A marriage of sorts could be in the offing for the Artcenter in Traverse City and the Crooked Tree Arts Center in Petoskey, although not everyone has yet said “I do.”

The potential match would pair up the riches and reputation of Crooked Tree with the panache and population of Traverse City.

“It’s wonderfully thrilling for me and for the people who are involved,” says Paul LaPorte, board president of Artcenter.

Liz Ahrens, Crooked Tree’s executive director, stresses there's nothing official yet. Her board is conducting “extreme due diligence” with a plan for a final announcement by summer’s end.

“We first wanted to run this up the flagpole and wait for the red flags,” she says.

Yet there’s no question on their future vow: To build the northwest piece of the mitten—from Manistee to Mackinac Island--into a nationally recognized arts destination, one that would draw admirers and artists to everything from Blissfest to juried art competitions to symphony concerts, Ahrens says.

LaPorte calls Ahrens the powerhouse executive director who built Crooked Tree, founded in 1971, into one of the most successful art centers in Michigan and the Midwest, with a $2.5 million annual budget, staff of 14, and a $5.4 million endowment. 

The Artcenter, formed in 1951, is active, but homeless after vacating the former All Faiths Chapel three years ago, a move that LaPorte supported. It has a paid staff of one, a budget of $100,000, and could use the leadership and grant connections of Crooked Tree.

“So why does Crooked Tree need us?” LaPorte asks rhetorically. “Fundamentally what’s happened is they’ve outgrown their community, and that’s part of the reason we’re talking. We’re in a great media market. We get national recognition for our wines, beers, foodies, being the most beautiful spot in the USA. When Al Roker comes to northern Michigan, he doesn’t come to Petoskey. He comes to the Open Space during the National Cherry Festival.”

LaPorte and Ahrens recently ran their proposal by area artists and nonprofit leaders. They were careful to make the distinction that the fused nonprofit would focus only on visual arts in Traverse City while Crooked Tree in Petoskey would continue to encompasses all arts-- drama, visual arts, music and creative writing. And it would welcome regional collaboration, such as a quartet from the Traverse Symphony playing at its art openings.

But some nonprofits look at the potential merger with a wary eye.

Dennos Museum Executive Director says he collaborates with other nonprofits statewide on a myriad of art projects and wonders why Crooked Tree can’t do the same thing rather than pursue a formal “take over.”

“A potential concern I have is what is next?” Jenneman tells The Ticker. “TC Artcenter reps have stated that this is Crooked Tree’s opportunity to move into this market. They’ll bring in their fundraiser and staff. How soon will they want to do something else? My biggest reservation is why can’t Traverse City sustain what it has and what it wants to do culturally? Maybe there needs to be a larger conversation of what it needs and how arts organizations meet those needs.”

And then there’s the scramble for donor dollars. A myriad of arts nonprofits already struggle to sustain what’s here now.

But LaPorte believes the new equation may add up to higher foundation dollars early on, relieving pressure on area donors.

“Instead of going to the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs for a $10,000 or $20,000 grant, we’d be going to the Ford Foundation or Dow Foundation or Pew Charitable Trust for a million-dollar-at-a-time grants. It would combine our strengths.”

Ahrens says the new nonprofit won’t cannibalize pledges that have already been made.

“Chicago and New York have thousands of nonprofits,” she says. “If a nonprofit is serving the mission, the support will be there.”

The proposed partnership will enable Artcenter to move into a new home. Sights are set on the restored barn on the Grand Traverse Commons property (near the botanical gardens) or the Carnegie Library building, which now houses the financially struggling History Center of Traverse City.

Either way, area artists will have a place to show off and sell their work, LaPorte says.

“We might have an invitational for regional artists, or a themed show--just water color or just sculptures. Water-related art. Art and wine. This all revolves around the artists.”

LaPorte says the idea to cooperatively promote Michigan as a world-class arts destination grew out of a meeting last fall when 19 arts groups met to form the Northwest Michigan Arts Coalition.

There was blowback from artists, angry because they weren’t invited. Yet ultimately it led to five initiatives plus talks with Crooked Tree Arts Center, LaPorte said.

“Just to have art centers communicating each other was a huge tectonic shift,” he says.

Glenn Wolff, a renowned artist, illustrator and musician, says he doesn’t see a downside; he and fellow artists and musicians already visit Crooked Tree to enter juried art shows and perform concerts.

“A lot of artists I respect are really fond of Crooked Tree. I don’t feel that possessive about turf,” he adds.