By Alexa Haferkorn
On Sunday, October 13th, Marquette Fringe accepted their award for Marquette’s 2024 Arts Organization of the Year at the 27th Annual Art Awards hosted by the City of Marquette Arts and Culture Center (MACC). According to the MACC, the Arts Organization award is presented to “a nonprofit, club, guild, or other group that has been instrumental in growing and supporting arts and culture in Marquette.” Past recipients of the award include the DeVos Art Gallery, Revolve Creative Conference, Marquette City Band, and Fresh Coast Film Festival.
The awards ceremony was held at Ore Dock Brewing Co., and eight of Marquette Fringe’s board members and founders attended to accept the award. Madeline Arquette, a member of the Marquette Arts community and long-time supporter of Marquette Fringe, presented the award. In his acceptance speech, President Michael Bradford recounted the early days of Marquette Fringe and expressed thanks to the many community members that have helped Marquette Fringe flourish into the vibrant and inclusive organization it is today.
This award acceptance came just one week after the 4th Fall Phantasm, an event that started as a fundraiser, and has quickly become a performing arts festival with live music, dance, interactive art, and more. This event is hosted annually in early October at Lakenenland Sculpture Park in Harvey, MI. This year’s Fall Phantasm had the theme “A Journey Through the Underworld”, and invited attendees to explore six interactive “Gateways” throughout the park that represented the different journeys that all people take through life, love, and renewal. The festival culminated in live theatrical performance that featured several dance groups and performers from the Marquette community, and a late-night Drag Show presented by Superior Expressions.
Marquette Fringe would like to thank the City of Marquette Arts and Culture Center and the Marquette Community for the honor of this award. There are countless other volunteers, artists, performers, and donors to thank for contributing to this organization’s growth. As the Fringe looks ahead to plans for 2025, our hearts are full with the love and support our community has shown us.