Artcoz Illuminates the Thriving Y-Bridge Cultural Arts Center

ZANESVILLE, OH -ArtCOZ is shining a light on a building full of talented artists.

The Y-Bridge Cultural Arts Center is home to 8 resident artists as well as 12 additional artists.

Laura May, one of the Artists at the Cultural Arts Center, said with almost 20 artists in the building, you’ll be able to see everything from water color, to photography, clay works, and much more.

She said being at the Arts Center is like being a part of one big, art creating family.

“Being in a community of artists is a togetherness, when you have so many vastly talented people and everyone builds each other up,” May explained. “You have people who are willing to go “Ok, let me get out of my comfort zone.” and try to do something new, try to do something different, it’s a supportive environment beyond what you can imagine.”

May said this new home for many local artists is thanks to Justin Wagner, who opened the Y-Bridge Cultural Arts Center after the Masonic Temple Fire in 2022.

She said many of the artists took this as an opportunity to mourn the loss of their old building while finding the love to create again.

“For some of us, going back to our typical medium was rather difficult,” May said. “So we were able to branch and having the community back around us was just comforting and again the support and building each other up. Now after that experience, some of our artists chose to move out and go into other areas so that [our] area expanded with additional artists. Those that remain here, again, continue to build, we began welcoming new artists in, and it’s just a new world.”

The Y-Bridge Cultural Arts Center is located at 8 Main St. and will be open from 5-8PM this Friday for the First Friday Artwalk.