Northeast Michigan is literally now on the map as a prime arts and cultural destination.
With the recent publication of a slick, professional grade ARTrail Roadmap, visitors to welcome centers all across Michigan will get a chance to pick up this newly printed brochure and find out what the region has to offer when it comes to arts and culture all along the US-23 corridor from Standish to Mackinaw City.
"This is the piece that attracts and puts us on the map and says, 'come here - there is lots to do here.' It's the piece that builds energy about arts and culture in the region," said Tim Kuehnlein of the Michigan Arts and Culture Northeast collaborative responsible for the project.
MACNE made such an impact during its inaugural year in 2009 with its YourTown is ARTown Passport to the Arts project that it was awarded a $20,000 grant last year from the Michigan Municipal League's Center for the 21st Century Communities. 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 so that it could be continued and expanded.
Developing a high quality brochure aimed at increasing the area's tourist base was a major objective of MACNE in using the grant funds. The laminated brochure, designed locally by Suni Speaks, folds up nicely for safekeeping in the glove compartment of vehicles so that it can be kept handy and used repeatedly.
It contains a listing of 44 different stops along the US-23 route, plus addresses, navigational coordinates, email addresses and phone numbers for each location. An even more expanded listing of arts and culture venues in Northeast Michigan will be available at MACNE's website, www.artownmichigan.org, where a link to the Heritage Trail is provided.
"I'm thrilled with the design, and I'm thrilled for our partners and communities," said MACNE President Mary Ellen Jones. "It is the broader scope of what we're trying to do. The fact that it's now in a form that people can carry around is great. The brochure is beautiful."
MACNE set aside $6,000 from the grant funds for the brochure, and according to Jones, came in right around budget. The brochures have now been shipped to the Michigan Dept. of Transportation, which will then distribute them among the 14 welcome centers throughout the state.
Jones, a former long-time resident of California who now resides in Harrisville, said she has witnessed first-hand what can happen when small towns are revitalized through arts and culture.
"These areas in California are thriving now not only with arts and culture, but with bookstores and shopping and dining as well as the ocean," Jones said. "When I think about this whole area, I see these towns turning themselves around, too. I know it is possible. I feel like this work that we're doing can help turn it around. That's why this map was really important to get out there - not just for the locals, but also to bring people outside the area in."
With the $20,000 grant, MACNE planned a four-part approach. The first part involved continuing with the passport program that promotes events happening during the summer months. The newly unveiled map constitutes the second part of the plan, while the third is maintaining the website. Although the website still is under development, it already contains some helpful information and is expected to be fully up and running by summer.
"The website will be a clearinghouse for arts and culture activities in Northeast Michigan," Kuehnlein said.
The fourth piece is expected to be a community expression project that MACNE volunteers currently are developing.
In the meantime, Kuehnlein said the 44 stops featured on the new ARTrail Roadmap are only a portion of what is available in communities all along US-23.
"With the 44, we basically tried to gather a very broad cross-section of venues," he said. "We focused on organizations that are open to the public on a routine basis. This is just a highlight, a teaser to make people aware that these places are up here."
MACNE committee members who collaborated on the project were Kuehnlein, Jones and Sue Fitzpatrick. While Speaks designed the brochure, it was printed by Tomlinson Design & Advertising in Grand Blanc.
MACNE committee members who collaborated on the project were Kuehnlein, Jones and Sue Fitzpatrick. While Speaks designed the brochure, it was printed by Tomlinson Design & Advertising in Grand Blanc.
