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Frequently Asked Questions about the Anton Art Center
A Brief Overview of The Art Center The Art Center's mission is to enrich and inspire the lives of Macomb County residents and visitors of all ages, through the infusion of the arts into everyday life. We achieve this through exhibits, educational programming, community outreach and special events. Our success comes from creative leadership, a strong sense of community and the generosity of our members and supporters. Since its inception in 1969, The Art Center (now commonly known as the Anton Art Center) has been housed in the historic Carnegie Library Building in downtown Mount Clemens. The only facility of its kind in Macomb County, the neoclassical structure is listed in the State of Michigan Historic Register. The Art Center is a strong advocate for artists. Artist opportunities include monthly exhibitions ranging from juried statewide competitions to invitational and student shows. The Art Center also presents two annual events which generate income for artists: The Mount Clemens Art Fair and Christmas Market. The Art Center Gift Shop offers Michigan artists further opportunities to generate income throughout the year. Through a major gift from the Gebran S. and Suzanne P. Anton Foundation, an innovative five-year project, Art in Public Places, was initiated in 1997. The artwork is intended to evoke a sense of place and pride for the city of Mount Clemens and to further demonstrate the community's support for the work of artists. In September of 2005, The Art Center broke ground for a $1.6 million renovation of the historic Carnegie Library and the construction of an addition with an elevator, gallery, classroom and office space. Since that expansion, the center has undertaken more extensive programming, offering an increased exhibition calendar, classes, workshops and more. The Center is a regional regranting agency for the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs. Though this program, The Art Center offers $4,000 grants to non-profit organizations in Macomb and St. Clair County to help finance arts and cultural programs. Staff members also offer technical assistance and consultancies to non-profit arts and cultural organizations in the region. The Center presents a quarterly schedule of educational programs in various media for youth and adults and has become a hub for local artist groups. The Wine Cellar Artists, for example, is a group that has been created by passionate Art Center members who find inspiration in regular dialog with other artists. The Center continues to develop outreach programs, including a Healing Arts program at Henry Ford Macomb Hospitals and Mount Clemens Regional Medical Center. |

