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DOWAGIAC — Amid social distancing and stay at home orders, one Dowagiac art organization is still looking to showcase community talent.

The Dowagiac Fine Arts Boosters plans to move forward with its annual talent show created in memory of Carol Novak, who was instrumental in founding the group, said treasurer Allyson Hatter.

“Carol was one of the main founders of the fine arts boosters, so we started doing the talent show in her memory,” Hatter said. “After the first year, the kids absolutely loved it. It’s really something for all the kids to be able to let themselves be free for a little bit.”

The Dowagiac Fine Arts Boosters is a group created to help Dowagiac students who are involved with fine arts, including band, choir, art or drama.

While the original plan was to have the talent show at the Dowagiac Middle School’s Performing Arts Center, the talent showcase is set to be going online with a date to be determined.

“As of now, we are trying to piece something together,” Hatter said.

Hatter said this would be the third year that the talent show will be hosted. Instead of being traditionally open to just Dowagiac Union Schools alumni and current students, this year the group is extending the invite to entire Dowagiac community.

Currently, the Dowagiac Fire Arts Boosters is still accepting video submissions from anyone with a talent, who is interested in being involved.

Hatter said the previous two years the event attracted a variety of talent.

“The first two years were alumni and Dowagiac students, and we had a pretty good turnout,” Hatter said. “Last year, we mostly did Dowagiac students to see how it would look. A lot of alumni were looking to do it, and they were upset because we didn’t open it up to them.”

Due to the high interest from alumni, the Dowagiac Fine Art Boosters decided to open it back up to everyone this year.

With the announcement of school closed for the remainder of the year, the group also wanted to encourage anyone from the community to participate.

Each year, the talent show yields a variety of acts from singing, drama — even a magic act or two. Miss Michele and Co. has also had performances during the annual event.

“Whatever talent you have got, we want to see it,” Hatter said.

Hatter has been in contact with a Dowagiac alumnus, who performed magic last year. Currently, he is halfway across the U.S. with the marines and still wants to send in a submission of his magic for this year’s show, Hatter said.

Also, Hatter said one couple, who graduated from Dowagiac, and now lives in Mount Pleasant, travel to Dowagiac every year to perform for the talent show.

The Fine Arts Boosters is looking into offering prizes for the first time this year, Hatter said.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the group had discussed offering a scholarship for the first-place title.

“We were going to collect donations for admission to help us with that,” Hatter said. “However, in-person events are canceled for the time being.

Hatter is optimistic the show will go on — even if that means virtually — after more details and announcements are made surrounding COVID-19. She applauded the community for staying resilient in thinking of creative ways to connect.

“I love how committed people are to being able to look for different ways to still interact with each other,” she said.

Hatter encouraged those interested in being involved to submit a video of their talent to her personal Facebook page, to Kirsten Novak’s Facebook page, or the Dowagiac Fine Arts Boosters’ Facebook page.