Middletown Arts Center was founded in 1957 by the Art Committee of the Federation of Women's Clubs of Middletown. Miami University, Oxford Fine Arts Department sold stools, easels and lockers to the Arts Center for the total sum of $1.00. The Middletown Art Center was now on its way. In 1965, the Middletown Fine Arts Center became part of AIM (Arts in Middletown) and moved to a new building at 130
N. In 2002, AIM ceased as an operating organization and Middletown Arts Center bought the building from AIM and took over the operation of the building and started doing business as Middletown Arts Center (MAC). MAC has an average of 160-175 classes offered during the year to students ages preschool to 90+ in all levels of experience; 10-12 gallery (lobby) exhibits per year; 10-12 satellite exhibits at the new Atrium Medical Center; 8 large exhibits in the newly renovated Exhibit hall featuring an Area Art Show; Student Show; Tomorrows Artist Today (ages 13-18); and general public exhibits featuring the Ohio Watercolor Society Traveling Exhibit; the American Watercolor Society Traveling Exhibit; Homer Hacker, watercolorist; and in 2009 Kevin Macpherson, American Impressionist. The Arts Center hosts 3-4 National Artists Workshops annually - Tony Couch, Mel Stabin, Judy Carducci, Frank Webb, Alex Powers, Doug Dawson to name a few. Enrollment for the classes and workshops averages 1500-1800 annually