Positive impact of Arts and Culture on local economies
- Dickinson Area Economic Development Alliance
- Jun 9
- 2 min read
Thriving arts and cultural spaces are a powerful form of placemaking. Placemaking is the use of local spaces to create vibrant communities and gathering places that enhance residents' quality of life. With appropriate planning, design, construction and maintenance, it becomes a place that serves as a community's cultural and social identity.
Arts and culture spaces also contribute directly to the economic health of local businesses. It stimulates tourism, which results in supporting local restaurants and retail establishments, attracting creative professionals and artists, and enhancing the overall quality of life in a region.
The Michigan Arts and Culture Council (MACC) is a program of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). Its purpose is to ensure every citizen and community in Michigan enjoys the civic, economic, and educational benefits of arts and culture. It fulfills this mission by offering an annual grant program.
Arts & Culture in Action
In Dickinson County, two non-profit organizations were awarded grant funding in 2026. The unique missions of these organizations share a common goal: encouraging connection and engagement to draw people to the community through shared interests.
The Braumart is a historic theatre located in downtown Iron Mountain. Founded as a movie theatre during Hollywood’s golden age, it was the movie theatre in the region. In the 1990s, it was redeveloped into a performing arts facility. Today, it continues to host both national and local musicians, theatrical and dance performances, as well as classic movies.
MACC awarded The Braumart $43,100. This funding goes towards efforts in restoring the venue, including asbestos testing, Board of Directors training and CRM services.
A former schoolhouse on Upper Pine Creek Road was repurposed into a state-of-the-art woodworking school: Pine Creek Woodworking. Its mission is to teach area senior citizens and Veterans woodworking skills. The organization also hosts students from area schools to introduce them to the art and skill of woodworking.
MACC awarded Pine Creek Woodworking $9,125 in 2026. The organization intends to use the award to install a new air filtration system to help with operations.
Organizations like The Braumart and Pine Creek Woodworking are important because they draw people into the community. Our large manufacturing, healthcare and construction industries need a variety of arts and culture programs and organizations to maintain a high quality of life for their employees, ensuring our community is a place where people love where they live.
Quality of life improves when individuals find community and belonging through shared interests. Learn more about living and working in the Dickinson area by visiting belongdickinson.org.
To learn more about the Braumart, visit www.thebraumart.org.
To learn more about Pine Creek Woodworking, visit www.pinecreekww.com.
Comments