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Come.

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Visit the gallery.

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Take a class.

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Enjoy a concert.

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Become a member.

The Glen Arbor Arts Center

DISCOVER. CREATE. CONNECT.

Creativity Q+A with Jan Johnson Doerfer

Creativity Q+A with Wendy McWhorter

Little Free Art Gallery

Jan Johnson Doerfer, 73, feels better when she is creating, when she can go down to the beach and watch the water, or connect with the birds, or add to a collection of sticks that are “art waiting to be made.” Creative work has been a constant thread throughout her adult life. Now, this enduring […]

Antrim County painter Wendy McWhorter, 68, is a late bloomer, self-described. But after retiring in 2013 she blossomed — a verb that applies to her creative practice, and her subject matter. Wendy is passionate about flowers. They meet so many needs: color, shape, their brightening presence in the landscape and the front yard. But it’s […]

Seeking a creative outlet? Partial to tiny things? GAAC has the opportunity for you! We are looking for submissions to fill our Little Free Art Gallery.
FREE

Classes

Beginners, dabblers, experienced creatives and professionals explore and deepen their creativity at The Glen Arbor Arts Center. Offering more than 100 programs a year ranging from painting to pottery, youth programs to embroidery, mixed media collage to photography, there’s something to inspire everyone.

Featured

Facilitated Book Discussion: Wanderlust: A History Of Walking – FREE CLASS

April 6, 2025 – May 25, 2025

Plein Air Poetry – Nature as a Companion

July 24, 2025

Writing in The Wild

August 7, 2025

Events & Exhibits

A special part of The Glen Arbor Arts Center are the exhibits and many artist’s talks, music concerts, and special events like the August annual Plein Air Weekend that take place throughout the year. Inspiring and often thought provoking, exhibits and events enrich the entire community adding to our individual and collective wellbeing.

Exhibit: The Sky Is Always There

January 10, 2025

Make A Little Art

January 21, 2025

Exhibit: Walking

April 01, 2025

Facilitated Book Discussion: Wanderlust: A History Of Walking – FREE CLASS

April 06, 2025

Concert: Allie Kessel

July 25, 2025

For artists

From exhibits of member only works, to the Artist-in-Residence program, to the gala annual Plein Air Weekend, to teaching opportunities and classes that develop one’s creative expression The Glen Arbor Arts Center is an essential community for artists to belong.

I feel so fortunate to have landed in Leelanau County over a dozen years ago. Looking to find artful connections, it made perfect sense for me to become a member of the Glen Arbor Arts Center. They are well organized, friendly, and provide support and opportunities to many artists. The surrounding community benefits greatly from the contributions of the Glen Arbor Arts Center by bringing residents closer together and fostering a sense of place.

Sharing my 50 years of pottery experience is very satisfying. Seeing my students' “AHA moments” as each step of the making process clicks for them, is exciting. The sense of place the farm provides and the accomplishment of making that students experience will stay with them.

I have been a part-time resident of Glen Arbor for over 50 years. Back then there wasn’t much of an art community. But then I met Susan Wilson, Barbara Siepker, Becky Thatcher, and Ananda Bricker who had the idea of starting The Glen Arbor Art Association to instill a sense of the arts into the community. As an artist, I understood how this would benefit not only artists but the soul of the community at large. I responded to their call and have been an involved supporter ever since. The Glen Arbor Arts Center has become a notable success and an invaluable asset to the community.

At Fortified Coatings we’re inspired by the idea of giving art as gifts—each piece tells a story and creates a lasting impact. Sponsoring the exhibit was a perfect opportunity to celebrate this meaningful approach to holiday giving. We hope visitors find one-of-a-kind pieces that bring joy and inspiration to this holiday season.

Volunteering has been such a rewarding experience in so many ways. The Glen Arbor Art Center strives to fulfill its mission to provide art everywhere. I love being a part of that process. Without the Arts Center there wouldn’t be gallery openings, classes for kids and adults, a yearly poster to collect, and musical events to attend. Providing those opportunities and being able to volunteer for those events is a joy for me.

LIFT's partnership with Glen Arbor Arts Center has allowed our teens to explore the world of art when they otherwise wouldn’t have the chance. I’ve seen students blossom from their lessons, take their experiences, and apply them elsewhere. One student who struggled to challenge herself creatively comes to mind who, after joining the Arts Center classes, decided to join the school's theater and choir programs.

The Glen Arbor Arts Center