The merger between Petoskey's Crooked Tree Arts Center (CTAC) and ArtCenter Traverse City, first reported on by The Ticker in July, is now a reality. The CTAC board gathered late Wednesday in Petoskey to vote in favor of the deal, which could have significant repercussions on the local arts scene.

The union will deliver the region's largest population center -- and donor base -- to the Petoskey-based CTAC. ArtCenter Traverse City, meanwhile, joins a financially credible powerhouse.

The merger is not a surprise, given the new realities of arts and dollars throughout the state. Many small, community arts organizations struggle to secure funding. Meanwhile, Governor Snyder's administration has emphasized regional collaborations in everything from economic development to road funding to the arts. Proponents say the new Crooked Tree could help build a northwest lower Michigan arts umbrella brand that could secure grant dollars smaller groups could not have access to on their own.

Crooked Tree Board President Bill Millar says the organization will operate much like a college with two campuses and will have staff in both cities. The new organization will be lead by Tony Ryner, incoming CTAC president. A transition team will begin to iron out specifics in the coming weeks and months.

Merger conversations began in earnest in January, when CTAC Executive Director Liz Ahrens and a small Petoskey contingent visited Traverse City to explore a partnership. Initial ideas centered around the sharing of programming -- say, having a visiting musician or show perform in both Traverse City and Petoskey. But "very quickly after that we concluded if we’re going to do this right, it would have to be a full-on merger," says Paul LaPorte, ArtCenter TC president.

LaPorte says the combined group's efforts are likely to focus initially on the visual arts, given that film, theatre, creative writing, and music are "already being done so magnificently by groups here now."

The merger will undoubtedly also have an impact on the future of the Traverse City-owned Carnegie Building. Both ArtCenter Traverse City and the current tenant, The History Center of Traverse City, have expressed an interest in using some or all of the building after The History Center's lease expires in December.

City Manager Jered Ottenwess tells The Ticker, "I believe the merger would enhance their (Crooked Tree and ArtCenter) ability to provide services and fulfill the arrangement described in ArtCenter's...proposal for use of the Carnegie."

Mayor Michael Estes notes, " Once merger details evolve, I can see Crooked Tree as a very significant player in Carnegie Building discussions," adding that he envisions a "cultural center" shared by several groups.

An ad hoc committee consisting of three City Commission members will have their next meeting Monday morning; City Manager Ottenwess says the committee is committed to having a recommendation "in time for the first City Commission meeting [in] December."

LaPorte calls it "mandatory" that Crooked Tree have a Traverse City home, "especially now, with elevated expectations." He says the group remains very interested in the Carnegie Building but is also exploring two other local options.