Help provide lunch to area families and children in need by donating the the following items:

• Peanut butter and jelly
• Soup and crackers
• Cereal
• Canned pasta
• Canned chicken 

By choosing to dine out through Dine Out for BACN events, you are helping the people and families of Benzie and northern Manistee counties who struggle to make ends meet. Participating restaurants have agreed to donate 10% of the day's proceeds to BACN.

To learn more about BACN, visit benziebacn.org.

In collaboration with the Benzie Area Historical Society, OAC will host the third installment of “ARTiFACTORY: Where Poetry Meets History” event in recognition of National Poetry Month. 

ARTiFACTORY 2025 begins with an introductory class on the basics of poetry writing, led by local poet and teacher Steven Veatch on Saturday, March 15th from 9:30 am – 3:00 pm at the Art Center. After the class, participants will head to the Benzie Area Historical Society Museum in Benzonia to explore the historical artifacts on display and select an item from the collection that inspires them to create an original poem. 

Participants will submit a photo of their chosen artifact and the poem they created to the Oliver Art Center by April 16th. The poems will be published in a keepsake chapbook and will be exhibited with the artifacts at the gallery on April 26th. The exhibit will include a guest reception and live readings of the poems from 4:00 – 6:00 pm. 

The $25 course fee includes class, handouts, a National Poetry Month poster, museum tour, one chapbook, and admission to the reception event. Art Center members receive a 10% discount. The program is free to students 18 years and under. 

Celebrate 100 years of community with Mills Community House and Benzonia Public Library.  Originally part of the Benzonia Academy which closed in 1918, Mills Community House opened it's door in 1925 and include a library for public use.  Now, 100 years later, Benzonia Public Library is the oldest library in Benzie County that has been in continuous operation.  

2:00 Welcome, Brief Presentation, and Refreshments  
2:30 Historic Building Tour  
3:00 Community Story Sharing and Refreshments  
3:30 Historic Building Tour