New Arts & Culture
The Arts and Culture Fund supports greater access to arts and cultural experiences in Charlevoix County. In the spring and fall, awards are presented to non-profit organizations to provide opportunities in Charlevoix County for the public to enjoy or participate in arts, music, dance, theater, and more. C3F grants also help to preserve what makes our community special, and has supported oral history projects, the digitization of photos and historical documents, and the preservation of physical spaces around Charlevoix County.
Because the Arts and Culture Fund is endowed, it will continue to grow and provide grant dollars for these kinds of programs and projects and more, both now and into the future. Contributions to the Arts and Culture Fund join together, resulting in greater impact for this community we love.
To make a gift to the Arts & Culture Fund, click here.
Photo above: An exhibit of items created by local artists on display at Jordan River Arts Council.
BONNIE STAFFEL FUND FOR ARTS & CULTURE
Bonnie Staffel is an artist: a sculptor, potter, painter, teacher. She has lived and worked in many places – including Texas, Illinois, Ohio, North Carolina, Mississippi, and Michigan. “I've always been in art, ever since I was a little girl. I had always wanted to be an artist for work and I pursued that as my goal," she said.
Bonnie explains that she was going to art fairs to sell her work when a gallery in Traverse City showed interest in carrying her pieces. Through that opportunity, Bonnie and her husband became acquainted with Northern Michigan. "We started looking for a place to open up a shop and we took five vacations up here and ultimately ended up in Charlevoix," she said. For 20 years, Bonnie and her husband owned their gallery in Norwood, now the location of the Cycling Salamander.
The Bonnie Staffel Fund for Arts and Culture was established by her daughter, Marell Staffel, and many friends, in honor of Bonnie’s 80th birthday. The Fund has supported visual art exhibits, hands-on arts experiences, and more since 2001. Because the Fund is endowed, Bonnie’s contribution to the arts will be honored into the future, for generations to come.
(Excerpts were taken from Petoskey News Review article of January 9, 2017 by Sean Miller)