The creative process starts with an idea and grows from there. For several years, the Erickson Center for the Arts in Curtis has facilitated this process for artists in writing, music, performance arts, and photography while the institution undergoes a transformation of its own. Hosting a writers' retreat and compiling a directory of artists and musicians are its two newest projects.

“The whole creation of the Erickson Center has been a learning experience,” said the center's lone part-time employee, administrative assistant Melissa Ronquist. “Our events calendar grows every year. The attendance at our events grows each year. We've had to rapidly learn to coordinate and raise funds on a larger scale.”

This artistic hub in the northern woods started as a simple desire to have a venue for a children's theater, said board member Linda Soder, who was in on the initial phases of the project of establishing the center. Eventual benefactor Richard Erickson saw potential for pushing the scope of the project even further, securing a 40-acre parcel of property to devote to the cause, while extending the project to include music and art festivals, workshops, and groups.

The area already had a history of emphasizing the arts through the Curtis Community Arts Council, which hosted the Art on the Lake music and art festival on the Saturday of each Labor Day weekend. With a significant piece of property and a stated purpose of enriching the mind, body, and spirit of individuals of all ages, this council naturally transitioned into becoming the Erickson Center for the Arts.

“Curtis has traditionally been a fishing, resort, and retirement community,” Mrs. Soder said. “I see Curtis becoming a destination because of the arts center, as well. This is another way to make Curtis a thriving a community, both economically and artistically.”

Through the expanding list of events, a statewide emphasis on cultural tourism, and positive word of mouth, the board members and Mrs. Ronquist feel this goal is achievable.

“This isn't something that's offered a lot of places,” Mrs. Ronquist said. “We are centrally located and situated to draw from the local population, seasonal residents, and out-of-town visitors. If you go in a 100-mile radius, you draw from a lot of different communities, including St. Ignace, Marquette, Sault Ste. Marie, and downstate. Our retreat events have an even wider range.”

Following the pattern of beginning with music, and then branching into other endeavors, the Erickson Center is preparing for its inaugural writers retreat, after three years of hosting the “Above the Bridge” songwriters retreat.

The “North of 45 Retreat for Writers” will begin the center's summer schedule this week, Thursday, May 13, through Sunday, May 16. The retreat is open to writers of any style and features professionals who have penned children's books, fiction, songs, and poetry. Lodging for the retreat will be at Chamberlin's Ole Forest Inn on Big Manistique Lake.

“We want the writers to enjoy themselves, learn something, and advance their writing goals,” said board member and inn owner Kelly Chamberlin. “We'd like for them to be encouraged and want to come back next year.”

The docket for this event features one-on-one and critique sessions, as well as an opportunity for writers to participate in a read-itout loud gathering, sharing their works with the public Saturday, May 15, at 7 p.m. at the Erickson Center for the Arts. Presenters include St. Ignace native Shelley (nee Huyck) St. Ange Sheldon, children's author Jeffery Schatzer, northern Michigan author Steve Amick, musician Amy Speace, and freelance writer and musician Ann Rowland.

The idea for hosting retreats blends the area's natural beauty with the creativity the Erickson Center is trying to encourage.

“This area is serene. We're surrounded by lakes and it's a quiet atmosphere,” Mrs. Ronquist said. “It's a wonderful place for a retreat. When people think of the word 'retreat,' they envision getting away from it all. That definitely applies here.”

Even if a writer makes no progress in a current project, he or she will benefit from being exposed to writing professionals, nature, and peers working toward similar goals, Mrs. Chamberlin said.

“The camaraderie is awesome,” she said. “These people leave as good friends, when, at the beginning of the sessions, they did not know each other. They form deep connections. After it's all over, they continue to be very supportive of each other, even after they've all gone home.”

The atmosphere at Erickson Center events is one element the board members hope participants take away from all events.

“There is a lot of positive energy. How can you not enjoy yourself when you're surrounded by creativity and the sound of music?” Mrs. Chamberlin said.

Other Erickson Center events planned for this year include the fourth annual songwriters retreat in June, a wine and cheese fundraiser and auction in July, a photography contest in August, and the Art on the Lake festival in September. There is also Follywood in July, where community members impersonate their favorite stars at a variety show and luncheon.

The Great Midwest Irish Gathering is another inaugural event, taking place in September, that seeks to create a retreat atmosphere. This will follow the same format as the other two retreats, with the primary focus centered on Irish songwriting.

The center has come a long way in a short amount of time, Mrs. Ronquist said.

“We have as much to offer here as any big-sized town,” she said. “We bring in outside entertainment and we cultivate our own local talent pool.”

There are definite goals on the table as to where the board would like to see the Erickson Center in a few years.

“We're working on fund development, so we can bring in more cultural and children-related programs,” Mrs. Ronquist said.

The center is a nonprofit organization that welcomes local sponsorship of events by area businesses, and puts all of its proceeds back into programming. For a complete list of Erickson Center events and opportunities, call (906) 586-9974 or check its Web site at www.ericksoncenter.org.

The Erickson Center for the Arts is seeking all musicians and artists from all disciplines who would like to be added to a new Artistic Resource Directory. The directory seeks to identify people who are willing to give music or voice lessons, demonstrations, teach classes, or display their work. To be added to the directory, call the center at the number above.