About the Mackinac Arts Council
The Mackinac Arts Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and Mackinac Island's designated arts agency. Now in its 23rd year, MAC works in partnership with the Mackinac Island Community Foundation, Mackinac State Historic Parks, the Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum, the City of Mackinac Island, the Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau, and other community organizations to serve the arts and cultural needs of our island home through diverse programming, collaborative initiatives, and community-centered services. We invite you to join us in bringing quality arts experiences to beautiful Mackinac Island.
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The Mackinac Arts Council was founded in 2002, inspired by island artist and lifelong arts advocate Becki Barnwell. Becki envisioned a community where residents and visitors alike could enjoy richer, more meaningful access to the arts. To bring that vision to life, she brought together a diverse group of local residents, business owners, and representatives from government and local churches to explore forming an arts council, laying the groundwork for a vibrant, connected arts community on Mackinac Island.
From the beginning, there was broad agreement that Mackinac Island deserved more robust arts and cultural programming for the people who live, work, summer, and visit here. The Arts Council was structured with a dual purpose: to serve as an organizational backbone supporting multiple nonprofit entities in reaching their outreach goals, and to generate original programming from the island's own extensive and talented creative community.
In the summer of 2003, MAC's founding volunteer board presented three inaugural events: the Mackinac Island Public School Concert, the Festival of the Arts Exhibition, and Jammin' for the Arts Fundraiser. These well-attended celebrations confirmed what the founders already knew: there was genuine enthusiasm and a growing appetite for cultural life on Mackinac Island.
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​Today, the Mackinac Arts Council continues to grow, deepening its commitment to expanded arts and cultural programming for the entire Mackinac Island community.
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Mark Ware, President
Kathryn Rado, Vice President
Sam Barnwell, Treasurer
Suze Oostendorp, Secretary

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jeri-Lynn Bailey
John Deroshia
John Jones
Kate Kopacka
Ann Levy
Tom Lewand
Taylor Martin
Urvana Morse
Christine Rollins
Adrian Skazalski
Liz Ware
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ADVISORY BOARD
Becki Barnwell
Mayor Margaret Doud
Kate Levy
Ryan Macy
Jane Manoogian
Mary Bea McWatters
Phil Porter
Chris West
Fr. Jim Williams
Susan Wipperman
Candi Wynn
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STAFF
Laura S. Raisch, Executive Director
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Our Story
Looking Ahead
MACKINAC ISLAND PUBLIC SCHOOL
The Mackinac Arts Council supports important arts programming for the students of Mackinac Island Public School each year. Arts in the schools increase test scores and lower dropout rates. The Arts Education Partnership’s publication Critical Links contains 62 academic research studies that taken together demonstrate that arts education helps close the achievement gap, improves academic skills essential for reading and language development, and advances students’ motivation to learn.
Engaging with the arts, especially under the guidance of trained teachers and specialists, provides the space for students to construct, push boundaries and expand venues for understanding.
Mackinac Arts Council works to meet the arts and cultural needs of Mackinac Island through a diversity of initiatives, services, and cultural programming. With your support, community theater, open mic nights, public access to music concerts, art education, and hundreds of other cultural programs are made possible.