About Us

"Fostering an Environment Where the Arts
​and People Grow Together."

The Copper Country Community Arts Council (CCCAC) was established in 1972 to serve the residents in the Upper Peninsula counties of Baraga, Houghton, Keweenaw, and Ontonagon. In 1992 the CCCAC in partnership with the four other community-based organizations and a grant from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA) established the Community Arts Center (CAC). The partnership included the City of Hancock, Suomi college (now Finlandia University), the Hancock Downtown Development Authority and the Western Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Region. The CCCAC with community support and a Michigan Equity Grant in 1995 purchased the building. In 1996 the CCCAC launched a capital campaign and implemented two stages of renovations of the building.

Since its inception the CCCAC has grown from a group of people that cultivated artistic exchange to a multifaceted arts organization that owns and operates an arts center with a large sales gallery representing local and regional artists, exhibition galleries, classroom, and letterpress studio. The CCCAC provides opportunities for residents and visitors of all ages to experience art and art making.

Activities include annual events and programs such as the Poor Artists Sale (est 1976), two week-long Summer Arts Camps (est 1985), a week long Book Arts Camp and programs (est 2011), Letterpress and Book Arts Studio (est 2012), MCACA regional re-granting agency for the Western Upper Peninsula (beginning in 1997), monthly exhibits in the Kerredge Gallery and the Youth Gallery, a vibrant and ever-changing sales gallery, year round classes for youth and adults, professional development series for artists, installation of artwork in local businesses, high school and college internships, production of a monthly newsletter, and lectures/workshops with visiting artists, gallery talks, critiques, and tours for schools and community groups.

Get involved

Find out how to become a CCCAC Volunteer!

Organizational information

Click here for detailed information about our organization including information about our current board members, financial information, and strategic plan.

View our 2022 State of the Arts Center Report here.