Lorain County Metro Parks
TRUENORTH CULTURAL ARTS
Lorain County Metro Parks and True North Cultural Arts have partnered to offer fine arts including theatre, music, visual arts, and dance to the surrounding communities through hands on classes and performances. TrueNorth is located at the French Creek Nature Center in Sheffield Village.
Visit the TrueNorth website | Purchase a TrueNorth Membership | Purchase Tickets for Performances | Sign up for the TrueNorth E-newsletter | Directions to TrueNorth Cultural Arts
Theatre
TrueNorth Cultural Arts produces several plays a year at the renovated Ewing Hall at French Creek Nature Center. Each production is made up of a cast and crew of volunteers from the theatre classes at TrueNorth. If you are interested in being part of these productions call (440) 949-5200.. Previous performances have included orignal plays about the history of the Lorain Steel Mill and Lorain County's part in the Underground Railroad. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased by clicking here or calling (440) 949-5200. Don't miss a show as a season ticket holder! Enjoy all nine shows for $80 (a value of $90). Click here to purchase season tickets or call (440) 949-5200.
Youth Theatre
Theatre is a fun and engaging way for children to learn. TrueNorth offers The Family Concert Series for children to experience live theatre as well as musical concerts. Children can see stories come alive before their eyes. Tickets to these performances are $6 for children and $10 for adults. During the summer months, we also offer theatre camps for children ages preschool to high school. Children learn everything from acting, to theatre tech to set designs. All camps end with a production for family and friends.
Music
TrueNorth has a variety of musical opportunies to fit the talents and tastes of many. The TrueNorth Chorale and Symphony perform several times throughout the year at TrueNorth events and community venues throughout the year. There are also Noontime Concert Series that are on the third Friday of every month at Noon at French Creek Nature Center. Bring your lunch or just stop by and enjoy a different musician each month.
TrueNorth Chorale is a choir of select voices singing from the serious choral repertoire (Mozart, Poulenc, etc), usually accompanied by TrueNorth Symphony. Membership is by audition with Director Rick Fortney.
TrueNorth Symphony is a volunteer orchestra dedicated to playing the great symphonic masters and to accompanying the TrueNorth choral groups in their concerts. Membership is by audition with Director Jim Traxler and is limited to instrumentalist at the advanced or intermediate levels.
If you are interested in joining these groups call French Creek Nature Center at (440) 949-5200 for more information including rehearsal dates and times.
Gallery
French Creek Nature Center boasts an art gallery that has incredible pieces of artwork by local artists. These pieces are on sale year round and include photography, paintings, glassware, jewelry, original greeting cards and ceramics. It is a great place to find a gift for the art lover in your life. Learn about the latest show by visiting our Art Corner or call (440) 949-5200.
History
Founded in 1999 through the visionary leadership of Richard A. Fortney, TrueNorth Cultural Arts' mission is to provide programs that enrich children, families, schools and the surrounding communities. This participation is encouraged through performance, education, and attendance at various TrueNorth events such as Concerts, Theatrical Performances, Student Recitals, and Gallery Open Houses. The name TrueNorth was derived from a workshop Rick went to in the spring of 1999 when he was encouraged by the speaker to have goals, roles and missions align... like a compass set to True North. Rick also developed the 5 E's (Educated, Equip, Empower, Envision, and Encourage) this is the values of the True North.
Since its inception in 1999, TrueNorth has emerged as a gem of arts resource to thousands of artists and educational, community, and business organizations. Over the past years, TrueNorth has focused on building its programming capacity across all art forms - musical, dramatic, dance, visual, and literary.
The Lorain County Metro Parks entered into an agreement with TrueNorth Cultural Arts in 2007. While a new venture for the Lorain County Metro Parks, arts organizations affiliated with parks is not. Cleveland Metro Parks, Five Rivers, Cain Park, and even the National Parks see a valuable connection between art and nature.
The partnership with TrueNorth is an amazing collaboration of talents, time, spaces and public offerings. Metro Parks has a wonderful facility in the Frecn Creek Nature Center that lends itself well to the arts. TrueNorth is an outstanding organization that offers a range of artistic opportunities to the citizens of Lorain County and beyond. A blending of these organizations offers visitors a diverse learning opportunity - an opportunity to pursue new avenues, try new programs and grow - an opportunity that is now avilable and waiting for everyone at the French Creek Nature Center.