ARS Gallery, Arts and Culture Center located in the Benton Harbor Arts District offers a variety of workshops, classes, and events for people of all ages.

The main gallery features local, regional, and national artists with over six exhibits a year. We offer arts education and lifestyle classes including painting, sculpting, mosaic, and photography, as well as Italian language, the Art of Entertaining, wine education, and more. We also offer after-school art programming, summer art camps, film education, painting, sculpture, and printmaking for local youth. We partner with Water Street Glassworks to offer glass-making workshops to our older campers.

ARS takes part in local art fairs and events such as Art Hops. We are home to the "IATG" Youth Program and Sculpture by John Suave. Contact us for more information. 

Welcome to the New Territory Arts Association, a non-profit organization promoting the arts in Benton Harbor. Enjoy all that the Arts District has to offer in cuisine, art, entertainment and most of all.. the people!

The Berrien County Historical Association was established in 1968 to preserve the 1839 County Courthouse and serve as the heart of Berrien County’s past.  Since then, the grounds have expanded to include four additional buildings and is now referred to as the History Center at Courthouse Square.  Today the Square and its environs are owned by Berrien County and are under the care of the Berrien County Parks Department while the BCHA continues its mission as stewards to the history of the past.

Beginning January 3, 2024, the History Center at Courthouse Square will charge admission to the museum and grounds.  It will be $5.00 per person and BCHA members, Berrien County Park pass holders, and children under 5 years old will receive free admission.

Please note during the winter months, the Murdoch Log Cabin and Bennett's Forge are not open when the temperature drops below 40* because these spaces are not regulated.

The Berrien Artist Guild, Inc., founded in 1962, purchased the historic Williams Bros. Paper Box Mfg. building in 1995. This small group of enthusiastic artists converted the old factory building into today’s multi-use arts facility known as the Box Factory for the Arts where all the arts are celebrated. Our multi-use arts center includes artist studios, galleries a performance stage, classrooms, Art Shop, meeting space and more. Three floors of the 55,000-sq-ft building have been devoted to the arts since 1995 when the Berrien Artist Guild, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, purchased the historic (c.1903) Williams Brothers Paper Box Factory.

Summer Gallery Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 10am-4pm; Thursday, 10am-7pm.

Your one stop location to shop for local art! Chartreuse Art Gallery is a collective of individual local artists in beautiful downtown St. Joseph, Michigan. Members work together year round to create a magical art experience. From creating art, staffing the gallery, giving art demos and teaching, you will see the culmination of our work on display within the gallery. Most disciplines are represented including wood working, painting, photography, jewelry, glass, fiber and ceramics. Come check out our locally-made gifts and one-of-a-kind souvenirs. Stop in soon!

CPR Dance: Inhale Movement is a premier dance company in Southwest Michigan. 
We propose movement as fundamental to existence as breath.
Breathing life, moving life, with attendance towards one another. 

We value bringing community access to professional dance, while sharing collaborative and engaging opportunities to connect, view, and participate in movement that inspires.

www.inhalemovement.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inhalemovement

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inhale_movement/

The Curious Kids’ Museum inspires children to explore and learn through cooperative hands-on play.

Located on the shores of Lake Michigan, next to Silver Beach, Curious Kids’ Museum (CKM) and the new Curious Kids’ Discovery Zone (DZ) invites you to come play, learn and be curious!

CKM was founded by educators and parents to provide an environment that invites curiosity, allows exploration, celebrates childhood and inspires learning!

Opened in 1989, the Museum on the Bluff has fulfilled the founders’ mission to provide a place where “Learning is Fun” through interactive, hands-on exhibits. In 2010, the Curious Kids’ Museum had the opportunity to expand and open a second location in partnership with the Silver Beach Carousel and Shadowland Ballroom, by opening DZ below the bluff.

With a shared mission and philosophy, both museums are places where children and their adults can pursue their natural curiosity through creative, hands-on play!

The works of over 175 of the country's most talented artists are beautifully displayed in this charming and pleasant art boutique. Gallery on the Alley specializes in the unique and unusual - from whimsical sculpture, clocks and prints to elegant blown glass, metalwork and distinctive handcrafted jewelry.

Other artwork includes the junkyard dogs and cats by Yardbirds, the elegant clocks of Leonie Lacouette, a full line of greeting cards and magnets by Curly Girl, the jewelry of Desert Heart, Eclat, framed prints featuring iconic Michigan locations by Kathleen Chaney Fritz, Kitras Art Glass, Carol Roeda magnets, Me2U fused glass, The Artist Jay recycled aluminum jewlery, Marjorie Baer and Mar to name just a few, and the full line of StoryPeople prints, sculpture and books.

You are invited to come in today and enjoy "just the best" browsing and shopping experience. The Gallery offers shipping, free gift wrapping and accepts all major credit cards.

JLN Studio LLC opened its doors September 1, 2011. First starting out in a small studio in downtown New Buffalo, MI then to a larger studio in Three Oaks, MI and now in a new 1400 square foot Art Studio in downtown Stevensville.

Founder/owner Julie Lawrenz Nitz…a mother, wife, artist, graphic designer and photographer. Julie’s experience includes an Associates Degree in Graphic Design from Southwestern Michigan College, a Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts, with a Minor in Photography from Western Michigan University.

JLN Studio LLC offers Art & Canvas classes, graphic design and branding services, and more. 

Krasl Art Center is a nonprofit art museum and learning center that enriches the lives of people living in or visiting Southwest Michigan by delivering enlightening art experiences through diverse education opportunities, meaningful events, and high-quality exhibits and collections. KAC’s mission is to Inspire Meaningful Change and Strengthen Community through the Visual Arts.

The Shop at Krasl Art Center features decorative and functional artwork handcrafted by local and regional artists. As part of KAC’s mission, we hope the items you find here spark joy, encourage dialogue and support people and ideas that positively impact our community!

Learn more at krasl.org.

The mission of the Morton House Museum is to be “The Home of Benton Harbor History.” As part of the revitalization of Benton Harbor, we share the remarkable story of the city from its beginning until today. The Morton House Museum is a center of history for Benton Harbor residents, and also those outside the city who are interested and care about Benton Harbor.    

The Acorn is a rare and remarkable independent performing arts venue presenting high-quality, professional live entertainment year-round. The intimate and eclectic non-profit performance space features Rock, Folk, Americana, Indie, Blues, Jazz, Bluegrass, open mics, comedy, films and more! Performers of incomparable talent delight audiences in an acoustically rich and unique space. This gem of a theater has earned their reputation as “the one and only Acorn” bringing 150+ high quality events to the region!

As a nonprofit, and Southwest Michigan’s arts and culture hub, The Acorn aims to have nothing less than a profound impact on the culture, education and quality of life in their community and beyond.

Artistry, Up Close

There is magic and enjoyment for everyone who walks through The Acorn doors. From icons like Jeff Tweedy, Judy Collins and Mavis Staples to emerging artists like Abbie Thomas to the Singer-Songwriter competition to Open Mic Nights to community programs, The Acorn is truly the one and only performing arts center you will find in this corner of Michigan. 

An Experience to Outlast Any Performance

No two Acorn performances are exactly the same. Thoughtful curation brings a diverse mix of top talent to The Acorn, exposing audiences to both renowned and soon-to-be-discovered stars.

The Acorn’s Mission

To offer a broad range of high-quality arts and education programming that nurtures cultural experience, participation and community engagement among residents and visitors of all ages and enhances the economic vitality of the region.

Sign Up Today for Email Updates from The Acorn!
Stay in-the-know about upcoming performances, special events, competitions and discount opportunities with our weekly e-news blasts. It’s a great way to make sure you get tickets to your favorite events before the house sells out. Sign up today.

Getting There and Local Restaurants

The Acorn is located at 107 Generations Drive, Three Oaks, Michigan. We are approximately a half hour from St. Joseph, 40 minutes from South Bend and 90 minutes from downtown Chicago. Three Oaks offers several charming local establishments to have a bite to eat before your show - Froehlich's, Journeyman's Staymaker Restaurant, Patellie's Pizza and Tom Cat Tavern to name a few. 

FAQs

Do you have a bar?

The Acorn has a full bar with an exciting array of cocktails, an extensive beer list plus traditional bar snacks.

Where can we get a drink or meal before or after a show? Where can we stay and what can we do when we are in the Three Oaks area?

A truly one-of-a-kind accommodations experience awaits you right above The Acorn theater at The Loft! Rent our spacious, industrial-chic apartment above The Acorn theater and enjoy sound from the performance below! Click here for information and booking.

Is The Acorn available for other private events?

We can sometime accommodate private rentals for events/parties. Please email jesse@acornlive.org for more information.

Click here for more FAQs.

The GhostLight Theatre is a new theatre performance venue, opening in 2019 in the Benton Harbor Arts District We seek to illuminate the arts and culture of the area. The GhostLight Theatre creates events where children and adults are more than observers, and become active participants in creation and exploration of a variety of performance media. The brainchild of tenor Paul Mow, The GhostLight Theatre is a collaboration of local performing artists, business people, arts supporters, and enthusiastic audience members. For years, Paul had his dream of a community-based theater and, when he partnered with Martha Hesse, the dream took form. In January 2018, we leased a building in the Benton Harbor Arts District, and began plans for creating a “black box” style theater, backstage and workshop areas, two offices and a beautiful front lobby.

We all need a place that tells our stories of accomplishments, mistakes and dreams; a place that shares how our community came to be what it is today and why we live the way we do. We need somewhere that inspires us to keep our story going. The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center is our remembering place in St. Joseph, Michigan, housing our area’s history, its artifacts and archival collections and a research library. We are a non-profit museum and our exhibitions are always FREE. We also offer a Concert Series, Lecture Series, Leadership Education, and special events, such as our Historic Homes of Old St. Joseph walking tour. We also offer archival research assistance to those digging into local history! Through a contract with the City of St. Joseph, The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center provides exhibits and guided tours along the St. Joseph North Pier Inner and Outer lights, including the opportunity to climb to the top of the Inner Light. Looking for a beautiful and elegant venue for your special events? Rental packages are available.

Formed in 1932, Twin City Players is a volunteer based nonprofit organization that strives to engage the community in quality theatre that changes lives and to be recognized for organizational excellence producing quality performances in southwest Michigan. The TCP Playhouse is located at 600 West Glenlord Road, St. Joseph, MI. For more information about TCP, call 269-429-0400 or visit us at twincityplayers.org.

School, Studios, & Gallery Dedicated to the Glass & Metal Fire Arts

Water Street Glassworks is a non-profit, 501 (c)(3) school and public access studio, located in the Benton Harbor Arts District offering classes in the glass and metal arts, exhibitions, and events for all ages. Following nine years of building renovations and studio equipment construction combined, WSG opened its doors to the public in January 2004 and is an established educational anchor in the Benton Harbor Arts District. We create partnerships with other educational entities so that we can foster community renewal; renewal that stems from collaborating with other community arts programs.