Anton Art Center

History

The structure was designed by Theodore VanDamme and was erected in 1904. It was the first library in Macomb County to be financed by industrialist and philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie who contributed $17,000 to its construction and one of 1,681 such structures to be financed by Carnegie in the United States. Although the building typically would have been an adequate size to accommodate the population the size of that of the town of Mount Clemens, because of large tourist industry as a result of the mineral baths that were located in the community, the building was ultimately not large enough to effectively serve its purpose.

In 1969, the Library was moved to a new structure and the original building began use for a not for profit organization known as The Art Center. The structure was listed on the State of Michigan Register of Historic places in 1978. In 2005, The Gebran and Suzanne Anton Foundation of Grosse Pointe, Michigan donated funds to construct an addition to the original structure. The facility was renamed the Anton Art Center.After hiring a director in the 1970’s, the Center slowly built into an important force for local art. The structure was listed on the State of Michigan Register of Historic places in 1978. A major fundraising effort spearheaded by local businessman Gebran Anton led to the 2006 opening of a building addition that increased gallery space, created a gift shop and provided additional classroom space. We are now known as the Anton Art Center.

Activities and exhibitions

The Anton Art Center has been used for exhibitions of local, national and international artists. Art related classes are also offered to the community at the facility. As a result of a collaboration with the Detroit Institute of Arts, artwork from the museum's collection is occasionally loaned to the Anton Art Center for display. Most notably a painting by Vincent Van Gogh was displayed at the Art Center in the 1990s.

The Anton Art Center serves over 16,000 visitors each year through various art exhibits and over 40 classes. We have over 400 members, around 90 active volunteers, and a small, hard-working staff. Our primary activities are exhibitions, education and artist-support programs and events. Exhibitions, class sessions, and other events are just some our strengths and mission. The Anton Art Center hosts open call exhibitions each year, including the prestigious Michigan Annual, a juried, all-media competition held for Michigan artists. Local art associations such as the Lake Palette Club of St. Clair Shores (LPC), the Mount Clemens Art Association (MCAA), and The Warren Tri-County Fine Arts Association Inc. (WTCFA), exhibit at center as well. The Center presents a quarterly schedule of educational programs in various media for youth and adults and has become a hub for several local artist groups. Winter/spring, summer and fall classes schedules includes drawing, watercolor, oil painting, illustrative figure drawing , weaving, ceramics, tile- making, fiber and mixed media. Artist-support programs include the Anton Art Center Gift Shop, Christmas Market and spring Art Fair as well as artist serving as paid workshop instructors and jurors. Artists are notified of open calls for artwork via email subscription, website resources, our Facebook page, or on-site.