Franke Center Launches Fundraising Campaign to Support Arts Programs

The Franke Center for the Arts has initiated its annual fundraising campaign to bolster programs that bring music, theater, and arts education to Marshall and neighboring communities.

For over two decades, this nonprofit has served as a cultural cornerstone, hosting concerts, film festivals, and youth theater productions. In the past year, the center presented 15 concerts across various genres and cultural events, including the Wolf Tree Film Festival. Its Expert Artist Program places poets in Marshall and Battle Creek schools, offering creative curricula for middle school students.

The Youth Theater program staged three plays—"Legally Blonde the Musical," "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," and "Finding Nemo Jr."—and conducted a summer Theater Discovery Camp that provided over 200 children with hands-on experience both on stage and behind the scenes.

The center also maintains its historic 1920s-era building, a former church that now stands as a downtown Marshall landmark.

“We’re incredibly proud of the work we do at The Franke Center,” said Jacob Gates, executive director. “To me, being a small town that has a tremendous arts and culture scene is one of the greatest things about Marshall. And we’re a great benefit to the culture of the rest of Calhoun County, too. But these are incredibly uncertain times for nonprofits, so I would urge everyone who values the arts to make a tax-deductible contribution to help us continue our important work into the future.”

The Franke Center for the Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. To learn more or make a donation, visit thefranke.org/donate or mail a check to 214 E. Mansion St., Marshall, MI 49068.