The purpose of the Art Club is to stimulate and encourage the creation, study and presentation of the performing and creative arts, to encourage public interest in the cultural heritage of the area, and to encourage freedom of artistic expression. To these ends, the Art Club has served as an incubator, sponsor and supporter of new arts organizations in its artistically vibrant hometowns. In 2008 the Art Club contributed $6,152 to support local cultural and educational projects benefiting the community's students and the general public of the area. The Club equipped a new art studio at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts to be used for classes for adults and children. It funded a display space in the Red Barn Theatre, home of the Lakeshore Arts Alliance. The Art Club also responds to special needs that art teachers in the Saugatuck School District may have.

In 2006 $12,687, in 2007 $15,233, and in 2008 $16,600 was disbursed to local students pursuing arts education in degree-granting programs. The Art Club, in the years from 1991 to 2005, granted scholarships in the amount of over $153,000.

It is unusual for a small town to enjoy a scholarship program which is able to provide substantial support to students pursuing careers in the arts. Among former Saugatuck-Douglas Art Club Art Scholars are many people who are successfully pursuing careers as practicing artists, performing artists, graphic artists and art educators.

The Art Club holds monthly meetings which focus on hands-on workshops, visits to galleries, and programs on local art history and local artists. The Art Club contributes substantially to community education and the cultural life in its hometowns, and it deserves your support. To become a member (annual dues $10), or to make a scholarship donation, or to remember a loved one through a donation to the Memorial Fund, send checks to Box 176, Saugatuck MI 49453. As a 501 (c )(3) non-profit organization all contributions are tax-exempt.

For applications, rules, and maps for our two summertime art fairs in Saugatuck MI, the Waterfront Invitational Fair and the Village Square Arts and Crafts, click on the art fairs tab.  Use the Contact Us tab to get on the mailing list for the 2010 fairs.

We hold interesting programs about the arts throughout the spring, summer and fall.  For information on these programs, which are open to the public, click on the programs tab.

We give thousands of dollars annually to local students pursuing degrees in the arts.  To learn more about them, click on the scholarships tab.