Planners Envision Cultural Hub for Central U.P.
Ground Broken for New $800,000 Erickson Center at Curtis
By Paul Gingras

The Erickson Center on South Manistique Lake in Curtis is designed to encourage artistic, theatrical, educational, and other cultural events in the region. (Rendering by Ken Czapski of U.P. Engineers and Architects, Inc.)

Groundbreaking for the multifaceted Erickson Center in Curtis took place Wednesday, June 20. Designed to spur art, educational, and cultural activities in the region, the $700,000 to $800,000 building is hoped by planners to be a major force in economic development for the central Upper Peninsula.

The 10,000-square-foot building is expected to be completed in October, hopefully in time to host the Harvest Ball, said Dave Danaher, president of the Curtis Community Arts Council that promoted the project.

The facility is sponsored primarily by Richard and Nancy Erickson of Curtis.

The council has a broad vision for the Erickson Center, essentially a "body, mind, and spirit concept," Mr. Danaher said. Activities to be held at the center range from yoga to theater.

The council hopes the center will open another facet of economic growth in the U.P., a concept spurred, in part, by downstate retirees who now live in the Upper Peninsula. Their presence has contributed to a demand for cultural activities, and by creating a forum for art and entertainment, the facility will also provide opportunities for youth, Mr. Danaher said.

"We really want to reach out and make people aware of the Central U.P., and what a great place it is to visit. We have a lot to offer, and [the Arts Council seeks] to help people realize that it is a lot of fun to cross the bridge and come up here," Mr. Danaher said.

Use of the facility is not restricted to the Curtis community. The council encourages groups and individuals from St. Ignace, Sault Ste. Marie, and other communities in the region to use the Erickson Center.

The second story of the building is likely to be put to use first, Mr. Danaher added, including a 3,200- foot great room, with attached bathrooms, a storage facility, and kitchen.

Most of the upper floor will be carpeted, but a 20-foot-by-20-foot portion will be hard surfaced and appropriate for dances. The room, which includes a fireplace, will be suitable for a variety of large events, including anniversary parties, weddings, and educational seminars.

Patrons will be able to step out from the second story onto a large deck and take in a panoramic view of South Manistique Lake.

The facility is an expansion for the Arts Council, which has been operating out of a house on 40 acres of land for the past five years. Both the house and the land were provided by the Ericksons. At the current building, the council holds classes, including carving, beading, weaving, smoking cessation, and weight reduction. After the center is completed, classes will be held at the house as well as on the first floor of the new facility. Larger events will be held upstairs.

The council is in the early stages of planning new events, and members are reaching out to Northern Michigan University and Lake Superior State University, which they hope will host cooperative ventures at the Erickson Center, Mr. Danaher said.

The facility will host plays by the local Portage Players theatrical group. The council will plan "coffee house" events in which refreshments and musical entertainment will be offered.

While the Center is funded primarily by the Ericksons, who Mr. Danaher said "made this entire program viable and possible," the Curtis Community Arts Council also gathers donations. Some money is placed into the building fund, while most revenue is reinvested in programs, keeping costs low for patrons, Mr. Danaher said.

The "transitional community" of Curtis, characterized by a mixture of tourists, hunters, outdoorsmen, naturalists, and retirees, contributed many of the concepts of the Arts Council, he said.

The council includes Chairman Richard P. Erickson, Secretary Beth Nicholls, Treasurer Kelly Chamberlin, Linda Soder, Ruthette Mills, Jeff Freeborn, Marcy Justice, Margery Painter, Pat MacLachlan, and President Danaher. Council members are enthusiastic and dedicated, and have widely varying backgrounds, including members knowledgeable in teaching, theater, art, and business, he said, and together, they develop programs, recruit volunteers, and manage the property.

The council sponsors Art on the Lake, a Labor Day weekend event that predates the Council and now falls under its umbrella. It is a forum for artists to sell their wares in Curtis Park, and includes concerts, food, and a silent auction. The council also sponsors "Follywood," a variety show in which participants dress in era garb and pantomime the '50s, '60s, and '70s.

Originally, the Arts Council was begun by Richard Erickson and Harlan Maurer of Curtis.