ESCANABA — The Upper Peninsula Arts and Culture Alliance will host its third annual conference on Saturday, Sept. 27, at Bay College in Escanaba. This year’s theme, Creative Capacity: Cultivating Capability in Arts and Culture, will bring together artists, educators, nonprofit leaders and community partners from across the region for a full day of learning, collaboration, and inspiration.

The conference will be preceded by a free public reception from 5:30-7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, at the Besse Gallery, Bay College. Guests will enjoy food and beverages and take part in a guided tour of on-campus artwork with Kristine Hunter, fine arts coordinator at Bay College. The reception is open to the public and guests do not need to attend the conference to participate. Following the reception, Players de Noc will launch their 2026 season with a performance of “Don’t Mention My Name” in the Besse Theater. This delightful farce, filled with an amnesiac, mistaken identities, and nonstop twists and gags, offers a feel-good way to kick off the season.

On Saturday, the conference opens with remarks at 10 a.m. and a keynote address from Christine Delaney, executive director of Tibbits Opera House. The day will continue with a panel on historic theaters moderated by Sarah Rice, featuring leaders from the Braumart Theatre, Calumet Theatre, Crystal Theatre and Erickson Center for the Arts. Over lunch, participants will gather around table topics exploring history, tourism, and fundraising.

Afternoon breakout sessions will dive into practical tools and strategies for the arts and culture sector, including presentations on strategic planning, marketing, arts education, organizational growth, and rural challenges. Other sessions will highlight innovative programs and collaborations led by presenters from across the Upper Peninsula, including Jane Lynch, Amelia Pruiett, and Andie Balenger.

Conference registration is open now at the Alliance website. Registration is $50 for individuals and $35 for members of the Creative Connections Directory, a free-to-join resource connecting artists, organizations and communities across the Upper Peninsula. Additionally organizations registering for the conference may bring up to three attendees on a single $50 ticket.

Registration and more info is available online at upacalliance.com.

Bud Sargent can be reached at 906-228-2500, extension 544. His email address is bsargent@miningjournal.net.