Theatre Workshop of Owensboro is hosting its inaugural Spotlight Market Craft Show later this month, bringing vendors, artists, and the community together for a fall fundraiser. Organizers say the show will feature a variety of vendors, from jewelry makers and screen printers to home bakers and artisans who design and print custom creations.
The event will take place on September 27 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Trinity Centre, the former church building that Theatre Workshop uses as a performance space at 407 West 5th Street.
“This is the very first one,” said organizer Dillon Schueler. “I brought the idea in, and I thought, ‘You all might hate this idea, but here you go.’ It was well-received by everybody. They didn’t really have any questions or complaints. It was just, ‘How soon can we do it?’”
Schueler, who has been active with Theatre Workshop since 2022, said the vision for the craft show came from his background in theatre and the arts, combined with his wife’s involvement in local craft shows.
“I’m a big theatre guy, a big creative individual into all the expressionism that comes through,” Schueler said. “This is just a really neat opportunity to create an environment where everybody has an opportunity to do something.”
Vendors will pay a booth fee of $40 to $50, depending on when they register, but all sales during the event will go directly to the vendors. Proceeds from vendor fees will support Theatre Workshop productions, materials, and upkeep.
Schueler said the date coincidentally overlaps with the Daviess County Public Library’s craft fair, which could benefit both events.
“It’s not really a partnership, but it’s a really good opportunity,” Schueler said. “People come to us, we can send them to the library to check out other stuff, and hopefully vice versa.”
Schueler said if the event is successful, Theatre Workshop hopes to make it an annual tradition and possibly expand in the future to use both of its theatres and nearby outdoor spaces.
“This is just the first step,” Schueler said. “The hope is that in a year or two, we can make it more of a community arts market and even have a fall and spring craft festival. It’s all about bringing people into the arts district and creating something unique.”
Vendors interested in participating can apply online at theatreworkshop.org.
