By Allie Brawley
Located in the Upper Peninsula about 15 miles southwest of Newberry in the heart of the vast Lake Superior State Forest, you’ll find Curtis with 900 year-round residents and more than 2,500 in the summer months. This small village is bursting with history and culture plus generations of seasonal visitors who enjoy summer festivities at Big Manistique Lake and South Manistique Lake.
A Gift that Keeps Giving to Curtis
Born from a vision to bring arts and culture to the heart of Michigan’s Eastern Upper Peninsula, the Erickson Center for the Arts has grown into a lasting gift for the Curtis community.
Founded through the generosity and dedication of summer residents Dick and Nancy Erickson — with Nancy (Gowan) Erickson having grown up in the area — the Center was created to ensure people of all ages could experience the transformative power of the arts close to home. What began as a simple idea has evolved into a regional destination for performances, education, nature and community connection.
The Erickson Center sits on 40 acres in Curtis, blending arts, culture and the natural beauty of the Upper Peninsula. The project began in 2003 with the construction of a bandshell that hosted 6 weeks of Music in the Park performances each summer. Those concerts quickly became a community tradition, and Music in the Park was increased to 12 weeks, regularly drawing crowds of 250 people.
As support for the arts continued to grow, the Center expanded. A building opened in 2008, allowing for additional programming, exhibitions and educational opportunities. Then, in 2021, the Erickson Center celebrated the opening of its 160-seat performance theatre, made possible through a successful capital campaign that began in 2019.
Executive Director Kelly Chamberlin said organizers initially hoped the campaign would raise enough money simply to purchase theatre seating. Instead, community support far exceeded expectations.
“It just says a lot about our community that we surpassed our goal,” Chamberlin said. “Clearly there’s a big appreciation for the arts and a need for people to have it during their summer.”
The additional funding allowed the Erickson Center to invest in professional lighting, sound and stage equipment, creating a venue capable of hosting tribute bands, theatrical productions, musicals and visiting performers ranging from children’s theatre groups to Shakespeare productions.
Beyond the arts, the property also reflects the Center’s commitment to education and wellness. Twenty acres are dedicated to a nature conservancy featuring walking trails and a children’s book trail that changes monthly, encouraging families to explore both literacy and the outdoors together.
The Erickson Center’s mission is to enrich the mind, body and spirit of the communities it serves through artistic and cultural programs while encouraging personal growth throughout the region. Operational Grants through the Michigan Arts and Culture Council help support three part-time staff positions, while a volunteer board of directors and many additional volunteers generously give its time, talent and labor to help sustain programming and events. Local businesses also play an important role through ongoing sponsorships and community support.
Chamberlin oversees programming, fundraising, grant writing and community outreach, helping ensure the Center continues to evolve while remaining rooted in its original vision of community enrichment.
Working alongside other beloved Curtis organizations, including the Curtis Chamber of Commerce, the Erickson Center helps strengthen the sense of community that defines the Upper Peninsula. Together, these organizations celebrate local heritage, support tourism and economic vitality, and create opportunities for residents and visitors to gather, learn and connect.
More than two decades after its beginnings, the Erickson Center for the Arts continues to stand as a testament to what can happen when a community invests in creativity, culture and one another — a gift that continues giving to Curtis and future generations alike.