Holland Area Arts Council

Specialties

The mission of the Holland Area Arts Council is to stimulate and expand awareness of the creative process for all individuals in the lakeshore area through high quality art exhibitions, education, and advocacy.

Holland Area Arts Council programs and Services focus in four areas:

Exhibition,

Education,

Performance, and

Outreach.

History

Established in 1967.

As part of a statewide initiative, any community with a population of five thousand or more was eligible to receive funding support to develop a community arts council. In 1967, the Holland Council for the Arts was formed, representing various arts groups in the city. The primary purpose of this Arts council was to support artists and further the cause of the arts in the community. During the 1970’s invitations were extended to all local arts groups to become delegates.

In 1981, a change in the name of the organization was discussed to better reflect the geographic area the Arts Council represented.

In 1986 the Arts Council structure was reorganized and committees became more important in the decision-​making process. A member organization category was established for area arts organizations.

In the fall of 1996 a new building acquisition and renovation was underway. The new space allowed for future growth and enabled the Arts Council to stay rooted in the downtown Holland community.