creativity, and we’re thrilled to benefit from their support.
So, what is the Steam Roller Party? It’s a live art spectacle! Selected artists, Kassie Woodworth, Leah Hopkins, Jennifer Romano and Jeff Anderson, will carve designs into woodblocks, ink them, cover them with canvas and roll them under a real steam roller to create bold, oversized prints right before your eyes. It’s a super cool display of creativity and skill that turns downtown Columbia City into an open-air art studio.
But that’s not all! First Fridays: Arts on the Square is packed with fun for everyone:
- Community Canvas: Contribute to a collaborative mural in Thomas Marshall Plaza.
- Arts on the Square Market: Browse local artists’ work and maybe find a unique treasure.
- Drumming for Joy with Lindsay: Get moving and grooving with interactive drumming for all ages.
- Vendors, live music, and downtown businesses open late for a full evening of community fun.
We’re so grateful to the Indiana Arts Commission and Arts United for making this event possible. Their support helps us bring interactive arts experiences like the Steam Roller Party to the heart of our community and celebrate creativity in a big way.
Mark your calendar for Friday, September 5th, bring your family and friends, and join us for an unforgettable evening of art, music, and community fun in downtown Columbia City!
For more information on upcoming Columbia City Connect events follow us on Facebook & Instagram or visit our events page.
Activities are made possible in part by Arts United and the Indiana Arts Commission, which receives support from the State of Indiana and the National Endowment for the Arts.
