Karen Van Nort, Volunteer and Glen Arbor Arts Center Board Member

 

Supporting and volunteering* at the Glen Arbor Arts Center has been such a rewarding experience in so many ways. It strives to fulfill its mission to provide art everywhere. I love being a part of that process. Without the Arts Center there wouldn’t be gallery openings, classes for kids and adults, a yearly poster to collect, and musical events to attend. Providing those opportunities and being able to volunteer for those events is a joy for me. As an art lover and fine arts history major in college, I have always loved art, and living in this town with an organization committed to providing all kinds of art opportunities makes our community a vibrant place to experience these different activities.

I volunteer because it’s fun! When we moved here, I knew nothing about the Glen Arbor Arts Center except they sold a poster I wanted to put in our cottage. Shortly after we moved here full-time, I was asked to interview to serve on the board and I’ve been volunteering ever since. Besides having the opportunity to take some fun classes and volunteer at our events, I’ve come to know and enjoy so many people who have become friends. Classes allow trying something fun and new. Buying a painting at the Plein Air Paint Out in August has been my most satisfying experience! Seeing the excitement and joy of people finding just the right painting for their home or cottage is so rewarding. I encourage anyone who loves art to join the Glen Arbor Arts Center and experience for themselves the many ways they can enjoy an art experience in Glen Arbor.

*Karen was the Glen Arbor Arts Center “2024 Volunteer of the Year”!