Midland Center for the Arts Calls on the Community to Help Complete Transformational Renovation

Midland Center for the Arts is entering the final phase of a transformational renovation that will reshape how the community experiences live performance, learning, exhibitions, and gathering in their spaces.

As this once-in-a-generation project moves toward completion, Midland Center is inviting the community to help bring the work across the finish line through philanthropic support.

For more than 50 years, Midland Center for the Arts has been a cornerstone of creativity and connection across the Great Lakes Bay Region. The institution has welcomed generations of families to experience the performing arts, explore art and science through hands-on discovery, and celebrate local history. Today, that legacy continues with a commitment to ensuring this vital community resource thrives for the next 50 years and beyond.

When the 2020 flood caused catastrophic damage to the facilities, the community came together with extraordinary generosity to fuel a transformational effort to restore and reimagine the Center.

Thanks to the support of donors, foundations, and local, state and federal agencies, significant progress has already been achieved with more than $46.7 million secured for the Center of Possibility Capital Campaign.

Key milestones in the renovation have included accessibility upgrades in the Auditorium, completion of new community rooms, critical infrastructure improvements, and visible construction progress throughout the building. These enhancements are creating more welcoming, accessible, and dynamic spaces for gathering.

Now, Midland Center is entering the final stretch. To complete the transformational renovation, the Center is seeking additional philanthropic support to close the funding gap and bring the project to completion, with approximately $6.4 million left to raise.

“This is a pivotal moment for Midland Center and for our entire community,” said Dr. Matt Travis, President & CEO. “We have come so far because of the belief and generosity of so many. With this final push, we can fully realize a vision that will serve and inspire generations to come.”

The final phase of the project will deliver lasting impact across our region, including:

-       New education spaces at the Doan Center for visual art programs, expanding hands-on learning opportunities for youth and adults.

-       Enhanced accessibility throughout the facilities, including improved accommodations in the Auditorium and new elevators and ramps in the Museum.

-       A reimagined Museum, designed to spark curiosity and celebrate creativity through engaging, interactive experiences for all ages.

-       Dedicated historical archives to preserve and share the story and impact of Midland County.

-       Critical infrastructure improvements to strengthen the 55-year-old facility, increasing energy efficiency and long-term sustainability.

-       State-of-the-art community spaces for gatherings, events, and celebrations, enhancing the guest experience and supporting earned revenue growth.

The reimagined Museum, grounded in the idea that everyone is creative, is expected to reopen in late 2026. Full project completion is anticipated by mid-2027.

Once complete, Midland Center will be a more accessible, innovative, and welcoming home for creativity, better equipped to serve audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

Community members are encouraged to make a gift of pledge at midlandcenter.org/renovation, or by contacting the Midland Center Development team at development@midlandcenter.org. Gifts to this campaign support the final phase of the renovation project and are separate from annual operating support, including Circle of Friends.

“To finish this work is to invest in the future of creativity, learning, and connection in our region,” added Dr. Matt Travis. “Together, we can ensure Midland Center continues to inspire and welcome our community for generations to come.”