News & Views

The peonies bloomed this week.


The delicate, tissue-paper petals were so slight, just waiting to fall... and indeed, moments later, they were sadly gone. Yet it is this ephemerality that makes them so special.

So too, is summer up north. 

You are no stranger to the summer hustle. As neighbors come out of hibernation and travelers fill our spaces, the time to maximize our creative business is limited. To some degree, the urgency energizes our pursuits—and we even delight in it.

But with seemingly inescapable irony, the natural beauty of the season—the very reason many of us choose to live here—is missed for the sake of one-more-thing to do.

Today, give yourself permission to pause—even if just for 10, 20, 30 seconds—to observe a flower, soak in some sun, or take a dip. Or (if you can find a way), sacrifice a tiny bit of productivity to enjoy a tour, exhibit or performance from your peers. Your participation makes their hustle mean something special too.

The beauty of the season is magnified by its fleeting nature. Be present for it, you’ll be glad you did.
 

Connecting

Upcoming Events

Rotary Charities: Connect w/ Changemakers in Kalkaska 

Michigan Legacy Art Park: Marion Hayden & Legacy Jazz Quartet

All Week: Paint Grant Traverse

Benzie County: Historic Walking Tours

Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band

100 more events on our website

Exhibits

Leelanau Historical Society: Sugar Loaf—A Retrospective 

Glen arbor arts center: Members Create

Mackinac Island: DIA “Inside Out”

Oliver Art Center: Member Show

Charlevoix Circle of Arts: Summer Salon

Job Openings

Old Town Playhouse: Artistic Director

The Alluvion: Development & Sponsorship Coordinator

TC Phil: Community Music School Facility Coordinator

Volunteer

Ramsdell Theater

Cadillac Festival of the Arts

Capacity Building

MACC Grants Information

Our guide to MACC grant information & resources

Official MACC grants page

Please feel free to contact us with questions. 

Open Calls

BasBlue: Michigan Women & Nonbinary Artists

Michigan Ceramics Biennial

Dennos Museum: Holiday Artist Market

Charlevoix Circle Market

AuSable Artisan Village: Great Northern Art Explosion

Writers: Crowdsourcing the Canon

GRAM: Michigan Artist Proposals

Rural Regenerator 2-Year Artist Fellowship Application

Midwest Guide to Artist Grants & Opportunities

Learning

Webinar: Arts Advocacy 101 (recording)

Workshop: Painting with an Eye on Design

Workshop: Watercolor Painting on Yupo

More Opportunities

Organizations: Participate in an SMU DataArts study

Communications

In the News

A Breathe of Plein Air

New Public Art: Spirit of the Forest on the Boardman Lake Trail

Reading List

Everyone Loses When We Start Talking About Art Like It’s Real Estate