Article Photos

The Passport to the Arts: Your Town is ARTown program is officially wrapped up with the announcement this week of the three prize winners.

This inaugural collaborative effort involved 33 arts-related groups and businesses which all summer long offered a diverse array of arts and cultural events, activities and workshops. The public was invited to participate by picking up a "passport" that listed more than 125 events taking place throughout the region and then getting those passports "stamped" at each event they attended.

Participants who attended 10 different events including one event each held at the four sponsoring organizations of Art in the Loft, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Thunder Bay Arts Council and Besser Museum became eligible for two of the three prize drawings.

The top prize was a weekend trip to New York City sponsored by AAA Travel of Alpena. Mike and Marcia O'Donnell of Ossineke won this prize that includes round-trip air fare out of Alpena, hotel accommodations, choice of a Broadway show and luggage.

The O'Donnells expressed surprise over winning first prize, but said they enjoyed the Passport to the Arts program and found themselves attending many arts and cultural events throughout the summer months.

Dave Usher of Ossineke, who also participated in numerous Passport to the Arts events, won the second prize of a framed art print by Larry Cates.

"I loved the program," Usher said. "I love culture and the arts, and had such a wonderful time going to all the events. It was an adventure and great to see everyone excited about the program."

Third prize a gift basket of products and tickets donated by the participating arts-related groups and businesses went to the individual who attended the most activities and collected the most stamps. Heather Nordenbrock of Alpena received this prize for making it to 23 events. The gift basket she won was put together by Midge Connon of the Thunder Bay Arts Council.

"Our family went to a lot more things than we normally do," Nordenbrock said. "It was nice that there was such a variety. I could take the children to story hour at the marine sanctuary and get a stamp for that, and then there also were plenty of adult activities."

The Passport to the Arts project grew out of a collaborative effort between the four lead organizations to promote Alpena and Northeast Michigan as a hub of arts and cultural activities. It premiered with a gala progressive party in mid-June and was followed by a full summer calendar that was embraced by many in the community.

"It was a very successful program," said Karen Bennett, representing Art in the Loft. "I heard from lots of people who enjoyed using the passport and felt that it made the summer more fun. I also heard from lots of businesses who saw many more visitors thanks to the passport."

Representatives of the for lead organizations as well as several other community members who served on the Passport to the Arts planning committee are in the process evaluating the program and determining whether to repeat it. Toward that end, they will be sending surveys out to all the arts groups and businesses that participated in the calendar and to all those who participated by using a passport to attend events.

"The community really, really came out, supported our efforts and made this successful," said Mary Ellen Jones, who chaired the Passport to the Arts committee and did much of the leg work in getting participants involved.