Center expands horizon
But that may change soon, especially when Macomb Community College opens a new cultural center in three weeks. The college plans to use the $6.9 million center as a venue for educational programs and entertainment.
The new Macomb Cultural Center is located on the school's Center Campus, adjacent to the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts near Garfield and Hall in Clinton Township.
"We've tried to create a place for discovery," said Albert Lorenzo, Macomb Community College's president. "It's intended to broaden horizons and expand our vision."
The new center comes at a time when Macomb County's image as a hub of urbanity and sophistication lags behind Detroit and Oakland County.
Detroit is home to museums, a science center, an opera house and a renowned symphony orchestra. Meanwhile, Oakland County has historic estates and theaters.
The cultural center is the first of its kind in the county. It also expands the college's facilities for exhibitions, fairs and entertainment.
The school has a Sports & Expo Center on its South Campus at 12 Mile and Hayes in Warren in addition to its Center for the Performing Arts.
The cultural center will kick off its inaugural season Sept. 28 with a presentation by John Glenn, the first American to orbit the earth and former U.S. senator.
Through November the center will feature programs focusing on science by regional and national organizations such as the Smithsonian Institution, the Cranbrook Institute of Science and the New Detroit Science Center.
The Macomb Cultural Center will also host a number of fine arts programs from late November through December.
One of the center's first events -- the Sally Ride Science Festival for Girls -- will be held in the county for the first time on Oct. 1. The program is usually held at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
"There are only certain venues around the country that can house our event because part of it is held outside and we always have to plan for rain," said Francis French, director of events for Sally Ride Science, a San Diego-based company that offers science camps, books, teacher development and other programs aimed at encouraging girls toward science studies and careers.
"(The Macomb Cultural Center) enables so much -- history, science, literature, visual and performing arts," French said. "It's is wonderful new capstone for the community and we're excited to be involved in its inaugural events."
The cultural center's building previously housed college's Student Services Department, which was moved to a larger facility on the campus.
The college opted to find another use for the building, Lorenzo said.
"We didn't put up a new building," he said. "We developed a community cultural center."