Culture of Ann Arbor, Michigan facts for kids

The culture of Ann Arbor, Michigan is full of exciting things to see and do. Many of these cool places and events are linked to the famous University of Michigan.

Ann Arbor's Music Scene

Ann Arbor has a rich history in music, especially rock. From the 1960s through today, many influential rock bands came from or played here. Some famous names include the MC5, Alice Cooper, Iggy Pop, Brownsville Station, George Clinton, Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band, Mitch Ryder, and The Rationals.

In 1969, the unique jazz bandleader Sun Ra and his group stayed in Ann Arbor. They were neighbors with poet John Sinclair and his group, the White Panther Party.

Did you know Madonna studied dance at the University of Michigan in the late 1970s? Later, in the 1980s, the Ann Arbor Music Project released live albums of local music. More recently, Ann Arbor became home to Ghostly International. This record label is known worldwide for electronic music and features artists like Matthew Dear.

Other popular bands that started in Ann Arbor or visited often include The Stooges, SRC, and The Up. Even today, you can still feel the influence of these early music trendsetters in the city.

University of Michigan Attractions

The University of Michigan campus has many places for performing arts. These include Hill Auditorium, the Lydia Mendelssohn Theater, and the Power Center for the Performing Arts.

The University Musical Society (UMS) puts on many performances each year. They also offer free educational activities. UMS is one of the oldest performing arts groups in the country. It is connected to the University of Michigan but is a separate non-profit group. They get their money from ticket sales and donations.

The University of Michigan Gilbert and Sullivan Society is a student-run group. Since 1947, they have performed two fully staged Gilbert and Sullivan operas every year. These shows happen at the Lydia Mendelssohn Theater.

Cool Places to Visit

Ann Arbor has many performing arts groups not linked to the University. These include the Ann Arbor Civic Theatre, a community theater group. There's also the Ann Arbor Ballet Theater and the Ann Arbor Civic Ballet. The Ann Arbor Civic Ballet was the first official ballet company in Michigan, started in 1954. You can also enjoy the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra and the Arbor Opera Theater.

Here are some theaters in the city:

• Michigan Theater - This place hosts live shows, independent films, and classic movies. It's also home to the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra.
• State Theatre - An independent movie theater located on State Street.
• Performance Network Theatre - A downtown theater that shows new or different types of plays.

Ann Arbor also has concert halls and nightclubs for live music:

• Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase - A place to see comedy shows.
• The Ark - This is Ann Arbor's main spot for folk and acoustic music.
• The Blind Pig - A smaller venue known for rock, hip hop, and electronic music. Famous bands like Dave Matthews Band and Nirvana played here early in their careers.
• Kerrytown Concert House - A venue for various musical performances.

There are also several religious sites, including:

• St. Patrick's Parish Complex

Interesting Sites

The Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum is in an old fire station downtown. It has over 250 interactive exhibits about science and technology. Artrain is a traveling art museum located on a train! You can find many other art galleries downtown and near the University of Michigan.

Some buildings downtown, like Sweetwaters Coffee and Tea, have small "fairy doors". These are tiny, independent art pieces hidden around the city. You can find maps of their locations at Sweetwaters or the Chamber of Commerce.

Exciting Events

Spring Events

• Ann Arbor Film Festival - This is the oldest ongoing experimental film festival in North America. It happens in March and shows over 100 films from artists worldwide at the Michigan Theater.

Summer Events

• Shakespeare in the Arb - Each June, one Shakespeare play is performed outdoors in Nichols Arboretum. The actors move from spot to spot in the park, making the natural setting part of the show. Performances start four hours before sunset and last about 2.5 hours.
• Summer Festival - This event runs for about three and a half weeks from mid-June to early July. It features internationally known entertainers inside venues like the Power Center. The "Top of the Park" events are free and showcase local and regional talent. They also show movies at 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. You can find local food vendors and drinks to support the festival.
• Art Fairs - These fairs happen in the third week of July, from Wednesday to Saturday. There are actually five separate art fairs, plus many other artists and shops. It's a huge event that brings many visitors to the city.
• Shopping Cart Race - This unofficial race usually takes place in late August. People bring decorated shopping carts or even two-man bicycles with shopping cart parts. It's part of "Punk Week," a series of annual events.
• Taste of Ann Arbor - A one-day event in early June downtown. Local restaurants set up food stands for the public. Local bands and performers also put on free shows.
• Dexter-Ann Arbor Run - A running race from Dexter to downtown Ann Arbor. The route follows the Huron River.

Fall Events

• Blues and Jazz Festival - Held in mid-September at Gallup Park, this festival features blues and jazz musicians from all over the country. It was first organized in 1972.
• EdgeFest - This festival, held every autumn since 1997, showcases avant-garde and progressive jazz music at different venues.

Winter Events

• Ann Arbor Folk Festival - This is an annual benefit concert for the Ark, Ann Arbor's folk and acoustic music venue. It happens in late January and features many folk musicians.

Literary Culture

Ann Arbor is a great place for book lovers. It has many old and rare booksellers. The Ann Arbor District Library has a main building downtown and several branch locations. The city is also home to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library, which holds important documents and items from President Ford's life.

Ann Arbor is also known for its performance poetry scene. The Neutral Zone, a local teen center, has a program called Volume Youth Poetry Project. They hold a competition each year to send a team of young poets to the national "Brave New Voices" competition. Ann Arbor hosted this national event in 2001 and 2002.

Images for kids

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  Hill Auditorium, University of Michigan

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  The Blind Pig, Ann Arbor, Michigan

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  Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum

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  Sunday Morning by Carl Milles in Ann Arbor