The Baby Badger
A children’s flotilla that’s a miniature replica of the historic S.S. Badger carferry. Children get to ride in one of many “cars”.
Ludington Area Center for the Arts
Photo by Todd & Brad Reed Photography
Find Your Center at the Ludington Area Center for Arts
The Ludington Area Center for the Arts (LACA) is the gathering place for community expression through arts and cultural experiences. Since opening in September 2008, LACA has proven to be a valuable asset to the Ludington area.
Throughout the year, the Center hosts exhibitions, performances, and educational programs in music, the visual arts, literature, and more. Click here for a complete list of performances.
The facility includes a 250-seat performance hall; the venue is handicap accessible with a stair climber lift. With the removal of the fixed pews in early 2019 and replacement with movable chairs, the performance hall space has become a much more versatile venue. The gallery and exhibition space which doubles as a banquet hall are located on the main floor. Art studios and classrooms are found on the lower and upper levels of the facility.
Completed in Fall 2018 is the Art Library on the second floor. Named for Bill & Jane Carpenter and John & Marion Riedl, the library features over 1,000 books of art history, artists, and instructional materials. Books are available for sign-out on an honor system.
The Main Gallery of the Ludington Area Center for the Arts is host to several exhibitions throughout the year. In addition, a second Gallery space is located in the Performance Hall Lobby area and a new exhibit area, The Unframed Gallery, has been developed in the Performance Underground Room 101 on the lower level. All exhibitions are free and open to the public.
In addition to the monthly or bi-monthly exhibits, one-night only PopUp Art Shows are periodically scheduled in the Main Gallery space. The PopUp shows are an “exhibit within an exhibit” and offer artists with a smaller inventory a chance to show off their art.
Activities & Programs at LACA
- Ludington Writers offer monthly writing and critique groups. The West Side Gang Writers Group meets the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays to discuss works in progress; Third Tuesdays are devoted to sharing work that is inspiring. The group also sponsors writing workshops.
- Visual Arts Critique Group meets the third Friday at 11am to discuss participants’ art work and give helpful suggestions.
- Acoustic Jam is held Wednesday evenings (6-8pm), in the Gallery space and is also open to all interested musicians.
- Ukulele group meets the 2nd & 4th Wednesdays of the month from 1-2:30pm.
- Open Mic Nights are held the 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month with the 1st Friday billed as family-friendly and the 3rd Friday as adult-focused.
- Open Arts and Crafts Studio offers a bright and airy space in which to learn a new skill or improve on one and is the site for various workshops throughout the year.
- Open Drawing Studio is available during regular open office hours. A jewelry/metal clay studio opened in Spring 2019 and a Pottery Studio was completed in the fall of 2019. Both studios were made possible through support of donors. Various workshops are scheduled in both of these new studios.
- Other workshops are scheduled in the Main Gallery.
- Other groups meeting regularly at LACA include a Photography Group, AV Club and Rock and Mineral Club.
- Workshop Wednesdays for kids is a series of fun arts and crafts classes for ages 9 and up offered during the school year. The free program is held after school on Wednesdays; sponsors and donations are appreciated.
Due to the restrictions and safety measures regarding the COVID-19 virus, this schedule is subject to change. Please visit ludingtonartscenter.org.
West Shore Art Fair
The Ludington Area Center for the Arts manages the West Shore Art Fair held in Ludington’s Rotary Park. The fair which is held annually on the first full weekend in July is schedule for July 3rd and 4th in 2021. The fair is a juried fine arts and crafts event which means a more stringent criteria is used and only the highest-quality artists are admitted. Juried artists are chosen to display paintings, photography, jewelry, clay, glass, fiber and wood, and many other varieties of fine art. Each year, there are over 100 artists accepted to participate in the show. In addition to the artists, the fair features live musical performances, food stations, and a children’s area where children can purchase art donated by participating artists for just $5.
Ludrock Events at LACA
Girls Rock- A spring event is “Live at the LACA: Girls Rock.” The event celebrates women through musical performance and spoken word. Local female musicians, singers, and artists of all ages perform live at the Ludington Area Center for the Arts Performance Hall.
Night of Fright- Every year around Halloween, the Ludrock group hosts its annual Night of Fright at the Ludington Area Center for the Arts, which is a frighteningly fun fundraising effort for the Center’s Performance Hall.
History of the Ludington Area Center for the Arts
Organized and incorporated in February 2004, the Ludington Area Arts Council purchased the former United Methodist Church in downtown Ludington in September 2008. The Gothic-style structure built in 1894 has experienced significant upgrades since the Arts Center took possession and further improvements are planned. The renovation plan for the building is an ambitious project, as the Arts Center wants to maintain the historic integrity of the structure.
For more information on LACA:
107 S. Harrison, Ludington, MI 49431
(231) 845-2787
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