About Us

In 2010, the City of Ironwood purchased the City Centre, a historic building with 11,500 square feet of space, through fundraising efforts by private individuals, and with a grant obtained by the City of Ironwood.

The City Centre includes the concourse and main entrance of the Historic Ironwood Theatre as well as the Theatre’s Office. The City Commission passed a resolution on October 8th 2012 giving the Downtown Art Place (DAP) the authority to manage the City Centre building and create a community art center within it.  DAP has a 5 year renewable lease with the city and DAP is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

The DAP is supported in part by awards from the 

MICHIGAN COUNCIL FOR ARTS AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS 

and the NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS.

The Historic Ironwood Theatre, adjacent to the DAP, is an important regional center for cultural and performing arts. City ownership insured entry concourse and main street facade for the theatre would remain in perpetuity to City ownership, and together with Downtown Art Place creates a regional art hub in downtown Ironwood.

Donations of over $22,000, greater than the price of the City Centre, were raised for building improvements. The money was used to install two handicap accessible restrooms shared by patrons of the Ironwood Theatre as well as Downtown Art Place Gallery & Classroom.  

The Ironwood City Commission approved for the restrooms 

to be constructed by February 15, 2013.

In Dec 2013, a Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs grant funded the replacement of our used 50 year old boiler with 5 new energy efficient gas furnaces and the gallery will be air-conditioned for the summer months.

A climate controlled gallery was one of the requirements for the DAP to house the Spring 2015 Smithsonian Traveling Exhibit The Way We Worked.

In 2014/15, a Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs grant helped fund the modernization of the City Centre’s electrical system, providing for 

a safer building, improved and enhanced lighting for the gallery’s art exhibits, and expanded arts programming capacity by utilizing areas 

of the building that did not have readily available electrical service access nor quality lighting for art events and activities.

In 2018, the Downtown Art Place funded the installation of a new 

DuraLast roof with energy saving sub-roof insulation, 

replacing the City Centre's leaky roof. 

In 2020, a Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs grant helped fund the modernization of the second phase of the City Centre's 

electrical system concentrated in the Art Studios area 

of the Downtown Art Place, providing for a safer building, 

improved and enhanced lighting and wiring, and the addition 

of direct high-speed internet connection.

There are a number of subcommittees to the DAP. 

The Building Committee focuses on issues concerning the building improvements and its overall business management. 

The Art Gallery Committee focuses on logistics and management of volunteers, planning, provides artists for art programming and 

creates fundraising events. It also oversees the gallery displays and 

juries artists' work in the gallery.

There is also a Grant Writing Committee, a Marketing/Publicity Committee and an Education Committee. 

Ironwood Downtown Art Place, Inc is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization 

and is financially supported by 

fundraisers, grants, and donations.

Please stop in or contact us to learn about our donor 

and volunteer programs and how you can help.