Fresh off of last year's inaugural success, the Passport to the Arts Your Town is ARTown program is returning to Northeast Michigan for another full season of arts-related events, workshops and activities.
The 2010 passport will be unveiled this week and once again is chock full of fun things to do. Events begin June 11 and run through Sept. 17, and include everything from a historical building walking tour to film screenings to making paninis to poetry workshops and jazz concerts.
"Thanks to the creativity, scheduling efforts and passion for the arts, 43 groups, businesses and individuals will be offering over 180 events for the 2010 passport," said Mary Ellen Jones, a director of the program.
Last year, Passport to the Arts grew out of a collaborative effort between four lead organizations to promote Alpena and the region as a hub of arts and culture. Representatives from Art in the Loft, Thunder Bay Arts Council, Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan and Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary worked together with other like-minded volunteers to develop the premier summer arts program.
The group officially organized into the Michigan Arts and Culture Northeast (MACNE), then proceeded to create widespread interest and support for all the varied arts activities that took place last summer throughout the region.
The concept proved so successful that this year it was awarded a $20,000 grant from the Michigan Municipal League's Center for the 21st Century Communities program to continue and expand the passport. The grant, with the full backing of Alpena Mayor Carol Shafto, was given to the City of Alpena, which in turn chose to direct the funds to the Passport program.
"MACNE is proud to offer this program again this summer, with additional help from a grant the City of Alpena received from the Michigan Municipal League's Center for 21st Century Communities," said Jones. "We are fortunate to have Mayor Carol Shafto as a passionate supporter of the arts as well as an amazing board of directors who have worked tirelessly again to make this program bigger and better."
Once again, residents young and old from all around Northeast Michigan are encouraged to participate. Passports are available free of charge beginning this Saturday at Art in the Loft, TBAC, Besser Museum and the Sanctuary as well as from Alpena County Library.
The passport contains a full calendar listing of arts-related activities from East Tawas all the way to Mackinaw City over a span of 14 weeks. It will serve as a handy reference guide and a reminder of dates and times.
Passport holders will get their passport stamped every time they attend an activity or event at one of the participating organizations. At the end of the project, those who successfully complete their passport will become eligible for three prize drawings, including the grand prize of an overnight stay on Mackinac Island.
To complete a passport, participants will have to attend an event at each of the four lead organizations, plus six other elective events of their choice from the complete calendar listing. A prize also will be given to the person who collects the most event stamps.
Those involved in putting the Passport program together are enthused about last year's successful first year and anticipate another strong showing this summer.
"The program was very enthusiastically embraced by the community last year. All the organizations that participated saw an increase in attendance at their activities, and there were many more activities held," said Karen Bennett, another MACNE director. "This year we've increased the scope, and we are expecting another outstanding arts-related experience."
