Apr 8, 2010

Art Center coming to downtownBy Elizabeth WillisBattleCreekEnquirer.com

Construction workers have paved the way for art in downtown Battle Creek this summer.

The Art Center of Battle Creek is moving its gift shop and creating a second, smaller exhibit at 80 W. Michigan Ave. to help patrons avoid road construction in front of its current location at 265 E. Emmett St.

A seven-block stretch along Emmett from Fremont Street to McKinley Avenue will be closed to through traffic from late April or early May to mid-September for street, sidewalk, water and sewer work.

Art Center Executive Director Linda Holderbaum said the crisis presented an opportunity to experiment with a downtown satellite office.

“We didn’t want people to look at the street and say, ‘Never mind,'” she said. “It’s trying to make the best of a challenging situation this year.”

The satellite office, called Art Center Too, will hold a special reception for downtown merchants on May 2 before opening to the public on May 3. Regular open hours will be 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and during special weekend events such as Spring Into the Arts on May 14.

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