WORTHINGTON — Suree Sompamitwong, founder of Creative Healing Space in Worthington, wants participants in the nonprofit’s first-ever open mic night to not take things seriously and just have fun.
Open Mic night is planned Wednesday, Aug. 6, and is for anyone and everyone who wishes to express themselves via music or the spoken word.
Suree Sompamitwong
“I would like people to know that we don’t have any set expectations. It’s not like you’re on American Idol,” Sompamitwong shared. “(Creative Healing) is a safe space and we just want people to know that it’s not a competition.”
Whether it’s a musical performance, reading a short story or poem, whatever is your creative expression, Sompamitwong said all are welcome to step up to the mic and present. Sompamitwong said as an encouragement to others, she will perform a song she wrote when she was 15 to show there’s no fear of sharing about what truly brings joy.
“Creative expression isn’t just visual arts, it comes in many different forms, so I want to show people it’s OK to stand up there and ‘be bad,’” said Sompamitwong, who also hopes this is something the audience can be conscious of during the event as well.
The open mic event starts at 6 p.m., with a jam session led by Creative Healing Space board member Gabe Fueston starting at 7 p.m. for whoever wants to join and play live music with others.
The brainchild of Fueston, this is the first solo open mic and jam session for the nonprofit. Sompamitwong said she hopes the open mics become a monthly thing either on the first or second Wednesday of every month.
Contributed / Southwest Initiative Foundation
Creative Healing Space previously hosted an open mic night at Worthington’s Memorial Auditorium in March and also plans to host another one alongside the mental health nonprofit Unspoken Truth on Aug. 9.
“The world is constantly telling us we’re not good enough and for those who attend, I want them to know the audience will be nice and everyone will be very understanding,” Sompamitwong said.
Creative Healing Space is located at 225 10th St., in downtown Worthington. All are welcome to attend and/or observe.
Hope Moural is the community editor for the Globe as of May 2024. A born and raised Nebraskan, Hope has a dual bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Communications from Concordia University, Nebraska, and has previously worked as a general assignment reporter.