Downtown Dayton Partnership

Student Success Centers – Reconnect
2026-05-07 15:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | Dayton Metro Library – Main Library, 215 E. Third Street, Dayton, OH, 45402
Dayton Metro Library’s new program, Student Success Centers – Reconnect, is offered every Tuesday and Thursday, 3-6 pm, through May 21, in the Main Library’s Tech Lab A.

Reconnect offers support to youth ages 16-21 working toward a GED or high school diploma. Extra help with reading, writing, and math is available, along with life skills coaching, opportunities to build friendships, and connecting with mentors.

Reconnect grew out of a revamp of DML’s Homework Help Centers, now known as Student Success Centers, located within seven Branches. “We expanded to an eighth Center at the Main Library that focuses on serving an overlooked demographic of young people called ‘opportunity youth,’” explains Allison Knight, DML’s Youth Services and Programming Director. “Opportunity youth are young enough to be served by public schools but disengaged from formal school or work.”

Sinclair’s Fast Forward Re-Engagement Center has been an advocate for the gap in community services to opportunity youth. After speaking with their Project Director and researching the need, DML staff used existing plans for the Student Success Centers expansion to address it.

Renaming the Student Success Centers allows DML to designate Student Success Centers – K12 for its mainstream students and Student Success Centers – Reconnect for opportunity youth. With the noted distinction between the Centers and Reconnect, DML can train staff accordingly and specialize the services offered at each location.

Registration is not required for Reconnect. Patrons may drop in any time during the posted hours. For more information, visit DaytonMetroLibrary.org or call the Library’s Ask Me Line at 937.463.2665.

A Matter of Balance
2026-05-07 10:00 - 12:00 | YMCA of Greater Dayton – Downtown, 316 N. Wilkinson St., Dayton, OH, 45402
We invite you to join A Matter of Balance, an evidence-based, national fall prevention program offered to the community by Sinclair Community College’s PTA faculty and students.
Classes will be held weekly on Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., March 19 through May 7, at the YMCA of Greater Dayton. The program is designed to help participants build confidence, improve balance and strength, and reduce the risk of falls.
This program is free of charge.
Please see the attached flyer for additional details and registration information.

Summer Thrills at the Donor Center: Donate blood for Kings Island Tickets
2026-05-07, 2026-05-06 | Versiti, 349 S. Main St., Dayton, OH, 45402
Start the summer with a thrill! Donate blood May 4-9 in our Dayton Donor Center (349 S. Main Street) to get 1 FREE ticket to Kings Island amusement park as our thank you. But act fast – these tickets are limited, while supplies last! Donors may choose instead a $15 Kroger gift card if not interested in a Kings Island ticket. Don’t miss out on the fun – schedule your donation now! Visit VersitiDayton.org/blood-donation and schedule an appointment at the Donor Center May 4-9 or call (937) 461-3220. Walk-ins welcome! Did you know? More than 300 donors are needed every day in Dayton to keep the blood supply stable for local hospitals and local patients. Be a local hero. Donate blood! Donor Center hours are Monday-Thursday 7 am-6 pm, Friday 7 am- 4 pm, and Saturday 7 am-1 pm. The Donor Center is located at 349 S. Main Street, Dayton, Oh. Link if needed: https://donate.versitidayton.org/donor/schedules/center/1

Teresa Olavarria: Lichen
2026-05-07, 2026-05-06 | The Contemporary Dayton, 25 W. Fourth St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
The Contemporary Dayton is pleased to present Teresa Olavarria: Lichen, featuring new work by Dayton-based artist Teresa Olavarria and presented as our May Member Spotlight Exhibition that celebrates the vibrant creativity of our local and regional artist community. The exhibition opens Wednesday, May 6 with a public reception from 6–8 PM.
Working in vitreous enamel on copper and patinated cast bronze, Olavarria translates the ephemeral qualities of lichen into enduring materials. Her meticulous processes include layering and firing glass onto metal, and casting bronze from wax models, resulting in richly textured forms that echo the organic structures found in nature. Through this transformation, fragile organisms are preserved in metal, becoming both study and tribute.
“The works in Teresa Olavarria: Lichen invites viewers to reconsider what they see and what they overlook,” says Heather Jones, Curator and Director of Programs and Engagement at The Contemporary Dayton. “It’s about slowing down, looking closely, and recognizing the complexity and interconnectedness of the natural world.”
Olavarria lives and works in Dayton, Ohio. A graduate of the University of Dayton’s Fine Arts program, her practice is informed by close observation, scientific curiosity, and a deep appreciation for nature. Olavarria has taught extensively throughout the region and is affiliated with numerous arts organizations, including The Contemporary Dayton.
All artworks in the exhibition are available for purchase, with proceeds supporting both the artist and The Contemporary Dayton’s mission to connect artists and audiences through accessible, engaging contemporary art experiences.
Open to all current artist members, the Member Spotlight Exhibitions are an ongoing series that offers participants the unique opportunity to present a focused body of work in a solo exhibition at The Contemporary Dayton. Each exhibition is installed in The T. Chase Hale & Jonathan A. Hale Gallery and remains on view for one month, opening with a public reception on the first Wednesday and continuing through the last Saturday of the month. These exhibitions not only highlight the diverse practices and perspectives of our members but also provide a professional platform for artists to gain visibility and engage directly with audiences. Participation in the Member Spotlight series is one of the many valuable benefits of being an artist member of The Contemporary Dayton.

Collaboration of Colors
2026-05-07 | OH
View artwork from 4 pairings of artists who have collaborated in their own unique ways but all start with a common theme of color: Susanne Scherette King Megan Fiely Brian Mathus Tami Beale Sir Michael Surber Tom Jordan Joy Johnson Dave Scott Exhibition in collaboration with… the Dayton Collaboratory and is open from May 1 through May 31. Opening Reception on May 7th from 6pm-8pm

2026 Sinclair Community College Graduating Fine Art Students’ Portfolio Exhibition
2026-05-07, 2026-05-06 | Galleries at Sinclair College, 444 W. Third St., Bldg. 13, Dayton, OH, 45402
The Sinclair Community College Art Department is pleased to present works by the 2026 graduating class. From April 18 through May 7, the Burnell R. Roberts Triangle Gallery and other galleries in Building 13 will exhibit artwork by students graduating from Sinclair with an Associate of Arts, Art degree. The graduates are in charge of both selecting works from their portfolios for exhibition as well as installing the show. Exhibiting artists include Dean Abele, Allison Ander, Nar Byrd, Noah Caballero, Gail Coleman, Kaitlyn Cramer, Madison Dickey, Calista Dillon, Ashlyn Haywood, Arden Jackson, Ja’Shayla Jennings, Marcie Kincaid, Emma LaRocco, Taylor Law, Delaney Manzo, Bonita Mitchell, Melanie Perez-Garcia, Denell Pierce, Hailey Prather, Max Quinn, Charlotte Repasy, Alexia Richardson, Audrey Rickmon, Brendan Riley, Cosmo Steele, Jeremiah Wiggins, and Anna Ziegler. There will be a public reception on April 30 from 4:30pm-6pm in the 4th Floor Atrium of Building 13. The galleries are located at the corner of West Fifth and Perry Street in Building 13 on the 4th Floor. The galleries are free and open to the public from 8am–6pm Monday–Friday and 9am–12pm Saturdays.

Jamea Richmond-Edwards: Leviathan
2026-05-07, 2026-05-06 | The Contemporary Dayton, 25 W. Fourth St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
The Contemporary Dayton is proud to present Leviathan, a film by interdisciplinary artist Jamea Richmond-Edwards. Known for her monumental paintings and mixed-media collages informed by mythology, Afrofuturist iconography, and magical realism, Richmond-Edwards brings these influences into a cinematic form in this film. Using music and dance, Leviathan traces the artist’s family history and their enduring connection to Detroit. Raised in a family of dancers and musicians, and drawing on her experience as a competitive dancer and marching band member, Richmond-Edwards infuses the film with movement and sound. The film explores Detroit’s layered histories and evolving landscapes, invoking the mythic Leviathan as a metaphor for the powerful, often untold forces of the Great Migration. Richmond-Edwards is an artist from Detroit who holds a BFA from Jackson State University and an MFA from Howard University. Her work has been included in exhibitions at the Brooklyn Museum, New York; the Frist Art Museum, Nashville, Tennessee; and The Phillips Collection, Washington, DC, and more. Her work is held in the collections of the Rubell Museum, Washington, DC; The Studio Museum in Harlem, New York; and the US Department of State’s Art in Embassies program, among others. OPENING NIGHT / Friday, March 13 Member & Sponsor Preview: 5-6 pm Public Reception: 6-8 pm Remarks: 6:30 pm CLOSING RECEPTION / Saturday, June 6 4-6p – Light Refreshments and a final chance to view the exhibition. This exhibition is one of three concurrent exhibitions of new and recent work by Detroit-based artists, curated by Heather Jones, and presented to spark dialogue around the art and artists of our time.

Paul Verdell: Tabernacle
2026-05-07, 2026-05-06 | The Contemporary Dayton, 25 W. Fourth St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
The Contemporary Dayton is proud to present a new body of work by Paul Verdell. In these gestural paintings, Verdell continues his exploration of loose and instinctive mark making, working with paint and collaged elements. These works become renditions of landscapes both visually and figuratively as the colors and forms subtly echo horizons and map Verdell’s mental terrain. Driven by intuition, his latest body of work delves deep into the realm of abstraction as the artist explores capabilities of medium and mind. Influencing the artist’s conceptual root is both internal discourse—an ongoing attempt to understand himself within a shifting and uncertain world through the act of painting—as well as his Black American heritage. Verdell is a painter based in Detroit. Originally from Long Beach, California, he moved to Ohio as a teenager and received a BFA from Bowling Green State University in 2018. He has been awarded residencies at Black Rock Senegal, Dakar, Senegal, and the Macedonia Institute, Chatham, New York. His work has been included in exhibitions at The Armory Show, New York; Hurst Contemporary, London; and the Dakar Biennale, Dakar, Senegal, among others. Verdell’s work is held in the collections of the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, and Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, Cleveland, Ohio, among others. OPENING NIGHT / Friday, March 13 Member & Sponsor Preview: 5-6 pm Public Reception: 6-8 pm Remarks: 6:30 pm CLOSING RECEPTION / Saturday, June 6 4-6p – Light Refreshments and a final chance to view the exhibition. This exhibition is one of three concurrent exhibitions of new and recent work by Detroit-based artists, curated by Heather Jones, and presented to spark dialogue around the art and artists of our time

Jason REVOK: Mutually Exclusive
2026-05-07, 2026-05-06 | The Contemporary Dayton, 25 W. Fourth St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
The Contemporary Dayton is proud to present new paintings by Jason REVOK. Self-taught, REVOK is known for pushing creative boundaries that began in the street. Although his story begins with graffiti, the artist has spent the last decade focusing on his studio practice and the evolution of process and concept. Refusing to be limited by his early recognition, REVOK allows only certain elements from graffiti culture to transition to his contemporary work—modest materials and industrial tools, ingenuity, his name—but his proclivity towards minimalism and post-painterly abstraction has become the driving force behind his practice. Examining the question of authorship from start to finish, REVOK has developed systematic yet imperfect tools to carry out his vision and has created a number of unmistakable bodies of work. His bold, balanced, geometry is heightened by the personal and imperfect sleight of the human hand. REVOK grew up in Southern California and is based in Detroit. His work has been exhibited at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit; the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; and the Pasadena Museum of California Art, as well as in galleries and special projects in New York, Los Angeles, Detroit, and Dubai. His work is held in important private collections worldwide. OPENING NIGHT / Friday, March 13 Member & Sponsor Preview: 5-6 pm Public Reception: 6-8 pm Remarks: 6:30 pm CLOSING RECEPTION / Saturday, June 6 4-6p – Light Refreshments and a final chance to view the exhibition. This exhibition is one of three concurrent exhibitions of new and recent work by Detroit-based artists, curated by Heather Jones, and presented to spark dialogue around the art and artists of our time.

Tony Foster, Exploring Time: A Painter’s Perspective
2026-05-07, 2026-05-06 | The Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park N, Dayton, OH, 45405, United States
Tony Foster, Exploring Time: A Painter’s Perspective
February 21–May 17, 2026, Gallery 120
Between 2007 and 2025, Tony Foster embarked on his 19th Journey, building it around a profound and layered theme: time. Across this body of work, he investigates how time shapes the land—from the quick shifts of light and weather, to the slow rhythms of seasons, to the immense scales of biological and geological transformation. As Foster explains, his aim is “to draw attention to the unseen forces that create place.”
Exploring Time brings together a remarkable series of watercolor diaries that capture nature in motion. His paintings reveal signs of change on multiple fronts: geological upheavals, biological cycles and the marks left by human activity. With a discerning eye, Foster records not only nature’s strength and resilience but also its vulnerability, even in landscapes once dominated by industry and later reclaimed.
In a world where environmental change is often conveyed through striking images of global warming, Foster offers a different perspective, one that considers Earth’s continual evolution and the visible traces of time’s passage. Organized into four themes: geological, biological, human and the fleeting, this exhibition invites viewers to engage with time at every scale, from the span of a moment to the stretch of millennia, while reflecting on the enduring impact of human presence.

Community Fitness: Trailblazers HIIT & Run
2026-05-06 19:30 - 20:30 | RiverScape MetroPark, 237 E Monument Ave, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Summer activities that make your body happy and healthy. Led by Fire Flame Fitness, this HIIT workout class is for everyone, including beginners and low impact participants. Come as you are! Be prepared to walk/jog after class.

Mrs. Doubtfire
2026-05-06 19:30 | The Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center, 1 West Second Street, Dayton, OH, 45402
Everyone’s favorite Scottish nanny is headed to Dayton in this internationally acclaimed hit musical critics call “wonderful, heart-warming, and laugh-out-loud funny” (Manchester Evening News) and “a feel-good, family-friendly comedy that delivers” (The Hollywood Reporter). Based on the beloved film, MRS. DOUBTFIRE tells the hysterical and heartfelt story of an out-of-work actor who will do anything for his kids. It’s “the lovable, big-hearted musical comedy we need right now,” raves the Chicago Tribune – one that proves we’re better together.

Wu-Tang Wednesdays
2026-05-06 19:00 - 23:00 | The Barrel House, 417 E. Third St., Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Dayton’s legendary Ike B spins old school hip hop and whateva else he wants.

Live Trivia
2026-05-06 18:30 - 20:30 | Yellow Cab Tavern, 700 E 4th St, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
We are excited to host live trivia every Wednesday at The Yellow Cab Tavern! Since there are a limited number of indoor tables, so please reserve as soon as possible.
Pepper Sprout Productions will be doing 3 rounds of general trivia from 6:30 – 8:30! Win prizes and gift cards! Watch their page on the day of for a clue about the bonus round theme!
You can enjoy pizza from The Pizza Bandit and beverages from The Yellow Cab Tavern!Pizza Bandit’s standard carryout, delivery, and onsite dining will be available from 4-9pm!

Adult Weekday Classes
2026-05-06 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-05-06 14:00 - 16:00, 2026-05-06 13:00 - 15:00 | K12 Gallery & TEJAS, 341 S. Jefferson St., Dayton, OH, 45402
Tuesday and Wednesday weekday classes: Tuesdays (September-May) Stained Glass Classes: 1:00pm-3:00pm Ceramics/Clay Classes: 3:00pm-5:00pm Glassblowing Classes: 3:30pm-5:30pm Wednesdays (September-May) Still Life Oil Painting Classes: 1:00pm-3:00pm Glassblowing Classes: 2:00pm-4:00pm or 6:00pm-8:00pm. Call for Costs.

Community Fitness: Bootcamp
2026-05-06 18:00 - 19:30 | RiverScape MetroPark, 237 E Monument Ave, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Join The Unit for an exciting bootcamp workout that will take you through RiverScape in a whole new way. Whether you’re running the stairs, doing push ups near the reflecting pools, or stretching along the levee, this effective workout will keep you moving. Combined with the uplifting support of the community members that make up The Unit, this is a workout you will want to make part of your weekly routine. All fitness levels welcome and encouraged!

Community Fitness: SWERK
2026-05-06 18:00 - 19:00 | RiverScape MetroPark, 237 E Monument Ave, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
SWERK combines current hip hop style dance moves with lower body toning and cardiovascular exercises to bring you one Booty-licious bod. A true “lift your booty, love your body” experience, this dance cardio format will push you to “Sweat, Work, Twerk” your way to your favorite version of you. No previous dance experience necessary, just come MOVE and have FUN. We can’t wait to SWERK with you!

DLCA Family Broadway Studio: Mrs. Doubtfire
2026-05-06 16:30 | PNC Arts Annex, 46 N. Ludlow St., Dayton, OH, 45402
DLCA FAMILY BROADWAY STUDIO: MRS. DOUBTFIRE offers families a distinctive opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of Broadway. In addition to enjoying the Dayton Live Broadway Series presentation of MRS. DOUBTFIRE, families will participate in an exclusive workshop (led by a touring cast member when available), savor a complimentary preshow dinner, and collect special tour merchandise. This experience is designed to create lasting memories for families, making each visit a unique and cherished adventure into the heart of Broadway.

Artist in Training (AIT) Program
2026-05-06 15:00 - 18:00 | K12 Gallery & TEJAS, 341 S. Jefferson St., Dayton, OH, 45402
After school Artist in Training program geared for grades 3rd-12th grades. Classes are Monday-Wednesdays from 3:00pm-6:00pm. Open Studio time to explore different types of mediums such as Drawing, Painting, Clay, Digital Art. 20.00 per session for Members/40.00 per session for Non-Members.

Guided Tour of The Dayton Woman’s Club
2026-05-06 13:00 - 14:00 | The Dayton Woman’s Club, 225 N Ludlow St, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Take a guided tour of this historic Victorian mansion, circa 1850! Learn about the building’s history and the founding women who were community leaders and used the Club to promote music, art, education, civil rights, and suffrage.
House tours are typically given on the first Wednesday of the month at 1pm – dates subject to change.
ADVANCE ONLINE TICKET PURCHASE REQUIRED: $10 per person suggested donation

Introduction to Tai Chi
2026-05-06 10:00 - 11:00 | The Dayton Woman’s Club, 225 N Ludlow St, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Experience the traditional art of Tai Chi in the beautiful setting of The Dayton Woman’s Club ballroom, led by Tara Mar, Certified Lai Tung Pai Style Instructor.
Often described as “meditation in motion,” Tai Chi Chuan integrates mind, body, and spirit through slow, intentional movement. This gentle yet effective practice builds strength, flexibility, coordination, and balance using low-impact exercise sequences designed to support overall well-being.
This class is especially well-suited for seniors and anyone seeking improved balance, focus, and mobility in a welcoming and supportive environment. Chairs or stools will be available for participants who would like added balance support.
Tai Chi has gained worldwide recognition for its proven physical and mental benefits. Participants often leave class feeling centered, steady, and refreshed.
The Dayton Woman’s Club is open to the general public. Our venue is fully accessible with a ramp entrance.
