ARTS AND HUMANITIES
~~ Mission ~~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
To initiate and support humanities and arts activities that enrich our lives, nurture our creative effort and vitalize our community.
If you're interested in becoming a donor,
download the Donor Form.
Support
We receive our funding from public and private grants, fund raising events, class and presentation fees, and support from generous donors like you. Our future plans require continuing support to:
- build our capacity to serve the community both for programming expansion and improvements to our facility.
- realize a long range goal to have our own facility that can house many studios for artists, writers and musicians and help beginners and veterans to work and share their interests in a shared setting.
- and provide performing groups with enough space to practice and present community entertainment.
- offer a collection of art media that can be loaned free for use by families and small groups.
- provide a setting for other non-profit groups and service organizations to enjoy a facility dedicated to community service.
- encourage writers, performers, and artists already active and meeting regularly to continue their cultural activities.
Please be a part of these programs and plans and consider how you can give your time and treasure to our community.
Continuing Programs
- Classes - that offer creative outlets in art and leisure crafts at reasonable prices. Over 500 students are served through more than 110 classes.
- Gift Shop - a place where 140 local artists sell their artwork on consignment.
- Community Pottery Studio - at Artworks
- Programs supported by your donations, public and private grants, and fundraising efforts and presented free to the public.
- Art Kits - art enrichment including materials videos, books, prints and activities in 12 kits. covering a variety of topics. Free on loan to families and organizations.
- Dance Studio teaching Ballroom, Ballet, Jazz, Hip-Hop
- Art Attack - over 400 students from area school districts display their artwork at the Artworks gallery in March each year.
- Art enriching activities - for special populations in Mecosta and Osceola County: serving New Journey, Transitions, and Hope Network in Big Rapids, Community Mental Health and Eagle’s Nest in Reed City, serving over 250 individuals annually.
- Weaving - a 10 foot Community Project at Artworks and an 8-harness weaving loom for public use at Artworks
- Creative Arts Camp new -August 13-17 2007 Ages 9 to 18
- Demonstrations - A way for persons of all ages in the community to study arts methods.
- Artworks Gallery - provides monthly and seasonal art exhibits.
Humanities Council
- Speakers Bureau - with over 200 presentations and performances serving almost 4,000 guests.
- Up and Down the River - 50 weekly Pioneer articles each year by local writers.
- Celebration of Local Authors - an annual event featuring over 30 writers presentingto 200 guests.
- Traveling Displays - 20 traveling exhibits featuring historical, and cultural themes available to all Osceola and Mecosta County communities.
- Fabulous Film Festival - annually 7 international films are screened at Artworks and Ferris for over 300 guests. Discussions of the films are held before and after each screening.
- Video Library - a History of Oil and Gas in Mecosta and Osceola Counties and a History of the Nisbett-Fairman Buildings are available for purchase.
- Riverdays - annual festival planning is participated in by 8 local non-profit groups including the Mecosta Osceola Council for the Humanities and Arts (the Humanities and Arts Councils).
- Library Outreach - 15 libraries in 4 counties are served with author visitations, book discussions, and nature-related presentations.
- Walking Tours - self touring packages currently include FSU’s Artwalk; Riverwalk, Arborwalk of historic homes, City Tree Walk, Plaques and Sculptures on the Landscape, Recorded Firsts of Mecosta County, and A Walk through History.
- History of Clear Lake - will be offered beginning in 2006.
Arts Council
- Patron of the Arts Awards - $100 is to be given annually to an art student from each of Big Rapids, Chippewa Hills, Crossroads, Reed City, Evart, and Morley–Stanwood high schools.
- Riverdays - presentations of outside music, and demonstrations of homestead Arts at Artworks
Mecosta and Osceola counties are categorized by the State as culturally underserved. Artworkds pledges its best efforts to continue the work of the Humanities and Arts Councils to enrich the lives and nurture creativity through many art forms for all ages - childhood through adulthood.
Arts and Humanities Merger Team
Alice Bandstra
Jim Bandstra
Jeanette Fleury
Doug Haneline
Nancy Kitchen
Doris Konrad
Gladys Kooiker
Dave Lerew
Shirley Lerew
Julie Martin
Lynne Scheible
Kelly Thompson
Jane Torry
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