The Thornapple Arts Council of Barry County was founded in November 1985 by Sue Drummond with help from John Fehsenfeld and many generous supporters behind the scenes. 37 years later, Thornapple Arts Council members, volunteers, and staff maintain their vision to spark creativity, community, and culture through programs and education that bring personal enrichment and quality of life to Barry County residents.
The Thornapple Arts Council was a completely volunteer organization until the fall of 1998 when the first part-time managing director was hired. Today TAC has two staff members with continued volunteer community support.
Recent News
Barry County Coloring Book
Dig out your drawing pencils — a new community art project from the Thornapple Arts Council and the Barry County Tourism Council is here! Write a love letter to your community by contributing to the Barry County Coloring Book, a project highlighting historic and cultural sites in our area.
Scholarship Applications Open
Share with the high schoolers in your life — summer scholarship applications are open through April 5th! Arts scholarships from TAC help cover the cost of summertime arts opportunities like Interlochen and Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp.
BCAE Submissions Open
Submissions are open through April 6th for the annual Barry County Artists Exhibition! This year’s theme is a tribute to Barry County. Send in your county-loving creations now for a chance to be exhibited at Historical Charlton Park.
Aubrey Logan
A concert years in the making — jazz sensation Aubrey Logan comes to Hastings on April 28th! Get your ticket for just $10 to see her as the Friday night headliner during the Jazz Festival.
March at TAC
The March newsletter is here! This month’s issue features information about summer arts scholarships, the Barry County Artists Exhibition, Aubrey Logan, and more.
Mark your calendars…
The TAC Jazz Fest returns April 27th-29th! Join us for three days of music throughout Downtown Hastings, brought to you by the Thornapple Arts Council.
Bikram Ranapheli
The Hastings Community Music School is pleased to welcome Bikram Ranapheli to the teaching team! Bikram holds a BA in Modern Music and joins us a guitar/bass teacher. Welcome to the team, Bikram!
Impact Blog Post
At TAC, we are proud of the impact we make in our community! Our latest blog post is a collection of impact statements from area teachers and students who have been positively affected by TAC programming.
