Ways to Give
Donate by Mail
OAB, PO Box 883, Leland, MI 49654
Make a Pledge
Make a multi-year donation
Stock or ACH Transfer
Contact the OAB: 231-256-2131
Matching Gifts
Ask your employer about gift matching!
Tax ID Information
EIN 38-3052356
Leelanau Community Cultural Center
(DBA: Old Art Building)
A Commitment to Arts & Community
A Storied Past
The Old Art Building’s history is as long as it is storied.
Moments of serendipity – intertwined with inspiring acts of community generosity – are sprinkled throughout the OAB’s origin story. That rare and magical combination has allowed our beloved building to not only survive the past century, but to thrive.
From Allie Mae Best’s bold and brilliant plan to establish a community center along the Leland River in 1922 to Michigan State University’s 50-year summer art class program to the birth of the Leelanau Community Cultural Center in 1994 and the purchase of the building in 2020, the Old Art Building has met and embraced each new opportunity with gusto.
A Bold Idea
Today is no different. Thanks to yet another serendipitous event, in the summer of 2023 the OAB was offered the chance to purchase the land across the street from our existing building from sisters Jessica and Jennifer Lukomski. After much due diligence, it became clear the community was soundly behind this opportunity to both grow the OAB and preserve a priceless swath of the Leland riverfront. The ‘Honoring Our Past & Building Our Future’ capital campaign was born.
A Vibrant Future
This new property allows us to dream much as Allie Mae did over a century ago. Thanks to Jessica and Jennifer Lukomski and their vision that the property be used to cultivate arts and culture and be accessible to the community, we envision a “new” art building to complement the Old Art Building that would provide arts & educational classrooms, artist studio space, community & collaboration space, expanded gallery space, and space for workshops and retreats. And the outdoor space – roughly twice the size of our current property with 280 feet on the Leland River – could offer a natural picnic area, outdoor classrooms, a pollinator garden, flexible meeting spaces, and walking paths. Year-round access and programming would serve all ages and be open to all.
A Community Story
How thrilling to think that today each of us can play a part in the future of the OAB, keeping Allie Mae’s spirit and mission alive, while dreaming of what awaits future generations. No doubt they will thank the foresight that OAB supporters had in 2024 to preserve this environmental gem and conjure a space filled with beauty, art, music, learning, and community collaboration.
Support our Campaign