Experience Art Out Loud
There’s no better way to fight the late winter blues than with a bright spot of culture on the Art Coast of Michigan. This much-needed ray of sunlight takes shape in the Art Out Loud Community Festival, featuring award-winning short documentaries by Mountainfilm on Tour. Raise your spirits with a weekend of storytelling designed to awaken the senses and inspire the mind. As a bonus, you can spend a soul-recharging weekend in Saugatuck/Douglas, enjoying great food, time outdoors, and even a little shopping.
If you’re planning a quick weekend escape to break up your day-to-day routine, consider visiting in late March, when you can check out the annual Art Out Loud Community Film Festival featuring the 9th annual Mountainfilm on Tour at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts, March 22 and 23. During this unique event, you’ll be immersed in culture, stories, and traditions from around the globe, all through the lens of film, music, food, and more. Art Out Loud celebrates the intersection of visual, audio, and performance art in an experience that engages the senses and highlights the impact of artistic collaboration.
Kicking off the weekend-long event is a free, all-ages celebration at Saugatuck Dunes State Park from 5:30–8pm Beginning at the State Park parking lot, you’ll stroll down Beach Trail for a surprise-filled, family-friendly hike. Then, join the SCA and community partners at The WiP (their mobile art truck) for some hands-on outdoor-inspired art making.
On Saturday, March 23, check out “Mountainfilm on Tour”—your opportunity to see award-winning short documentaries that debuted at the Mountainfilm Festival in Telluride, CO. First up is the Big Green World playlist, showing shorts inspired by diverse cultures, important causes, time-honored traditions, and remote environments that might remain uncharted without the captivating possibility of film. Next, at 2pm, audiences can enjoy Indomitable Spirit, a playlist of stories about people who persist unwaveringly in the face of challenges to discover a path forward. This exciting day of films will close with the popular Medley playlist at 7pm, a collection of captivating moments of fascination for all.
In addition to the screenings, Mountainfilm ticket holders can enjoy extra experiences, including film-inspired treats and specialty drinks. Between screenings, enjoy the Art Coast with special offers at other community partners in Saugatuck, Douglas, Fennville, and Holland. For more information or to purchase tickets, click here.
Images courtesy of Saugatuck Center for the Arts
