[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 51 (Monday, March 25, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S1933]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ANTON ART CENTER

 Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the 50th 
anniversary of the Anton Art Center in Mount Clemens, MI. I appreciate 
the opportunity to recognize the efforts of the Anton Art Center to 
fulfill their mission to enrich and inspire people of all ages through 
the arts.
  The Anton Art Center was established in 1969 by three members of the 
Mount Clemens Art Association: Bea Wright, Gretchen Thompson, and 
Phyllis Wickens. Upon its founding, they took over occupancy of the 
then Mount Clemens Public Library to save the historical building from 
demolition. The library was built by Andrew Carnegie in 1903 and opened 
in 1904 and was one of approximately 2,500 libraries that Carnegie 
funded throughout the world. The center converted the interior to 
include three galleries, an art studio and meeting area, a pottery 
studio and kiln room, and offices. In 2006, local businessman Gebran 
Anton led a fundraising effort to expand the building with the addition 
of a gift shop, an increase in gallery space, and more classroom space. 
It is fitting that the center should occupy a Carnegie Library, a 
beautifully designed building that is now listed in the State of 
Michigan historic register.
  The goals of the Anton Art Center are to present a wide array of 
programming to appeal to diverse audiences, provide support for the 
arts, and become a focal point for arts programming and work toward 
inclusion, diversity, equity, and access in all they do. Through its 
many programs, the Anton Art Center has become a leading advocate of 
the arts and artists in Macomb County and throughout the surrounding 
area. In addition to traditional artist exhibitions, the center offers 
a multitude of programs for artists to showcase their work to the 
public. There are multiple juried statewide competitions, as well as 
two annual events that include the ART! Macomb Art Fair and holiday 
market. The center's gift shop offers yet more opportunity for the 
community to support local artists. The center also supports the 
aspiring artist inside many of us by offering adult and child classes 
in many mediums including clay, drawing, mixed media, photography, 
weaving, and watercolor.
  The Anton Art Center also serves as the Region 10A Re-granting Agency 
for the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, MCACA. As such, 
they award mini-grants to nonprofit organizations, schools, 
municipalities, and individual professional artists in Macomb and 
Oakland Counties in support of arts and culture programming and 
professional or organizational development. They also provide technical 
assistance to organizations applying for funding through this program.
  I am pleased to rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in 
recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Anton Art Center. They have 
been a staple of the arts and cultural scene in Macomb County for half 
a century, and I wish them continued success in the years to 
come.

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