Ludington Area Center for the Arts

09/06/2026

Spell out a secret phrase, a favorite motto, or a meaningful name in a custom piece of jewelry you can wear every day. Join instructor Marybeth Long on Tuesday, Sept. 15 from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. for a hands-on workshop at the Ludington Area Center for the Arts, where you will craft your own Sterling Silver Morse Code bracelet. Using a mix of lustrous sterling silver beads and colorful glass rods, you’ll translate up to 15 letters into dots and dashes to create a durable, lightweight bracelet with subtle movement. If you need some inspiration, popular ideas include be kind, let go, happy, or breathe.

All necessary materials—including the sterling silver chain, clasps, round silver beads, and colored glass beads—are included in the registration fee. The cost to attend is $38 for LACA members and $48 for non-members.

09/06/2026

Hey Artists! Welcome to your weekly update from the Ludington Area Center for the Arts (LACA)!

On Tuesday, September 8, LACA is offering two unique opportunities! From 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., join us for a special Steve Brown Poetry Performance. Michigan native, author, and visual artist Steve Brown will deliver an intimate preview reading across his body of work, including his latest release, Fellowship. Open to the public with a $5 suggested donation at the door, this performance leads right into the week's literary theme. Also on Tuesday evening, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., join Richelle Daniels for Painted Pooch Watercolor. Participants will experiment with fluid washes and layering to capture the unique personality of their furry best friend using a personal pet photo or provided references ($30 members / $40 non-members, all supplies included).

On Wednesday, September 9, at 1:00 p.m., the LACA Ukulele Group led by Meredith Hanson meets in the Unframed Gallery. Ukulele players of all skill levels are welcome to drop in for free, though donations to LACA are warmly appreciated.

On Friday, September 11, stop in for our regular weekly Oil Painting studio class led by local artist Justin David Gustafson. Open to all skill levels, this flexible workshop provides personalized technique guidance for $50 per session for LACA members and $60 for non-members, with all materials provided.

On Saturday, September 12, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Steve Brown returns to lead Human/Nature: Writing Poetry in the Real World. In this supportive workshop, participants will explore how human experience and the environment interact, write using guided prompts, receive constructive feedback, and leave with the beginnings of two new original poems ($25 members / $35 non-members).

While visiting LACA this week, be sure to explore our annual LACA Member Exhibit, now on display through September 26 across both the Main Gallery and Performance Hall Gallery! Featuring a remarkable variety of original 2D and 3D artwork created by regional member artists over the past year, many pieces are available for purchase—a wonderful way to invest directly in local talent and support community programming.

Find your center with workshops, performances, and exhibits—all at ludingtonartscenter.org or by calling LACA at 231-845-2787.

09/04/2026

09/03/2026

LACA’s annual Member Exhibit opens tomorrow (Friday, Sept. 4) with a FREE public artist reception from 4-7 p.m.!!

Attending the opening reception is a great way to check out the latest creations by some of the talented artists from YOUR community!!!

Many of the works on display will be available for purchase. Purchasing local artwork not only brings original, meaningful pieces into your home, but it also directly supports an artist and helps sustain the arts within the community.

Proceeds from art sales also benefit LACA, helping the organization continue to provide accessible arts programming and cultural experiences throughout the region.

Thank you in advance for sharing this post and supporting the arts in YOUR community!!!

We hope to see you tomorrow night!!

09/03/2026

Get ready for an action-packed fall of creativity at LACA! We are thrilled to launch an incredible lineup of Fall Youth Programs packed with hands-on fun, new skills, and artistic adventure for young creators ages 5 to 14. If your child loves to paint, draw cook, sculpt, sew, or sing, we have a program for them!

Younger creators ages 5 through 9 can dive into After-School Art-Ventures every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday! On Tuesdays with instructor Mary Case, students explore 2D art like summer remembrance paintings, mini journals, artist trading cards, drawing techniques, winter landscapes, and custom snow globes. Wednesdays bring hands-on ceramics with Mary to build 3D lighthouses, functional snack bowls, animal sculptures, and holiday ornaments. Thursdays keep the excitement going with interactive stop-motion animation and woodworking play set builds through 4-H, plus printmaking and eco-friendly upcycled sculptures led by Laurel Prafke.

For older students ages 10 through 14, After-School Create-Quest offers skill-building fun on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Tuesdays feature global culinary adventures with Lois Cole, where young chefs master kitchen basics while cooking delicious American, European, and Asian dishes. Wednesdays offer an inspiring Open Studio space for kids to work on self-directed projects, try new mediums, and collaborate with creative peers. Thursdays focus on pottery with Mary Case, guiding students as they craft 3D castles, lighthouses, snack bowls, travel cups, Thanksgiving turkeys, and festive holiday ornaments.

We are also excited to host the After-School Sewing-Studio with Deb Borma on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays for students ages 8 to 10 to learn essential needlework and textile skills.

Singers ages 10 to 14 can unleash their voices in the Ludington Youth Chorus, led by Ludington Elementary Music Teacher Alexis Rios! Meeting Tuesdays from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM (Sept. 29 – Dec. 15), this vocal program welcomes singers from across the greater Ludington area—including Scottville, Pentwater, Hart, Shelby, and Manistee—to build vocal confidence, perform concerts, and make lifelong friends!

Learn more and register at ludingtonartscenter.org/kids.

💙 These programs are made possible thanks to the generous support of:
• Community Foundation for Mason County - MI
• Pennies Foundation
• McKnight Family Fund for the Community Foundation for Mason County
• Patrick and Maria O'Hare Fund for the Community Foundation for Mason County
• Epworth Fund for the Community Foundation for Mason County
• YAC (Youth Advisory Council) Community Foundation for Mason County
• Jaycees Minigolf

09/02/2026

It’s the LACA Summer Concert Series finale with Roger That!!🔥🔥🎸🎸🔥🔥!!

Thank you in advance for sharing this post and surge arts in YOUR community!!

09/01/2026

🎨 Unwind & create with watercolors this September at LACA!

Join instructor Richelle Daniels at the Ludington Area Center for the Arts for a series of beginner-friendly Tuesday evening workshops.

All supplies are included, so you just need to bring yourself!

📅 September Tuesday Lineup (6:00 PM – 8:00 PM):

Sept. 1: Lobster Buoys Watercolor
Sept. 8: Painted Pooch Watercolor
Sept. 15: Watercolor Radishes
Sept. 22: Sunflower Watercolor
Sept. 29: Fall Landscape Watercolor w/ Richelle Daniels

Bonus: Have your own photo or project idea in mind? You're always welcome to bring reference images, and Richelle will help guide your vision step-by-step!

💰 Registration: $30 for LACA Members | $40 for Non-Members (per session)

Reserve your spot at ludingtonartscenter.org/workshops or call 231-845-2787.

09/01/2026

LACA will host Michigan poet and performer Steve Brown for a two-part event series next week, featuring a live poetry reading on Tuesday, September 8, followed by an interactive writing workshop on Saturday, September 12.

The series begins Tuesday, September 8, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with Brown performing his captivating, no-nonsense poems centered on Michigan and the Rust Belt. His work brings to life struggling people and places, stories of hard work and rock bottom, and touches on themes of sobriety, fellowship, and faith. An engaging performer who brings characters and vivid visual details to life, Brown notes, “I write poetry about characters I know and love for people who don’t normally read poetry.” His writing pairs the eye of a reporter with the touch of a painter and the heart of a storyteller. The reading has a $5 suggested donation at the door to support LACA, and copies of Brown’s three poetry collections—Trample & Sew, News of Need, and Fellowship—will be available for purchase and signing.

On Saturday, September 12, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Brown will lead a hands-on poetry Human/Nature: Writing Poetry in the Real World designed for participants of all skill levels. Going beyond vivid natural imagery and simple recordings of everyday behavior, the session guides writers to discover the deeper tensions between people and the landscapes they inhabit. Attendees will explore selections from Brown’s collections, write through guided prompts drawing on family histories and personal memories, and receive constructive feedback along with practical coaching on performance techniques. Every writer will leave with the kernels of at least two original poems.

Workshop registration is $25 for LACA members and $35 for non-members. Register online at ludingtonartscenter.org or by calling 231-845-2787.

To read or hear a preview of his work visit his website www.stevenmatthewbrown.com.