Michigan is composed of very different destinations, including bustling cities like Detroit and Grand Rapids, college-town charmers such as Ann Arbor and Lansing, and even an island called Mackinac, where automobiles are prohibited. But they are similar in that each features an arts and culture scene that groups can partake in, be it a stroll through a local museum, a hands-on crafts workshop or a visit to a historical site.
Detroit
Detroit, an affordable, accessible Midwest destination, offers everything a meeting planner seeks, including ample hotel rooms and cultural sites that double as off-site venues.
"We can host an event among one of the most significant art collections in the nation at the Detroit Institute of Arts or at a historic hot spot like The Henry Ford," says Carla Conner-Penzabene, director of sales at the Detroit Metro CVB, adding these and other local institutions have interactive programs for groups.
At the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), for instance, there is a room for groups where a member of the DIA staff will lead them in an art project.
"One of the groups we took was instructed to draw a shoe," she explains. "Everyone was really into it and prizes were awarded. If a group has a theme, the DIA staff will incorporate it into the art project."
Pewabic Pottery facilitates interactive tile-making projects for groups. After the group leaves, the staff at Pewabic will complete the tile-making process and mail the tiles to attendees.
"They are great keepsakes, and when they arrive in the mail two weeks later groups are reminded of the event," Conner-Penzabene says.
The Henry Ford has curators available for groups who are interested in hearing from an expert on particular topics.
"They bring anything that is from the American past to life—industrial equipment, weaving, farming, baseball—everything is possible," she says.
At the Motown Historical Museum, groups can take an interactive tour to learn about music legends such as Diana Ross and the Supremes, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye.
Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, according to Marianne Gosz Klinker, spokesperson for the Ann Arbor Area CVB, prides itself on having something for everyone.
"It’s easy for groups to incorporate arts and cultural activities into their itineraries when visiting because there are so many options, from gallery tours to tile-making classes, and from museums to live, professional theater," she says.
Unique area venues that are suited for receptions and other group gatherings include the University of Michigan Museum of Art; the Ann Arbor Art Center, which also offers classes; and the Michigan Theater, a multipurpose venue where groups could also book the screening room for a meeting or to watch a classic film or enjoy a private concert.
For hands-on activities, Gosz Klinker says planners should check out Hollander’s, a specialty stationary store that offers classes in all sorts of paper arts, from bookbinding to box-making, and Motawi Tileworks, where attendees can participate in a make-a-tile workshop.
"There is an Ann Arbor Art Walk, which includes visits to several galleries in the area," she says, explaining that studio tours with individual artists can also be arranged. "For a relaxing night on the town, groups can catch a performance at the Purple Rose Theatre Company or Performance Network Theatre."
Saginaw
Michigan’s Great Lakes Bay Region, comprised of Saginaw, Bay City and Midland, is home to many cultural attractions. At Saginaw’s Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum, located at Saginaw Valley State University, groups can do a tour and then have a reception or dinner just outside the gallery, according to Wendy Scott, director of convention marketing at the Saginaw Valley CVB.
Nearby Frankenmuth is coined Michigan’s Little Bavaria. Here, Scott says, groups can have a planned function or be left on their own to experience this quaint German village. It features a lovely landscape of flowers and greenery, Bavarian architecture and good food. Among its highlights are cheese and sausage factories, accessory boutiques, fudge and candy kitchens, and breweries.
Two more area options for a cultural outing/event are the Midland Center for the Arts and Bay City’s Princess Wenonah, a historic boat available for group events.
Lansing
Greater Lansing is home to Michigan State University (MSU), the state capitol and many cultural resources, which are draws for hosting events, according to Tracy Padot, spokesperson for the Greater Lansing CVB.
"Receptions and dinners are often held at local museums and art galleries, and if at all possible the food is specific to the region and the event features Michigan beer and wine," Padot says, citing spirits from Michigan Brewing Company and Burgdorf’s Winery.
A few popular venues that host group gatherings are Lansing Art Gallery, MSU Museum, Saper Gallery and Michigan Historical Museum.
"They do appetizer stations, a few on each floor so that guests will travel through the museum while eating, drinking and mingling," Padot says of the Michigan Historical Museum.
Groups have also done gallery crawls in Lansing’s Old Town neighborhood, and backstage tours have been arranged at the Wharton Center for Performing Arts, located on the MSU campus.
"MSU is a great resource for musical performers and performance venues," Padot says. "Well-known actors and musicians have been tapped to perform for groups if the meeting coincides with their performance at Wharton Center."
Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids enjoys a unique mix of attributes, from state-of-the-art convention facilities and off-session pursuits in and around Lake Michigan to a healthy arts scene.
"In addition to galleries and internationally acclaimed museums, the city is awash with outdoor art, including the 42-ton Alexander Calder sculpture that has come to symbolize our creative spirit," says Doug Small, president of the Grand Rapids/Kent County CVB.
The Grand Rapids Public Museum is available after-hours for private parties, dinners, receptions and meetings of up to 2,000 guests.
"You can stroll through and interact with the many diverse exhibitions, enjoy dinner under the 76-foot fin whale skeleton that suspends from the ceiling while overlooking the Grand River, or ride on a beautifully restored 1928 Spillman Engineering Co. carousel," Small says, adding that the museum’s planetarium is a hit with groups.
At the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, a place that blends art and nature, the main building offers 11 rooms that can be rented independently. Small says some planners rent the whole facility for an entire evening.
"Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is a one-of-a-kind diverse cultural experience," he says, explaining the grounds cover 132 acres of natural wetlands, woodlands, meadows, Victorian and botanical gardens, and a sculpture park. "Attendees can walk the outdoor nature trails and boardwalk, study world-class sculpture, visit indoor galleries and sculpture exhibitions, or engage in a flower-arranging event."
Muskegon Area
Muskegon sports 26 miles of sugar-sand beaches and sand dunes, as well as maritime attractions, history and the arts, according to Jill Emery, tourism manager at the Muskegon County CVB.
A great way to engage a group, she says, is by setting them out on a historic walking tour.
"A wonderful docent will lead the group for a tour of Muskegon’s downtown," she says, citing a leisurely lunch at Hackley Park, home to some Civil War statues, a tour of the Hackley and Hume Historic Site, a visit to Scolnik House of the Depression Era and a stop at Monet Gardens for afternoon tea.
Perhaps the most popular among Muskegon’s off-site venues for group events is the LST 393, aka the Landing Ship Tank 393, which served on the beaches of Normandy during the D-Day invasion. It hosts nearly 100 events a year, and groups can even spend the night onboard.
The Lakeshore Museum Center is another great spot for a group gathering, Emery adds, as is the Muskegon Museum of Art and the Great Lakes Naval Memorial and Museum.
"It’s home to the most decorated surviving World War II submarine, the USS Silversides, which has a banquet facility on the second floor overlooking the submarine and the channel leading from Muskegon Lake into Lake Michigan," she says.
Kalamazoo
Lorraine Austin, spokesperson for Discover Kalamazoo, says there is no shortage of surprises awaiting groups in Kalamazoo, including everything from theater performances to lakeshore sunsets and wine tasting.
On the artistic side, groups may opt for a unique outing or team-building activity at downtown’s West Michigan Glass Art Center. Austin says the staff at the center will work with planners to create a unique itinerary to suit their group’s needs and time schedule, including glass-blowing and bead-making workshops.
Planners might also make time for the group to enjoy Kalamazoo’s Art Hop, held downtown the first Friday of every month.
"It features art and entertainment in a fun, casual atmosphere, where galleries and businesses host the shows and groups can hop from one to another," Austin says.
Traverse City
Located on Grand Traverse Bay, Traverse City is known for its beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline and outdoor activities, and it’s also home to award-winning wineries and other cultural draws.
"The city’s picturesque, tree-shaded downtown has over 150 unique galleries, boutiques, coffee shops and restaurants," says Jack Schripsema, vice president of sales and marketing at the Traverse City CVB, adding that other adventures, shopping and otherwise, await groups in nearby resort areas.
Located on the campus of Northwestern Michigan College, the Dennos Museum Center provides an elegant space to host special events, including performances, lectures or meeting presentations in the Milliken Auditorium, or stand-up receptions or sit-down dinners in the sculpture court.
Located in the heart of downtown, the recently renovated City Opera House is the oldest of three historically intact Victorian opera houses in Michigan, Schripsema says.
"It’s a one-of-a-kind venue for entertainment, educational programming, and public and private celebrations," he says.
And located 10 minutes from downtown Traverse City near the entrance to the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa is the Music House Museum (MHM), which boasts a collection of rare antique musical instruments and music-making machines, dating from 1870 through 1930.
MHM is ideal for small group events in the main museum, Schripsema says, adding that outside tented events are also possible.
Mackinac Island and Mackinaw City
Mackinac Island, situated a mere 20 minutes by ferry from Mackinaw City, is considered "one of the top 10 best-rated islands in the world" by National Geographic Traveler.
This 1,800-acre destination is known for its picturesque scenery, a circa-1820s downtown filled with historic architecture and, since 1898, a strict no-car policy, according to Mary McGuire Slevin, director at the Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau.
"There is nothing quite like a vacation or group outing with no automobiles," she says, adding that Market Street is home to the majority of art galleries on the island. "Many artists may be found painting ‘en plein aire’ at various galleries almost daily during the summer months."
It’s worth noting, McGuire Slevin says, the Mackinac Arts Council offers ‘Drop In and Draw’ workshops at the Community Hall on select dates throughout the season.
Kevin Frisch, spokesperson for the Mission Point Resort, adds that Mackinac Island Carriage Tours provide a unique way to see and learn about all of the island’s culture and history by taking a horse-drawn carriage tour of the entire island.
"You will see many of the island’s historic sites and cultural spots, including Fort Mackinac, Wings of Mackinac and the Butterfly House," he says.
The charming lakefront village of Mackinaw City invites groups to celebrate its cultural heritage via National Historic Sites that double as off-site venues for group gatherings, including the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, the Colonial Fort Michilimackinac and Historic Mill Creek, an 18th century working mill.
Carolyn Blackburn is a frequent contributor to Meetings MidAmerica.
