History

Elizabeth Lane Oliver Center for the Arts, formerly Crystal Lake Art Center, has been a cultural cornerstone of Benzie County since it was founded in 1948. It has moved buildings three times in its history to accommodate growth, serve all patrons, and ensure delivery on its mission to “establish and maintain an educational program and facility for the advancement of the arts, and to promote and develop visual, performing, culinary, and literary arts.” Under strong leadership of an active and experienced Board of Directors, the Center rebranded as the Elizabeth Lane Oliver Center for the Arts in 2011 and defined an ambitious Strategic Plan with facilitation by Rotary Charities Northsky Nonprofit Network.

After a capital campaign involving 331 individual donors that totaled over 3.4 million dollars, the Center established itself in the newly renovated U.S. Coast Guard Station at the mouth of the Betsie Bay, Frankfort, in 2011, where three floors present two exhibition galleries, three spacious classrooms, a demonstration kitchen, office space, storage and artwork preparation space, an outdoor deck, and ceramics studio space, all of which are accessible to people with disabilities.

The Elizabeth Lane Oliver Center for the Arts facilities were awarded LEED “platinum” certification, the highest possible, in 2013, as well as Michigan Historic Preservation Network’s 2014 “Building Award.”