An Art Lover's Guide to the Great Lakes Bay | Great Lakes Bay Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau

Day One:
Art in Saginaw

Find a city rich in historical flair and artistic hotspots, with hidden gems along brick-lined streets and mural-covered corners! Meet the heart & soul of Saginaw through this city’s art scene.

Must-Experience Art in Saginaw

Step inside a 1904 Georgian-Revival mansion, the Saginaw Art Museum, and prepare for two award-winning modern wings, a permanent collection of 2,000+ objects spanning 4,500 years, a dynamic exhibition program — and glorious Italianate gardens that nearly steal the whole show.

Discover a collection of more than 200 works at Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum. Venture outside to the Sculpture Garden, with 20 bronze and metal sculptures on display. Enjoy the changing exhibitions gallery and gift shop before visiting the University Art Gallery, also on the campus of Saginaw Valley State University.

Featuring local artists as well as national and international works, find yourself in Old Town Saginaw at the gorgeous, historic Gingerblue Gallery — surrounded by paintings, ceramics, sculpture, and photography.

Witness beautiful views of Lake Linton at Andersen Enrichment Center, along with Art @ the Andersen's showcase of local and regional artists. Watch for annual arts events and take the seasonal chance to experience the Lucille E. Andersen Memorial Rose Garden, with impressive florals, a reflecting pool, and Marshall M. Fredericks sculpture on display.

Attend a Pick Your Project Workshop at Board & Brush Creative Studio to build on-trend and inspirational pieces of wooden-art decor for your home. Learn to distress, sand, stain, and paint your completely custom piece — and enjoy admiring your artistic creation for many years to come.

Step into another world, surrounded by tranquil Japanese gardens, and immerse yourself in traditional Japanese arts at the Japanese Cultural Center, Tea House & Gardens of Saginaw. Partake in hands-on workshops and demonstrations presented by masters in the Japanese arts of ikebana or bonsai — and set aside time to experience a Traditional Tea Ceremony.

Must-See Public Art in Saginaw

Saginaw is home to an impressive array of street art! Discover murals in multiple neighborhoods at the hands of many, including the Saginaw Arts & Enrichment Commission, The Great Mural Project, Art & About, and more. Read on for a sampling of the street art available in Saginaw — and where to find it!

Behold a mecca of murals at the Old Town Saginaw Street Art Park, including the Court Street Bridge Mural. A community-wide project that continues to gain color, see street art and mini-murals including bright flowers and a large orange butterfly photo-op.

Ride or walk approximately 10 city blocks that make up Old Town Saginaw and see a myriad of street art and murals including: a re-created ghost sign on Court Street; vintage baseball team, the Saginaw Old Golds, on the side of Designers 3 barber shop; a bright beauty on the North side of Fralia’s; and three huge, building-side murals along Hamilton Street.

See where artists and community members took to the streets, literally, for The Great Mural Project asphalt murals in Saginaw’s Old Town district. The art installation includes decorative crosswalks and bright murals on city streets at three intersections along Court Street and across the Saginaw River near the YMCA — look for the colorful Saginaw sign!

Travel across the Saginaw River from Old Town to Riverfront Saginaw to find all kinds of colorful murals that await! See “stained glass” on the back of the former Savoy Bar & Grill; a massive, vibrant “Downtown Saginaw” mural, the first installment of The Great Mural Project in Saginaw, on the corner of S. Washington and Genesee; the Saginaw History Mural on the corner of S. Washington and Janes; and big, beautiful painted sailboats just across the street.

Day Two:
Art in Midland

Artsy adventures abound in this captivating city! Marvel at more than 400 mid-century modern architectural gems, stroll acres of lush gardens dotted by art & sculpture, and interact with public art installations. A citywide canvas of creative expression, immerse yourself into Midland’s art scene.

Must-Experience Art in Midland

Find an architecturally unique facility, Space Studios, and the Glaze Bar and Pottery Studio inside. Create from ready-to-be glazed pottery, available on a walk-in basis, or schedule your session in advance to learn wheel throwing, hand-building, and glazing techniques.

Explore all that creativity can be in a space where art, science, history, music, theatre, dance, film, art classes, and captivating entertainers all meet under one roof: Midland Center for the Arts. Enjoy an array of live performances from Broadway productions to symphony orchestra ensembles, peruse pop-up art exhibits, or linger awhile for live music & cocktails on Thursday nights at the on-site Pendulum Lounge.

Simply enter Creative 360 and you’ll be welcomed to expand your imagination, satisfy your curiosity, relax your mind, and rejuvenate your spirit. Attend an event or book an art workshop — including Introduction to Watercolor and Exploring Drawing — and enjoy free admission to rotating art exhibitions! Or, make your way to Downtown Midland and the Creative 360 Galleries on Ashman to shop original artwork by local artists and peruse the Second Hand Picasso Shop!

Discover Dahlia Hill, April to November, for eight terraces bursting with blooms — more than 3,000 dahlias of over 300 varieties! See intricate sculpture on display and pay a visit to the Equiline Museum at the top of Dahlia Hill, featuring original designs in bronze and cast paper by Michigan-based artist Charles Breed.

Let your senses run wild through 110 acres of vibrant botanicals at Dow Gardens. Experience sculpture and seasonal displays of art throughout exquisite gardens — with special exhibits to heighten the experience.

Must-See Public Art in Midland

Livening up spaces and bringing people together, public art is a collaborative effort thanks to organizations like Public Arts Midland. Visitors can experience free-to-enjoy art peppered throughout this vibrant city — here’s where to find it!

Travel to the rear parking lot wall of Little Forks Outfitters to witness the Art Seen Festival Mural, a mural created “live” during a community-wide immersive arts weekend.

Take a joyful jaunt along the Pere Marquette Rail Trail to experience the M-20 Bridge Mural. Extensive in size, the mural includes iconic Midland sights and history, including the Santa House, the Cathy comic, and a mammoth skeleton found near town in the 1960s.

Pause (and possibly snap a selfie) at the colorful mural on the side of Live Oak Coffeehouse in Midtown, created by local artist MARKed ARTs, before enjoying a cup of locally roasted coffee and more local artwork inside.

Follow Public Arts Midland for more chances to find public art across the city — including beautifully painted benches designed by local artists. Check Midland Murals when you arrive, too, for any new appearances!

Day Three:
Art in Bay City

Visit this lively waterfront city that’s the birthplace of well-known artist, Madonna — with the mural to prove it! Savor picturesque views of sparkling water, snap photos beneath the Third Street Star Bridge, and get to know Bay City through its eclectic art scene!

Must-Experience Art in Bay City

Relax in a casual, comfortable environment inside Painterly Pottery, the region’s largest paint-your-own pottery studio. Walk-ins are welcome; workshops in mosaic and glass fusion are available, too!

Stroll into Studio 23/The Arts Center and discover a gallery dedicated to making the arts accessible to all. Enjoy exhibits open to the public and a Craft Bar with a full menu of projects to choose from! Plan ahead to partake in creative community activities throughout the year, like Chalk Walk Art Festival and Art Around the City.

Discover Art Dept. Gallery & Services, a space founded for local artists and collectors to showcase their work and connect with community. Check out one-of-a-kind art, antiques and oddities, plus custom interiors and furniture.

Explore the expansive Do-Art Studio & Gallery, featuring artwork by individuals with and without disabilities. Find framed paintings, sculptures crafted out of found artifacts, repurposed contemporary furniture and lamps, handcrafted jewelry, and even wearable art.

Tunes are on, candle’s burning — you’re welcome to peruse Golden Gallery & Custom Framing if you’ve got a love for art! Located in historic Downtown Bay City, experience framed art, photography, and meeting the creator of the Third Street Star Bridge, situated just outside the Gallery’s front door.

Must-See Public Art in Bay City

With independent artists, local business owners, and organizations like Studio 23/The Arts Center, Bay Arts Council, and more all being part, public art in Bay City is widespread and growing — here’s where to find it!

Snap a photo with the icon, or in front of the large mural of Madonna on the side of the former City Market building. See Bay City history in a multi-panel mural on Bayshire Beauty Academy. Find a Greek-god-astronaut mural illuminated by the Third Street Star Bridge and a large, bright homage to local lumbering history on the side of Zef's Coney Restaurant.

Peruse multiple community-created murals on concrete blockades for Feet on the Street — Bay City’s summer outdoor social zones designed for dining and gathering — or help paint the town during city-wide celebrations like the annual Chalk Walk Art Festival.

Take part in Art Around the City, featuring 50 Artists of the Great Lakes Bay Region! An outdoor public art exhibition, you can view art in Downtown Bay City, Uptown Bay City, Veterans Park, and Bigelow Park, along the Riverwalk. Each piece of artwork is reproduced on a metal plate with an informational plaque about the artist!

One More Stop Before You Go

Frankenmuth Mural Finder

Follow the Frankenmuth Mural Finder to see Michigan's Little Bavaria alive with public art! Simply sign up for the mobile-exclusive passport, instantly delivered to your device, and tour your way through modern murals, sprinkled in amidst authentic Bavarian architecture. Check in at 10 stops along the way to receive a special Frankenmuth Mural Finder prize!

Discover Inspiring Art + Enlightening History

Great Lakes Bay Museums Tour

From a historical museum in an enchanting castle to a naval ship museum aboard a National Historic Landmark — chances to dive into the region's rich history are here.