top of page

Wheeling into the future

Hamilton, Ohio – Big changes are afoot at the Fitton Center for Creative Arts.


Or should we say big changes are rolling in?

The Fitton Center contracted with the Plimpton Group out of Martha’s Vineyard to redesign the Carruthers Signature Ballroom and turn it into Butler County’s premier skating center – Fitton Skate-o-Rama.


“We’ve been looking for ways to increase our rentals and get people in the door,” said executive director Ian MacKenzie-Thurley. “We’re an art center, but we realized there is a big market for sports in our area. Our neighbors at Spooky Nook have a lot of that covered, but they don’t have a chandelier in their gym.”


Nor do they have the kind of 360-degree views of Hamilton the former ballroom will offer skaters.


“It’s an exciting proposition,” MacKenzie-Thurley said. “Most of that dark wood paneling will come down off the walls to be incorporated into the design of the skating surface on the floor. We’ll replace those paneled walls with floor-to-ceiling windows and have a true panorama.”


In addition to the existing chandelier and traditional disco balls, Fitton Skate-o-Rama will feature state-of-the-art Dolby digital sound, LED lighting and 8K-resolution ultra-high-definition projection capabilities. “We’re still an art center after all,” MacKenzie-Thurley said. “We will have a variety of curated image packages to project onto the Skate-o-Rama skating surface. Dutch Masters. Impressionists. Italian Renaissance. Mid-century American Realists. We decided against the Escher package for obvious reasons, but I think the Dali projections could bring a whole new meaning to free skating.”


In addition to reconfiguring the ballroom, the Hamilton Rotary Vista room will become a combination skate shop and locker facility.


The Fitton Center signed an exclusive sponsorship agreement with Finch Skates to carry their complete line of four-wheel and inline skates, helmets and pads, as well as their Tibetan-inspired skating apparel.


“That’s another nod to our art-center foundation,” MacKenzie-Thurley said. “Each of their clothing items are hand-crafted locally and colored with sustainable, responsibly sourced dyes. “In fact, Finch is already working with 17 Strong and various neighborhood leaders to create a series of signature colors for Skate-o-Rama apparel. For example, they are close to reaching terms to lease half an acre of Benninghofen Park to grow the flowers to make Lindenwald Lavender."


The final show in the ballroom is scheduled for May 20 - Prohibition Murder - an interactive murder mystery closing the Jazz & Cabaret series to complete the 2022-2023 season. Construction begins in June with a target opening date of March 32, 2024.


For more information, please call 513-863-8873, ext. 110.


The Fitton Center for Creative Arts is located at 101 S. Monument Avenue on the Riverfront in downtown Hamilton, Ohio.


Building Community Excellence through the Arts and Culture



 
 
 

Comments


BUILDING HOURS

OFFICE HOURS

Monday - Thursday: 10:00am – 6:00pm

Friday: 10:00am – 5:00pm

Saturday: Closed 
Sunday: Closed

GALLERY HOURS

Monday – Thursday 10:00am – 7:00pm

Friday: 10:00am – 5:00pm

Galleries are accessible during public building hours and prior to performances and public events.  Group gallery tours may be scheduled outside of listed gallery hours with adequate notice.  Galleries are periodically closed for the installation of new art, so please check the exhibition schedule before your visit. All exhibitions are FREE and open to the whole community.

CONTACT THE FITTON CENTER

Phone: 513 863 8873, ext. 110
Email: frontdesk@fittoncenter.org

101 S Monument Ave, Hamilton, OH 45011

CONNECT WITH US!

  • Grey Facebook Icon
  • Grey Twitter Icon
  • Grey Instagram Icon
Logo for the Ohio Ace Program featuring a silhouette of the state surrounded by two circles.
bottom of page