Blissfest Arts Recreation Center Project

Mission Statement:
The primary goal of the Blissfest Arts Recreation Center to create a facility for cultural, recreational and sustainable living experiences that families and individual can enjoy in a quiet natural setting. 

March 3, 2010- Blissfest Announces Capital Campaign for Arts Center

Following a good deal of  strategic planning over the past two years and Emmet County approval of a Special Use Permit  the Blissfest Music Organization has embarked on a major capital campaign, its first ever, to support a building project on its 120 acre property in Readmond Township just east of Cross Village.  The Blissfest Arts Recreation Center ((BARC) project will provide the infrastructure necessary to accommodate Blissfest’s plans to expand its programming and  provide year-round service to the arts community of  Northern Michigan. 
The primary goal of the Blissfest Arts Recreation Center is to create a facility for cultural, recreational and sustainable living experiences that families and individuals can enjoy in a quiet natural setting. The center will place special emphasis on cultural heritage with performances, dances and workshops.  In addition, general recreation activities, ecology and renewable energy education and gardening and farming experiences will be  available.

Plans are to build a 7,200 square foot multi-use assembly building to accommodate expanded indoor programming, 10  unique resort cabins; 35  permanent  campsites; a new multi-use administration/greenhouse facility; and significant  improvements to the existing farmhouse, outbuildings, and main stage. 
The Blissfest Arts Recreation  site plans call for a residential wind turbine and solar panels on the rooftops of its facilities to provide  sufficient energy to meet  40% of the energy needs for the complex year-round. 
“We are positioning ourselves to foster positive and managed economic growth in Northern Michigan by concentrating on  our natural and cultural resources,” reports executive  director and founder Jim Gillespie.  “Blissfest is responding to an ever increasing demand for cultural tourism and building on the future of eco-tourism and agricultural tourism in Emmet County.”
Early support for the Blissfest Arts Recreation Center project has come from generous commitments by the Blissfest Board of Directors, from a Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation grant , from a USDA Rural Development Community Facilities grant, and most recently from a $150,000 challenge grant by the Frey Foundation of Grand Rapids.

For More information and opportunities to  get involved contact:
Dale Hull & Associates 231/348-2731

History and BARC Center Details

The Blissfest Music Organization was awarded a Special Use Permit from the Emmet County Planning Commission to create a year round Blissfest Arts Recreation Center on the Festival Farm on Feb. 5, 2009 This Arts Recreation Center will add a permanent camping area, cabins, a solar powered multi-use building, gazebos and a camp store as well as an addition on our historic farmhouse recently remodeled into a guest house. Also included in the plan is to create gardens, nature trails, orchards and demonstration installations of solar and wind renewable energy that will provide power for the facility. Conditions of use for the Arts Center can be viewed at the following link: Emmet County Planning Commission minutes Feb. 5, 2009
The primary goal of the Blissfest Arts Recreation Center envisioned by the Blissfest organization is to create a facility for cultural and recreational experiences that families and individual can enjoy in a quiet natural setting.  The center will place special emphasis on cultural heritage with performances, dances, workshops and other educational activities. In addition, general recreation activities such as camping, hiking, nature walks and gardening will be available at the facility. Guests and members will be encouraged to participate in developing and maintaining the facility’s gardens, orchards and trails. In addition, the new facility will allow for general recreation opportunities and rentals to community groups and individuals for retreats and receptions. The maximum design capacity of the facility accommodations will be 200 people and 300 people on site for any one time.
The board has hired Dale Hull & Associates  based in Petoskey, MI  to take the lead in developing the BARC project capital campaign. Dale is experienced with working with cultural organizations and building organization capacity. Dale has a real passion for the arts and the Blissfest Arts Recreation Center. He formerly assisted with the Crooked Tree Arts Center expansion and renovation in Petoskey and was their Executive Director. Besides developing building and site  design, the Blissfest BARC Team is working on the quiet campaign portion of the project. A capital campaign committee has been selected from the community and board of directors. Work will focus on developing grant proposals to present to a number of private foundations and public grants and developing a marketing plan that will present the BARC project to the community with opportunities to participate. The marketing plan includes current work on a video profile of the Blissfest Organization and a brochure describing details of BARC Project.

“Now we are really setting down permanent roots with a center where folk and roots music and dance can grow and flourish in our area.  The center will offer community members and visitors the opportunity to experience the beauty of rural Emmet County and encourage community members to participate in Blissfest’s mission to inspire individuals to make there own. We are following our Bliss! Music is the universal language and a quality of life essential. To be able to explore the diverse music and dance traditions of American and other cultures at a small retreat center in Northern Michigan is a legacy project we aspire too.” Jim Gillespie, executive director

 “We are very excited to present this project to the community” Blissfest is primary source for cultural heritage programming and folk and roots music education. To be able to do that on the land that we have such a historical connection with and respect for will be a great advancement for the organization and the community. We will continue to fulfill our dream to create educational experiences that bring people together through music and dance.” Bob Humphrey, the Blissfest Organization board president.

Follow the links to right for additional details about the project