The idea of an art center in Buchanan started when a group of people met in December 2003; In November 2004, we incorporated as a not-for-profit organization, and in August 2005, our dream became a reality when the City of Buchanan leased us our current building. We knew then that we wanted to have art classes and a gallery. Today, we not only have achieved our goal, we have surpassed it.

In 2006, a community member, Tom Fehlner, donated funds to cover the debt we incurred for startup, and initiated a grant proposal for a second gallery. The Show Place Gallery was completed in 2007 as a result of a grant received from Michigan Gateway Community Foundation.

In 2008, we added a third gallery in our library, and funded our endowment at Michigan Gateway Community Foundation with a donation from the Shirley and Donald Roti Roti family. The main gallery is named after the family in appreciation. In addition, due to the vision and perseverence of Marie Remington, our education director, we opened the pottery studio to both children and adults.

Since May of 2005, when ten people took our first class, we have had literally hundreds of people attend our classes and exhibit their work at the Buchanan Art Center. We are now funded by donations, memberships, grants, art sales, and class fees. We are totally run by volunteers, except for a receptionist paid with an AARP grant.

We are thrilled to be in a position to carry on our mission which is "to provide a place in our community dedicated to nurturing the arts by providing a quality educational program for all ages, as well as gallery exhibits, sales opportunities, and a gift shop that are supportive of class offerings and local artists, thereby enabling the Center to creatively enlist the power of the arts in promoting positive social change."