It’s an exciting time for Bay City’s non-profit arts center Studio 23.
The downtown arts institution, which features two art exhibition galleries and art class programming, will be celebrating its 60th year in operation once the calendar flips to 2019--no small feat for an arts group such as theirs.
"We’re a grassroots organization started by local artists. It’s a phenomenal thing to be kicking off our 60th year as a strong and vibrant artistic community," says Studio 23 Executive Director Tara Welch.
"Sixty years is quite the accomplishment."
But first Studio 23 must finish out 2018. And it’s doing so as it’s done every year for the past 16 years, with it’s annual fundraiser, the Black & White Affair.
Tickets for the Black & White Affair are currently on sale. The event serves as the primary fundraiser for the organization, and an opportunity for guests to support a Bay City cultural stalwart and meet featured artists up close.
The three artists currently on exhibition at Studio 23, Ann Vincenti-Michelman, Chandra Jewell, and Tisch Mikhail Lewis, will be in attendance. There will also be a silent and live auction featuring the works of 30 artists from throughout the region, live music, cash bar, and walking hors d’oeuvres.
The Black & White Affair is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 14, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available online.
"This is a nice elegant night out in Bay City to support the arts and get in that holiday spirit," Welch says.
An art discussion with the three artists is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 15, at 1 p.m.
Welch says that there are many exciting announcements to come in 2019, though she wasn’t ready to divulge much. She did say, however, that there is a big classroom expansion project slated to begin in January.
Studio 23 is located at 901 N. Water St. in Bay City.
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