Producer’s Blog: The Art Show’s Front Street Debut

I have been patiently waiting in the wings for the season premiere of The Art Show. After months of preparation and anticipation, I am ecstatic to announce the day has finally come. Season 15 kicks off this weekend on Saturday, September 20, at 6pm on CET and Sunday, September 21, at 5:30pm on Think^TV16!

My favorite part of stepping back onto the set at the beginning of each season is that unmistakable first-day-of-school energy. There’s a buzz in the air – a fresh excitement – as if we’ve just sharpened our pencils and cracked open notebooks with fresh pages, ready to fill in the blanks with a surge of creative expression. This year, that sense of renewal feels doubly special because we’re taping in a brand-new location—the Front Street Art Studios in Dayton, Ohio.

For those who may not know, Front Street is not just a collection of buildings; it’s a storied compound with roots reaching back to World War II, when it served as a mailing center for our military service men and women. Front Street just recently celebrated sixty years as a hub for artists in Dayton. Today, it has been reborn as a vibrant nexus of creativity, a buzzing hub for makers and dreamers across the region. Its long hallways, winding staircases and spacious studios echo with history but hum with the present — proof that spaces can evolve just as communities do.

The Art Show has always thrived in restored industrial spaces, settings that carry grit and grace in equal measure. In the early years, we filmed in the Linden Davis Building and more recently, we bounced around within Front Street itself, exploring different corners of the complex before landing in this new ground-floor home. Each of these locations has been chosen with intention. They all conjure the Brooklyn loft and LA Arts District vibe — casual yet curated and filled with an energy that says, “creativity happens here.” As host of The Art Show, I’ve always felt that these spaces ground our storytelling in a comforting authenticity. (If we added a stocked kitchen and a place for me to sleep, I’d happily move in.)

And yes, our filming locations even inspire my wardrobe choices. I like to call it my embrace of modern dandyism and play off the environment too. There’s a harmony (and sometimes a playful contrast) between the set design and the way I dress. Over the years, our look has evolved, always staying true to the heart of the show while elevating its visual language. And as the former students from Stivers School for the Arts, where I taught for almost twenty years, would say, my “fits” are on point.

We couldn’t ask for more gracious hosts than Richard and Carol Lundin, the owners of Front Street. Their support has allowed us to comfortably settle in and, from my biased-viewpoint, produce a pretty cool weekly showcase of art and culture. And our neighbors are equally inspiring with an eclectic mix of artists, and even a vintage store where I recently scored a fabulous dinner jacket that will definitely make its on-air debut soon.

Because we’re a DIY crew at heart, moving into this new space became a true labor of love. We hauled furniture, curated accessories, schlepped over our mini-library of art books, and even painted walls in rich shades of gray. (I’m especially grateful to be on the ground floor this season – no more hauling lights and cameras up staircases.) But when we taped our season introductions, we could feel the payoff. It was as if our efforts were radiating back through the lens.

Our arrival at Front Street also coincided with a wonderful opportunity: 1st Friday. On these monthly evenings, the entire complex comes alive as artists fling open their studio doors, food trucks park outside, music fills the air and the community pours in. It is truly a sight behold and adventure waiting for willing participants. Learn more on their website: https://frontstreet.art/pages/monthly-art-hops-at-front-street.

Our team joined the celebration, opening our set for a behind-the-scenes sneak peek at what it takes to make a television show. Folks mingled with our Senior Director of Education, Deb Tshirhart, our Programming Director, Joan Butcher, and our fearless Series Producer of The Art Show, Nadya Ellerhorst. We handed out station swag, shared stories and even met a super-fan who has supported the station for more than 60 years. That moment of seeing her joy and gratitude was a beautiful reminder of why we do this work.

Those 1st Friday conversations reminded me of the larger mission that drives us at Think^TV and CET, to strengthen our communities with content that inspires, educates and engages. That mission isn’t abstract. It lives in these real, face-to-face encounters with the people we serve. It’s present in the laughter, the curiosity and the appreciation we hear when folks tell us what public broadcasting means in their lives. It lives in a staff and crew committed to creating local content that reflects the vibrancy of an incredible arts ecosystem that we have here in Southwest Ohio.

Make no mistake: the road ahead over the next few years will test our resolve, as it always does. But in these moments we can also celebrate what truly matters. The recent headlines and actions out of our nation’s capitol herald a changing world and country, but our commitment as a station is unshakable. This new home at Front Street isn’t just a backdrop; it’s a symbol of resilience, reinvention and community, and most importantly hope.

If you’re in Dayton on the 1st Friday, November 7, stop by the Front Street Studios and say hello. Step inside our set. See the lights, the cameras, the quiet alchemy of making television. And most importantly, feel the energy that comes from artists and neighbors gathering together in your community. I hope that you’ll leave as invigorated and inspired as we do every time we tape a new episode of The Art Show.

Rodney Veal
CET and Think^TV Producer and Community Arts Liaison

You can learn more about the new season 15 of The Art Show, including upcoming episode features and airdates, on our website: https://www.thinktv.org/theartshow/.

Episodes of The Art Show are available to stream for free on the PBS App: https://video.thinktv.org/show/art-show/.

You can also catch the latest clips and segments from The Art Show on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@theartshow-cet-ttv.