Michigan Arts and Culture Northeast (MACNE), also known as “ARTown Michigan” is a non-profit corporation founded by four independent non-profit arts, culture and history orientated organizations, including Art in the Loft, the Besser Museum of Northeast Michigan, Thunder Bay Arts Council, and the National Marine Sanctuary.

Individually and collectively, each are orientated towards bringing artists, businesses and non-profit organizations together throughout the area to market the arts, culture, history and humanities of the region to a broad audience, highlighting the region as a center for such activity, while providing avenues for immersion, education and appreciation of various mediums of expression.

Also included as  partners in the collaborative effort are the City of Alpena and the Michigan Municipal League, providing significant support through grant funding. The Alpena County Library provided significant assistance in the development and enhancement of the website. Many organizations, businesses and individuals have also partnered with ARTown through their participation in the signature “Passport to the Arts” program.

The outcome is maximizing the potential of what organizations can do together that no one could do alone!  Utilizing and promoting the assets of this region collaboratively defines ARTown!